Scarlet Letter :: essays research papers

The Scaffold Where Truth PreachesIn the novel The Scarlet Letter, there are three occasions when the sustain is used as a location of truth telling. The Scaffold is set apart in the middle of town, and upon it criminals are convicted. When the reader is first shown the scaffold in the novel, Hester is holding Pearl and she is being convicted of adultery, the second is when Dimmesdale goes upon the scaffold in the night and is joined by Hester and Pearl, and the third time is at the end when Dimmesdale, Hester, and Pearl each(prenominal) go up on the scaffold and Dimmesdale tells the towns people of his crime. Each time the scaffold comes into play, a little more of the truth is revealed to the reader and the people of the town. In the beginning of the book Hester Prynne is being convicted of adultery and is standing upon the scaffold with little Pearl in her arms. Chillingworth and Hester connect but Chillingworths identity is concealed and Dimmesdale is non known to be Hesters lover. Hester is labeled with the scarlet letter for adultery and is basically shunned from society. In the first view of this scaffold, on Hester, is publicly marked with her sin while the other two are hidden.As the book progresses Dimmesdale is being tortured by Chillingworth and is driven pretty much to insanity. At this point the attend is so overwhelmed with grief that he feels he deserves to die, and wants to die, but he keeps existing like he is driven by pure guilt. He finds it appropriate to go to the scaffold in the night and in a way confess his sins. While upon the scaffold Hester and Pearl see him and consequently join him. The three remember on the times and Pearl asks Dimmesdale if he will join them in town the next day with the promise that if he does, that she will tell him Chillingworths identity. When Dimmesdale refuses to join them, Pearl gets angry and doesnt tell Chillingworths secret. Upon this second visit to the scaffold the reader is more clearly able to see Dimmesdales identity as Hesters lover and the three of them along with their sins are exposed on the scaffold. At the end of the book Dimmesdale delivers the best sermon of his animateness then soon afterward goes up the scaffold with Hester and Pearl.