The Scaffold Scene In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter

Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote The Scarlet Letter, a historical fiction novel. Hawthorne chooses to use a unique scaffold scene as the basic structure of the book. This scaffold is used for meetings, elections, and sermons; However, it is also used for punishment and confession. In the novel, Hester Prynne commits the crime of adultery with an unknown man that is later known. As the story progresses, the scaffold appears in three scenes, and each individual part advances the actions in the story.

In the first scaffold scene, Hester is receiving the remaining portion of her punishment, public humiliation. Hest is standing on the scaffold with Dimmesdale and the magistrates when she sees a familiar man watching from a distance. The narrator describes Hester’s actions; “ In a moment, however, wisely judging that one token of

During the final scaffold scene, Dimmesdale confesses after seven years. Dimmesdale proclaims, “‘ …- I withheld myself from doing seven years ago, come hither now, and twine thy strength about me!... This wretched and wronged old man is opposing it with all his might… Support me up yonder scaffold!”’ (Hawthorne 194-195). He feels that he has done the wrong thing by waiting this long to confess, and he should have confessed seven years ago. In result of his hidden sin, his health and strength has deteriorated. Dimmesdale shouts, “‘... ye, that have loved me!- ye, that have deemed me holy! behold me here, the one sinner of the world!... at whose brand of sin and infamy ye have not shuddered!’” (Hawthorne 196). As Dimmesdale confesses, the town is shocked and does not believe the news; However, Dimmesdale expects a different reaction because he is a man held to high standards.. He believe he wronged the entire town by not confessing earlier, and he feels he has not been bashed enough. CONCLUSION