Scaffold In The Scarlet Letter Essay
The Role of the Scaffold, “the Platform of Pillory”, in the Scarlett Letter and what it represented
Thesis: The Scaffold was the platform of humiliation.
The Scarlet Letter is a novel that revolves around the repercussion of an adulterous encounter in Puritan Boston. It emerged that a young beautiful woman (Hester Prynne) bears child with a respected clergyman (Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale). According to the Puritan Code, this would lead to public condemnation and mockery hence the two “partners in sin” decline to proclaim their parenthood until immense pressure is piled. Hester’s punishment is to wear letter “A” and stand on a scaffold. This was viewed as the platform for pillory since it was characterized by confinement of the human head in tight grasp then the body displayed for public viewing.
The scaffold scenes of the novel contain many symbols that are essential. First, the scaffold was a platform used for the execution of a criminal and a platform for forgiveness whenever they repented. Hester, for instance, was made to wear letter “A” on her bosom and stand on the scaffold in front of the whole town to see her and her child. By using the scaffold, the author portrays how significant the instrument is the society since Hester repented and was consequently forgiven whilst on it. On the other hand, Dimmesdale failed to get a pardon …show more content…
As she silently ascends the steps and stands at the platform, she grips tightly little Pearl’s hand. Likewise, the reverend fells for the child’s other hand and takes it. The author describes that the moment he did so, “there came what seemed a tumultuous rush of new life, other than his own.” Reverend Dimmesdale is recorded feeling as if the mother and daughter were communicating their so important warmth into his feeble system. This “electric chain” formed by the three creates a bond hence the scaffold here signifies
Thesis: The Scaffold was the platform of humiliation.
The Scarlet Letter is a novel that revolves around the repercussion of an adulterous encounter in Puritan Boston. It emerged that a young beautiful woman (Hester Prynne) bears child with a respected clergyman (Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale). According to the Puritan Code, this would lead to public condemnation and mockery hence the two “partners in sin” decline to proclaim their parenthood until immense pressure is piled. Hester’s punishment is to wear letter “A” and stand on a scaffold. This was viewed as the platform for pillory since it was characterized by confinement of the human head in tight grasp then the body displayed for public viewing.
The scaffold scenes of the novel contain many symbols that are essential. First, the scaffold was a platform used for the execution of a criminal and a platform for forgiveness whenever they repented. Hester, for instance, was made to wear letter “A” on her bosom and stand on the scaffold in front of the whole town to see her and her child. By using the scaffold, the author portrays how significant the instrument is the society since Hester repented and was consequently forgiven whilst on it. On the other hand, Dimmesdale failed to get a pardon …show more content…
As she silently ascends the steps and stands at the platform, she grips tightly little Pearl’s hand. Likewise, the reverend fells for the child’s other hand and takes it. The author describes that the moment he did so, “there came what seemed a tumultuous rush of new life, other than his own.” Reverend Dimmesdale is recorded feeling as if the mother and daughter were communicating their so important warmth into his feeble system. This “electric chain” formed by the three creates a bond hence the scaffold here signifies