Scarrlet letter
In The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses three scaffold scenes to demonstrate an underlying theme of sin revealed, sin concealed. If hidden, sin will destroy, but if revealed sin can make a person stronger. The first scaffold scene depicts Hester and her child on a scaffold in front of the townspeople of Boston. For Hester, this forces her to reveal her sin.Because Hester reveals her sin, she becomes a stronger person. After the townspeople shun her, Hester only has her infant. For Dimmesdale, seeing Hester on the scaffold only makes him want to reveal his sin, but he cannot bring himself to do what his heart desires. Chillingworth’s discovery of the scandal begins when he witnesses Hester on the scaffold. He then goes to the jail and talks with Hester and gives
While Hester, having revealed her sin, can “move on”, Dimmesdale cannot for he has chosen to conceal his sin. Dimmesdale’s frustrated effort for peace drives him to insanity. In scaffold scene two, Dimmesdale attempts to reveal his sin upon the scaffold at night. His attempts fail, however, when he cannot bring himself to say his confession out loud. This intensifies the emotional stress within Dimmesdale. Hester begins to accept her punishment and tries to fit into the community. Viewing Dimmesdale upon the scaffold, Hester and Pearl join him. Pearl realizes her father’s true moral character when she asks him, “Wilt thou stand here with mother and me, tomorrow noontide?” (Ch. XII), because Dimmesdale replies no. Pearl then laughs and becomes disgusted with the minister. Chillin
Some topics in this essay:
Boston Hester,
Dimmesdale Chillingworth,
Ch IV,
Rodger Chillingworth,
Overall Hester,
Nathaniel Hawthorne,
XII Dimmesdale,
Hester Pearl,
Dimmesdale Hester,
Rodger Chillingworth’s,
reveal sin,
revealed sin,
stronger person,
scene dimmesdale,
sin concealed,
dimmesdale scaffold,
mental strength,
hester scaffold,
scaffold scene,
sin revealed,
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Approximate Word count = 541
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)
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