The Significance of the Three Scaffold Scenes in Relation to Dimmesdale In ” The Scarlet Letter” By N.Hawthorne Book Review

The Scarlet Letter written by an American writer Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-64) is a unique literary work that is built around three important scenes on the scaffold of the pillory. The novel was published in 1850. For Puritans, the scaffold symbolizes severe punishments of sinners, the people who violate the established social norms. The scaffold stands for the platform of the pillory for sinners. The people who are considered to be the sinners have to stand on the platform for a long time in order to be openly humiliated by the public. The three scaffold scenes presented by the author in his novel The Scarlet Letter are interrelated and affect the overall perception of the literary work by the reader. The second scene is advancement over the first scene, and the third scene is the advancement over the second scene. Actually, the three scaffold scenes create a symmetrical design of the novel, highlighting the role of the scaffold as the best setting for public recognition. The minister of church, the godly pastor, Arthur Dimmesdale, is the key actor because his actions have a strong impact on the three scaffold scenes of the novel. He is characterized as a “skilled speaker” and a man with “strong religious feelings” (Hawthorne, 1871). The story involves Hester Prynne, the so-called sinner of adultery, as well as her daughter Pearl.  In each scene, Dimmesdale makes certain decisions which lead to the transformation of his character. As a result, he changes his decisions and actions over the course of the three scenes. This fact means that the three scenes on the scaffold are used by the author to place emphasis on the sufferings of the main characters, both Dimmesdale and Hester. Thesis statement: Over the course of the three scaffold scenes, Dimmesdale changes from cowardly guilt and hypocrisy to desperate guilt and hypocrisy, and finally to repentant hope.

In the first scaffold scene Dimmesdale is aware of his guilt and hypocrisy when he questions Hester but is too cowardly to confess his sin. He prefers to stand with other leaders of the community, watching Hester and Pearl from the side. Hester is humiliated, while her lover Dimmesdale remains calm. Dimmesdale’s actions show that he is a coward because he cannot confess that he had intimate relations with Hester. His lack of courage to make confession is one of the key traits of his personality. Although Dimmesdale sees that Hester is punished by the community members, he is not ready to admit the sin of adultery. Hester is obliged to wear the scarlet letter on her clothes in order to demonstrate that she is guilty. The scarlet letter was so “fantastically embroidered and illuminated upon her bosom” (Hawthorne, 1871, p. 67). According to the established Puritan traditions, “it had the effect of a spell, taking her out of the ordinary relations with humanity, and inclosing her in a sphere by herself”(Hawthorne, 1871, p. 67). Hence, in the first scaffold scene, Dimmesdale has an ability to control his feelings, including the feeling of guilt. Serving as the pastor, Dimmesdale has to communicate with Hester in order to get her to confess. He wants Hester to confess his sin of adultery for him, but the women remains thwart and keeps the name of Pearl’s father in secret. She said that she won’t speak and that her child won’t know her father. The girl will seek a Heavenly father (Hawthorne, 1871). In general, Dimmesdale demonstrates his weaknesses because he is unable to accept the truth of reality. 

Seven years later, in the second scaffold scene, Dimmesdale is desperate to confess because his guilt and hypocrisy have only increased, but he manages only a cowardly private rehearsal of his confession. The second scene occurs at night. This scene does not highlight the sufferings of Hester. Special attention is paid to the description of Dimmesdale’s guilt, which makes him feel insane. In the second scaffold scene, Dimmesdale is presented as a weak person because of his changed personality. The scarlet letter, worn by Hester on her clothes, influences Dimmesdale’s decisions in some way because it is a reflection of his guilt. Dimmesdale is seeking resolution and finally public forgiveness for his secret sin. Using the symbolic act of repentance in front of no one, he suggests that it will give his soul some relief. At the same time, the main character realizes that he wear the scarlet letter internally. Dimmesdale is “half-frozen to death, overwhelmed with shame and standing where Hester had stood” (Hawthorne, 1871, p. 203). He realizes that his position as the minister of church entitles him to act as a role model for the public, the Christian faith and for himself, but he feels worthless because of his sin of adultery.

Finally, a few days later, Dimmesdale confesses his sin publicly in the third scaffold scene, showing his repentance and thereby finding relief from guilt and hypocrisy. The third scaffold scene is closely linked to previous scenes. The meeting of the three characters in the marketplace signifies the ending of the story. The scarlet letter makes Hester the object of public attention. In the third scene, Dimmesdale decides to tell the truth. The feeling of guilt expressed by the main character affects his further actions. He asks Hester to support him up scaffold, saying “in the name of Him, so terrible and so merciful, who gives me grace at this last moment to do what – for my own heavy sin and measurable agony – I withheld from doing seven years ago …” (Hawthorne, 1871, p. 229). The man’s weaknesses are turning into strengths. Dimmesdale is aware of his transformation because he acts as a heroic figure. He realizes that he has the last opportunity to tell the truth before his death. The courage obtained by the dying man allows performing a vital religious act, namely to save his soul. Dimmesdale feels that Hester is strong and she will be able to continue her life. Dimmesdale makes a decision to choose telling the truth to the public and free Pearl and her mother from continuous sin. In the third scene, the scarlet letter appears on the clothes of Dimmesdale. Hawthorne uses the third scaffold scene to manifest the successful progression of Dimmesdale’s personally.

Thus, it is necessary to conclude that in the novel The Scarlet Letter written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the three scaffold scenes play a crucial role in understanding of the changing personality of Dimmesdale. Over the course of the three scaffold scenes, Dimmesdale changes from a coward to a guilty person and, finally, to a repentant hoper. Hence, the significance of the three scaffold scenes in the novel The Scarlet Letter is to demonstrate Dimmesdale’s transformation from a weak personality into a strong personality. Hester’s punishment on the scaffold leads to confession of her lover. As a result, Dimmesdale emerges as a real hero of his times. This man is considered to be a hero because he has overcome his cowardice. Hawthorne’s novel demonstrates the hypocrisy of the 17th-century Puritan society through the suffering of Dimmesdale and Hester, who have committed a sin of adultery that makes both of them stronger.

References

Hawthorne, N. (1871).The Scarlet Letter: a Romance. Osgood, & Company.

The terms offer and acceptance. (2016, May 17). Retrieved from

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016.

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

freeessays.club (2016) The terms offer and acceptance [Online].
Available at:

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]
close
Haven't found the right essay?
Get an expert to write you the one you need!
print

Professional writers and researchers

quotes

Sources and citation are provided

clock

3 hour delivery

person