Scaffold Analysis
The Scarlet Letter is portrayed with profound symbolism and revolves around the idea that hidden guilt causes more suffering than open guilt. This theme along with its symbolism is demonstrated through the lives of the three main characters - Hester Prynne, Arthur Dimmesdale, and Roger Chillingworth throughout the story. Their personalities are shown most clearly during the scaffold scenes. These scenes are the most substantial situations in the story because they illustrate the immediate, delayed, and prolonged effects that the sin of adultery has on the main characters. From careful analysis of the first two scenes, one can predict what will be the approximate outcome of the third. It's apparent that the first scaffold happening was early on in the book, one of the very first scenes. In the first scene, everyone in the town is gathered in the market place because Hester is being questioned about the identity of the father of her child Pearl. Hester experiences open guilt through being publicly punished for adultery. She is being forced to stand on the scaffold for three hours straight to be ridiculed and ostracized by the community. While Hester tries to make the best out of her situation, Dimmesdale
Dimmesdale punishes himself by believing that he can never be redeemed. Chillingworth's first reaction is one of shock, but he quickly suppresses it. Since his first sight of his wife in two years is of her being punished for being unfaithful to him, he is naturally surprised. Only, there is no one to hear him so in essence, it is all done privately. Dimmesdale can not accept the loss of innocence and go on from there to potentially a better future. He must have his "judgment day," it's imperative to Dimmesdale's peace of mind and continuation of life. Though he never actually says that he is not the other parent, he implies it by talking of the father in a third person. Chillingworth is a very ill-minded individual. The only way to make amends for sinful behavior is to let it be known and face it like a man, the only way. He feels that he will never be seen the same in the eyes of God, and that no amount of repentance can ever return him to God's good graces. This is not good enough for his daughter Pearl, she wants him to stand with her mother and her during the day, and sure enough, it won't be tomorrow when they stand speak, but there will be a day. Pearl is Dimmesdale's key to his redemption. Chillingworth appears later standing beside the scaffold, staring at Dimmesdale, Hester, and Pearl. It does not last long though, because it is his nature to control his emotions. He stands before Hester and the rest of the town and proceeds to give a moving speech about how it would be in her and the father's best interest for her to reveal the father's name, "If thou feelest it to be for thy soul's peace, and that thy earthly punishment will thereby be made more effectual to salvation, I charge thee to speak out the name of thy fellow-sinner and fellow-sufferer" (67).
Common topics in this essay:
Hester Dimmesdale,
Hester Pearl,
Flight Owls,
Roger Chillingworth,
Pearl Hester,
Pearl Dimmesdale's,
Scarlet Letter,
Governor Winthrop's,
Seeing Dimmesdale's,
Arthur Dimmesdale,
hester pearl,
arthur dimmesdale,
main characters,
pearl night,
hidden guilt,
stands hester,
hester pearl night,
dimmesdale hester pearl,
burden lifted,
dimmesdale hester,
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Acceptance Essays
