The scaffold scenes are by far the most popular means of pointing out the perfect balance
and structure of Hawthorne's masterpiece. The first time we meet all the principal characters of
the novel is in the first scaffold scene. 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. Hawthorne brings all the principal characters together one more time in the third and
final scaffold scene. This scene begins with the triumph of Dimmesdale's sermon and ends with
his death. These scenes unite the plot, themes, and symbols of the novel in a perfect balance.
The basic structure for the novel is provided by the scaffold scenes because everything else
revolves around what happens during these scenes.
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 our
Roger Chillingworth and Arthur Dimmesdale. Chillingworth, Hester's husband just returned
from his long journey to America. Her lover, Dimmesdale, shares her platform as a sinner but
not her public humiliation. Dimmesdale is present throughout the whole scene but he is very
hesitant to admit that his is the secret lover, although Mr. Wilson is pestering him to find out
who it 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, Dimmesdale's
reluctance to admit his own guilt, and the beginning of Chillingworth's devilish plot to find and
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