The Scarlet Letter

The Scarlet Letter is a unified, masterfully written novel. It is

structured around three crucial scaffold scenes and three major characters

that are all related. The story is about Hester Prynne, who is given a

scarlet letter to wear as a symbol of her adultery. Her life is closely

tied to two men, Roger Chillingworth, her husband, and Arthur Dimmesdale,

her minister and the father of her child. Her husband is an old, misshapen

man who Hester married while still in Europe. Chillingworth sends her

ahead of him to New England, and then does not follow her or correspond

with her for two years.

Ironically, he shows up on the day that Hester is publicly punished for

her sin of adultery. It is the first of the three scaffold scenes. Hester

stands alone, clutching her infant. Chillingworth and Dimmesdale stand in

the crowd watching her. Chillingworth is incensed over her sinfulness and

vows to find out the identity of her partner so that he can have his

revenge.

is tormented by Chillingworth. As a result, Dimmesdale suffers from

failing health as well as from his guilt. He tries to confess and cannot

find the courage to do it. He even mounts the scaffold one night and calls

Hester and Pearl to his side -- but it is under the cover of darkness.

Unfortunately, Chillingworth watches this second scaffold scene in the

darkness. He now has his final proof that Dimmesdale is the father of

Pearl. His revenge intensifies.

Hester realizes what is going on between Dimmesdale and Chillingworth and

gains permission from her husband to reveal his true identity to the

minister. Dimmesdale is devastated by the news and agrees to flee Boston

with Hester and Pearl. He will do anything to escape the hold that

Chillingworth has on him. In the end, however, Dimmesdale realizes that he

can only be rid of his tormentor by publicly acknowledging his guilt. At

the end of the novel, on Election Day, Dimmesdale climbs the scaffold with

Hester and Pearl again. This third scaffold scene is in the light of day

and before a crowd. With his family at his side, Dimmesdale finally

confesses his sin and shows the scarlet "A" on his chest. He then dies

peacefully.

Hawthorne has perfectly structured The Scarlet Letter around three

scaffold scenes. At the first one, located in the very beginning of the

novel, Hester openly confesses her sin of adultery in the light of day

while Dimmesdale and Chillingworth look on from the crowd that has

gathered. The second scaffold scene occurs in the middle of the book and

is the climax of the plot. Dimmesdale climbs the scaffold alone and calls

for Hester and Pearl to join him. It is not a public confession, however,

for it is done in the cover of darkness with no witnesses, except for the

evil Chillingworth, who now has his proof that Dimmesdale is Pearl's

father. The third and final scaffold scene occurs at the end of the novel.

Dimmesdale climbs the scaffold again with Hester and Pearl at his side.

This time it is in the light of day and before a crowd, and he publicly

confesses his sin. He has won his personal victory.

The Scarlet Letter centers round the consequences of sin, especially shame

and guilt. It is to be noted that the sin