The Scaffolds Power in Nathaniel Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter :: Scarlet Letter essays

The Scaffolds Power in The Scarlet Letter        Recurring results extract great significance and elucidate the truth beneath appearances.  In The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne chooses the scaffold scenes to show powerful differences and similarities.  Each scaffold scene foreshadows the next and brings greater understanding of the novel.  By beginning with the first, continuing with the middle, and ending with the last platform scene, we can gain a better understanding of this masterpiece.          At the beginning of the book, Hester is brought kayoed with Pearl to stand on the scaffold.  Here the reddened letter is revealed to all.  Reverend Dimmesdale, Pearls Father, is already raised up on a platform to the same extremum as Hester and Pearl and Roger Chillingworth, Hesters lost husband, arrives, stands below and questions the proceedings.  As Hester endures her suffering, Dimmesdale is tol d to beseech the woman to confess.  It was said So powerful seemed the ministers appeal that the people could not believe simply that Hester Prynne would speak out  the guilty name.  His powerful speech shows Dimmesdales need to confess.  This scene sets the stage for the next two scenes.          A few years later the event is again repeated.  It is very similar to the other and helps us understand the torment of Dimmesdale. As before the tortured Reverend Dimmesdale goes first on to the platform.  He seeks a confession of his sins a second time by calling out into the night.  He then sees Hester and Pearl coming down the street from the governors house.  As before, they atomic number 18 asked to go up on the scaffold and be with the minister.  At this time Pearl questions the minister if he will do this at noontide and he answers no.  He once again is too much of a coward to confess out in the open. The si milarities continue with a revelation of another scarlet letter.  Up in the sky a scarlet A shines forth.  Roger Chillingworth arrives and tells the minister to get down from the scaffold.  Chillingworth pleads for this so that he can still torment the reverend.  As the two men leave, the scene ends and leaves us with additional information.  It foreshadows a bigger and more