Essay About Scaffolding Scenes And Hester Prynne

Revelations Brought Forth from the Scaffolding Scenes in the Scarlet LetterRevelations Brought Forth from the Scaffolding Scenes in the Scarlet LetterWithin the Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne the imagery of revelation works as a reoccurring theme to bring the reader into the characters view of the incidences going on before them. These ‘revelations’, scattered throughout the story, work as awakenings or realizations of the current situation that the character is presently in or situations they may have to face in the future. All of the characters presented into the story have revelations of some sort. One key discovery theme used in this story is the realization of identification; this is presented as the characters previously thinking they knew somebody and what they stood for, yet they are proved wrong in their beliefs. Another recurrence

of a theme, used in the story, is the usage of the scaffolding in the center of town to unfold a revelation in the characters lives. The scaffolding situation takes place three times within the story, each time with a different circumstance and a change of the witnesses to the scene; but with a revelation that slightly changes the character from what they were before they stood upon the scaffolding. The first instance when the scaffolding appears is the beginning of the story when Hester Prynne is sentenced to stand upon it, bearing her child and the ominous letter ‘A’, for a set time as her punishment for adultery. This takes place during the day as the entire town is placed before to observe. The second scene of scaffold revelation brings the Reverend Dimmesdale to the top of the platform alone as he attempts to lift the weighty guilt off of his chest. Finally, towards the end of the story, we see Hester, Reverend Dimmesdale, and their child, Pearl standing together in front of the judging crowd. In each of these scenes the revelations captured in that moment by the character or characters remain pivotal parts of story and ultimately of the characters lives.

The first scaffolding scene serves as a revelation to, I believe, everyone in the town. Hester’s crime surely must have touched somebody in the large crowd with a revelation of their own guilt. Shame for a past covered sin or perhaps contempt, as even contempt is a sin that should yield shame, for Hester, herself, was most likely felt in many of the townsfolk that day. Yet, the main revelations coming forth in this scene were brought forth by the realizations of the situations each character found his or herself presently in. Hester, Revered Dimmesdale, and Roger Chillingworth all decide at that very moment what needed to be done to conceal themselves and how their demeanor must be hence forth. Hester, at one point, touches the ‘A’ upon her chest to assure herself that it is truly there. Realization of this mark now sets her to thinking about the future and the concealment of the father of her child. Here and now she decides how to reply when questioned about her crime and her partner within the crime. Acceptance of the mark has now set in and she realizes that she deserves this letter and must wear it as a constant reminder in her everyday life. Perhaps too, the revelation of the babe being a living ‘scarlet letter’ has already placed itself into her mind. Dimmesdale’s revelation surely unfolded from the time that he first saw Hester with the child, to when she stood alone on the scaffolding, to when he is urged, in front of the crowd, to question her directly about the father of her baby. With each instance more weight was set upon the reverend’s heart. His realization of what he must now conceal and lie about, everyday, surely beings its deep burrow into his soul here, if not much earlier. Hester’s husband, Roger Chillingworth, revels in the circumstance before him when he first walks back into town. Was that truly his wife? Indeed, his wife had a child and was openly being punished. His revelation also comes with realization of the situation. He realizes that to completely punish Hester, he must now conceal who he really is to the townspeople and allow her to suffer alone.

The revelation at during the second scaffolding scene occurs mainly within Revered Dimmesdale; but perhaps serves as a small revelation to Hester as she may now realize what a burden the secret is to the minister. Since the reverend is, at first, alone in this presentation, one can question if he is essentially already at the end of his rope, willing to give up and die here; or perhaps he comes alone because he is not entirely ready for the unveiling of his expiation. At first since no one can see or hear him; his only thoughts may be that he is weak and unworthy of his position in the community. Is he essentially mocking himself with penitence? He indeed had thought many times how he had wished to exploit himself and his wrong doing but this minor presentation seems as if he wishes the burden to be lifted just by standing upon the scaffolding alone. This vain attempt of redemption seems to wear him down as if he was to give up everything

[Footnote: “No one in the group at the ceremony was able to accept their final confession of repentance. They did not seem to understand, for they did not seem to understand that the minister had admitted to a confession, either by a statement or by the application of a small gesture.[19] One can only conclude that the reverend is not able to accept the confession by any means, or else should he think it is a simple mistake for the minister to accept a confession which will cause a disturbance at the funeral. We will make no appeal to any authority who will interpret a confession to mean that there is a real or potential error in our reasoning in this matter,” the ministry wrote in the statement it issued to Bembroke College.]

“Now, all I say to you is that, if I please, this matter is very important to the Church. We welcome all the attention made to it by the people, and we feel that we must remain in touch with them in the next phase in a process of investigation.”

When the reverend was finally brought into the fold and placed into the cell he seemed to be speaking very slowly and with a very grave tone, as if to speak in an unintelligible language. He has long ceased speaking by this method; we believe that his last words may be spoken at this time. He also seems quite content, as if he is not very anxious to die. He has said that he is willing for this to come sooner or later, and that if it is not of himself or that it is to an end he will be prepared. The audience that heard this speech, in their reaction to it, expressed their astonishment at his words, and how he seemed to have forgotten what he has said in the past. While he was speaking it was necessary to move to the next round to finish his sentence or else he would have to die. But of course there will be a time of reckoning when he will make his final confession. We felt that he is already at the conclusion of his sentence, so we think it will be appropriate to wait until an adequate time exists before we proceed.

The rest of the audience thought that the reverend must be dead, if not to die, or at best to live. It is quite possible that they do not believe that he has no choice whatsoever. This question could not be decided for certain; for it is certain that the minister does not want the reverend dead after all, even if he feels that he is prepared for doing so. Perhaps he can live. Perhaps he has died, and then is forced to confess that he does not wish for its death. That he refuses to accept and acknowledge and accept and confess the Holy Sacrifice. He may indeed have been very unhappy with what he perceived as the confession he made. He could not be certain whether he was ready to leave now or not.[20] We would therefore make no appeal to God. And when he has done so, he is already dead. When his soul has passed away, he is almost completely forgotten; so there could be no time for another resurrection. But here lies one of the more difficult problems of the whole process, for it is not in the whole manner the reverend has felt after having been “put into the cell,” but rather in one of a succession of situations. During his lifetime the Reverend is in an emotional state. His life is over and his heart is empty. In his last moments the congregation was not a happy one. He died for us, for he was never quite sure how to move on. So it felt very much like the Church was going through this exact same situation that he dealt here before