In chapters 10-12 how does Dimmesdale feel about himself? "The Scarlet Letter"

With the
character of , Hawthorne introduces the concept of psychosomatic symptoms as the Reverend holds
his heart and, as is later revealed, has a letter "A" raised upon his chest. 
Dimmesdale's health is deteriorating because of his desperate guilt.  When he attempts to
confess by calling himself a worse sinner than anyone else in his sermons, the congregation
interprets his words as saintly humility and regard him even more highly than
previously.  

In his desperation, Dimmesdale turns to self-flagellation to
punish himself.  But, this action does nothing to soothe his soul.  So, in  he walks "in a
shadow of a dream" to the "spot of public ignominy," the scaffold whereonce
stood.  There is overcome with

a great horror of the mind
as if the universe were gazing at a scarlet token on his naked breast, right over his
heart.

Dimmesdale's shame evolves from his feelings of
guilt because of his tremendous hypocrisy.  He, more than any other character, personifies the
evil of Puritanism's refusal to forgive the sinner, causing a greater evil, that of the worm of
hypocrisy which eats away at the soul.