The Significant Scaffold In The Scarlet Letter

The Significant Scaffold

“Come up hither, Hester, thou and little Pearl…Ye have both been here before, but I was not with you, come up hither once again, and we will stand all three together!” (Hawthorne 140). Through all of history, authors define the characters they create by their actions, their character, or by their peers. Most of the time, these characters have their defining moments which show who the character really is or who he or she is striving to be. Sometimes the character can be associated with a positive symbol and other characters look to the person for positive influences. In The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, there are many symbols throughout the entire story which have a deeper meaning than what is shown on the

“Satan dropped it there, I take it, intending a scurrilous jest against your reverence. But, indeed, he was blind and foolish, as he ever and always is. A pure hand needs no glove to cover it!" (Hawthorne 145). This quote is very important because Dimmesdale is being accused of dropping his glove at the scaffold, but he does not want anyone to know he is confessing his sin about the affair with his lover. His sin then inspires him to write more sermons about secret sin. He is loved by more and more people and is converting people to the Puritan lifestyle, when deep down he carries a dark secret. The scaffold represents unity, as it is bringing Dimmesdale much closer to his family than ever before. “...which we interpret to stand for Angel. For as our good Governor Winthrop was made an angel this past night, it was doubtless held fit that there should be some notice thereof". (Hawthorne 145). He is not a bad person on the outside towards others. He still has sympathy for the Governor, despite his dark actions. As it is being shown the scaffold is evolving from something negative to something