" (Hawthorne, 48) The way that Dimmesdale speaks to Hester shows that he wants his name to be revealed, he just cannot bring himself to do it. He pleads with her to reveal his name, but she takes it as him being the innocent minister he is supposed to be. This first scaffold scene launches Dimmesdale's personal battle against himself to reveal his sin and begins Chillingworth's personal war against the man who has fathered Hester's child. In the years that follow, Chillingworth continually tries to persuade Hester to reveal the identity of her lover, but she steadily refuses. It does not take long, however for him to suspect Arthur Dimmesdale. The minister, still continues to hide his guilt from his congregation, when he does attempt to admit that he is the sinner, he does it so indirectly that his confessions are taken as a sign of humility, only adding to his guilt. His guilt steadily grows in the novel so much that he tortures himself in private as personal punishment. Chillingworth, who is trying to get revenge by tormenting the minister, adds to the deterioration of Dimmesdale's health. He does not realize that Chillingworth is Hester's husband and his worst enemy. All of this torture and guilt leads Dimmesdale to create the novel's second scaffold scene. .
In this scene Dimmesdale mounts the scaffold, clutching his naked breast which held the scarlet letter, permanently etched there. On the scaffold he screamed aloud, without power to restrain himself. He then exclaimed, "It is done, the whole will awake and hurry forth, and find me here." (Hawthorne, 103) It seems as though that's what Dimmesdale wanted was the whole town to come see him standing there, a sinner. However, the minister is soon greeted by his fellow sinner, Hester and their daughter. He calls to them and says, "Come up hither, Hester, thou and little Pearl. Ye have both been here before, but I was not with you.