The Scaffold Scenes in Nathaniel Hawthornes The Scarlet...

The Scaffold Scenes in Nathaniel Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter In Nathaniel Hawthorne?s The Scarlet Letter, the Puritans constantly look down upon sinners like Hester Prynne, both literally and symbolically. The use of the three scaffold scenes throughout the course of the novel proved to be an effective method in proving this theory and showing how Puritan society differs from that of today?s. In the first scaffold scene, Hester is being led from the prison where she has spent the last few months, towards the scaffold clutching her newborn baby to her bosom, covering the scarlet letter-the two symbols representing truth and her lost innocence. She stands on the scaffold, with the magistrates and ministers standing above her†¦show more content†¦It is for this reason that he allows Hester to reveal his true identity to Dimmesdale, even thought he realizes that it could be his demise. This new information is a shock to Dimmesdale, his doctor, his friend; his confidante was his enemy all along. Bent on revenge and destroying him, Dimmesdale realizes that the ?Black Man? has his soul after all, and if he doesn?t submit to his will, his life and his reputation will pay the price In a daze, confused and hurt, Dimmesdale wanders to the place where seven years ago Hester had stood clutching their child to her bosom, to the scaffold where he should have stood beside her all those years ago. While standing on the scaffold, his shirt open revealing his own scarlet letter to the world, he looked up at the pulpit where he had stood all those years ago and realizes the hypocrisy of his past actions. He knew that he was no closer to God than Hester, if anything he was far lower than she was, for she had the courage to admit to her sins and to accept her punishment and make the best of it. The main scene that led up to the third scaffold scene is the encounter in the forest between Hester and Dimmesdale. During this scene, the last few details surrounding Hester?s situation is revealed. While Pearl plays on the other side of the brook, dancing in the ?pure sunlight? and reveling in reality, while Hester and Dimmesdale are lost in their own fantasy world,Show MoreRelatedThe Scaffold in Nathaniel Hawthrone ´s The Scarlet Letter 789 Words   |  3 Pages The symbol of the scaffold evolves in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel The Scarlet letter is build around the symbolic scaffold. The main characters transform the scaffold from the exposition to resolution. Next the traits of the scaffold itself deteriorate throughout the novel. Finally, the scaffold is applied symbolically throughout Hawthorne’s novel. The scaffold transforms throughout the book because they are there for different reasons. In the beginningRead MoreThe Scaffold Scenes in Nathaniel Hawthrone ´s The Scarlet Letter791 Words   |  3 Pages Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter is known as a psychological novel regarding humanity, sin, guilt, and a fair amount of other ambiguous concepts. One of those is the significance of the three scaffold scenes throughout the work. The scaffold scenes signify religious and moral ideas, such as sinfulness, the spiritual figures the characters each portray, and the character development achieved by public and private absolution. The first scaffold scene begins the novel. In chapters two throughRead MoreNathaniel Hawthorne’s Diction of the Scarlet Letter952 Words   |  4 PagesNathaniel Hawthorne’s Diction of The Scarlet Letter The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne presents the reader with the harsh, life changing conflicts of three Puritan characters during the 17th century. 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A scaffolds effect on the novel can be seen through an examination of the first, second, and third scaffold scenes.   These sections mark the beginning, middle, and end of the novel. The novel The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, is constructedRead MoreArthur Dimmesdales Guilt and Hypocrisy Essay829 Words   |  4 PagesArthur Dimmesdale’s Guilt and Hypocrisy By Ashlyn R. Thomas In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s gripping tale, The Scarlet Letter, a revered Puritan minister suffers from cowardly guilt and hypocrisy after he commits adultery in this novel staged in the seventeenth century. Arthur Dimmesdale, who hides himself in the shame of his lover, Hester Prynne, protects his reputation among the Puritan people. The scaffold, a public symbol of disgrace, contrasts with the pastor’s silent sin of adultery. When HesterRead MoreIn Nathaniel HawthorneS The Scarlet Letter, There Are948 Words   |  4 PagesIn Nathaniel Hawthorne s The Scarlet Letter, there are many important scenes. 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For example, one prominent symbol is the scaffoldRead More Symbols and Symbolism in Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter Essay2336 Words   |  10 Pages Thesis Statement: Nathaniel Hawthorne used symbolism to bring meaning into his book The Scarlet Letter. I. Symbolism A. Definition B. Style II. Symbolism in characters A. Hester B. Dimmesdale C. Chillingworth D. Pearl III. Symbolism in objects A. The scarlet letter B. The scaffold C. The forest D. The brook IV. Symbolic relations between characters and objects A. Characters and the scarlet letter B. Characters and the scaffold C. Pearl and the forest