The Scaffold Scenes as a Structural Device
             In Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter" the author uses three scaffold scenes to mark the development of Hester Prynne as well as unite the plot, themes, and symbols of the novel in a perfect balance. The basic structure for the novel is also provided by the scaffold scenes because everything else revolves around what happens during these scenes. The first time we meet all the principal characters of the novel is in the first scaffold scene which is at the beginning of the story. The second of three crucial scaffold scenes appears exactly in the middle of the novel. Again, Hawthorne gathers all of his major characters in one place in this second scaffold scene. Hawthorne brings all the principal characters together one more time in the third and final scaffold scene to end the dramatic story in a very dramatic way as this scene begins with the triumph of Dimmesdale's sermon and ends with his death.
             The first scaffold scene focuses on Hester and the scarlet letter. Hester stands alone with Pearl in her arms, a mere infant and sign of her sin. Meanwhile, a crowd of townspeople has gathered to watch her humiliation and to hear a sermon. Two important people in the crowd are Roger Chillingworth and Arthur Dimmesdale. Chillingworth, Hester's husband just returned from his long journey to America and her lover, Dimmesdale, shares her platform as a sinner but not her public humiliation. Dimmesdale is present throughout the whole scene but is very hesitant to admit that he is the secret lover, although Mr. Wilson is pestering him to find out from Hester who the culprit is. He doesn't admit because he is afraid if he does confess it will ruin his reputation as a person and as a minister. Chillingworth demands Hester to give him the name of her partner in sin but she will not do so. In this scene, we have Hester's public repentance, Dimmes
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