The scaffold scenes are by far the most popular means of pointing out the
perfect balance and structure of Hawthorne’s masterpiece. The first time we meet
all the principal characters of the novel is in the first scaffold scene. The
second of three crucial scaffold scenes appears exactly in the middle of the
novel. Again, Hawthorne gathers all of his major characters in one place.
Hawthorne brings all the principal characters together one more time in the
third and final scaffold scene. This scene begins with the triumph of
Dimmesdale’s sermon and ends with his death. These scenes unite the plot,
themes, and symbols of the novel in a perfect balance. The basic structure for
the novel is provided by the scaffold scenes because everything else revolves
around what happens during these scenes. The first scaffold scene focuses on
Hester and the scarlet letter. Hester stands alone with Pearl in her arms, a
mere infant and sign of her sin. Meanwhile, a crowd of townspeople has gathered
to watch her humiliation and to hear a sermon. Two important people in the crowd
our Roger Chillingworth and Arthur Dimmesdale. Chillingworth, Hester’s husband
just returned from his long journey to America. Her lover, Dimmesdale, shares
her platform as a sinner but not her public humiliation. Dimmesdale is present
throughout the whole scene but he is very hesitant to admit that his is the
secret lover, although Mr. Wilson is pestering him to find out who it is.
He doesn’t admit because he is afraid if he does confess it will ruin
his reputation as a person and as a minister. Chillingworth demands Hester to
give him the name of her partner in sin but she will not do so. In this scene,
we have Hester’s public repentance, Dimmesdale’s reluctance to admit his own
guilt, and the beginning of Chillingworth’s devilish plot to find and punish the
father of Pearl. The second scaffold scene again provides a view of all the
principal characters, a dramatic vision of the scarlet A, and one of the most
memorable representations in American literature. In the covering of darkness,
Dimmesdale made his way to the scaffold to perform a silent vigil of his own.
Dimmesdale is having a difficult time dealing with his own guilt, the reasoning
for his late night stand on the scaffold. In his torture he suddenly cries out a
shriek of agony that is heard by Hester and Pearl on their journey home from the
dying bed of Governor Winthrop. After hearing this shriek both Hester and Pearl
join Dimmesdale on the scaffold. Pearl then asks Dimmesdale if he will be
joining her and Hester there at noontime on the next day. Dimmesdale responds
that their meeting will be on the great judgement day, rather than here in the
daylight. Hawthorne describes the situation as such, “And there stood the
minister, with his hand over his heart; and Hester Prynne, with the embroidered
letter glimmering on her bosom; and little Pearl, herself a symbol, and the
connecting link between the two of them.” (Hawthorne 144). The cry of Dimmesdale
was also heard by two other people, they were Mr. Wilson and Chillingworth. Mr.
Wilson thought that Dimmesdale was upset about Governor Winthrop’s death so he
thought nothing of the incident. Chillingworth was spotted by Pearl when a large
meteor burns through the dark sky. Although Chillingworth said nothing to the
three, his reasoning for standing there staring at them is very mysterious. This
is when Hester and Dimmesdale start to wonder if he knows the truth about them.
The people of the town thought that the meteor symbolized the scarlet A. This
scene flourishes with symbols. They include: the scaffold itself; Dimmesdale’s
silent vigil; the three observers that represent Church (Mr.Wilson), State
(Governor Winthrop), and the World of Evil (Chillingworth); the connection
between Hester, Pearl, and Dimmesdale; and the meteor. The final scaffold scene
occurs after the procession on Election Day.
