Theme Wheel. Everything you need for every book you read. The way the content is organized and presented is seamlessly smooth, innovative, and comprehensive. LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Scarlet Letter , which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. One night, Dimmesdale mounts the town scaffold where Hester and Pearl once stood to be shamed. He imagines the scene filled with townspeople.
He cries out in anguish, but Mr. Wilson , who was walking by in the distance, doesn't see Dimmesdale. It's clear now that Dimmesdale shares Hester's "sin. Active Themes. Hester and Pearl , returning from the deathbed of the colony's first governor, do spot Dimmesdale , and join him on the scaffold.
This chapter, 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 — this time in a chapter so foreboding, so convincing in its psychology, and so rich in its symbolism that it is unquestionably one of the most powerful in the novel. In his description of Dimmesdale's actions while alone on the scaffold, Hawthorne demonstrates his mastery of psychological realism.
The sudden changes in mood that take place in the minister's tired mind, the self-condemnation for his cowardice, the near-insanity of his scream, and his impulse to speak to Mr. Wilson all are developed convincingly. The first scaffold scene took place during the noon hours and concentrated on Hester's guilt and punishment.
This second scene, occurring at the midnight hours, puts both "sinners" on the scaffold and concentrates on Dimmesdale's guilt and punishment. All the major characters of the first scene are again present. The town, although present, sleeps or is otherwise unaware of the action. It is Chillingworth. Dimmesdale asks if she intends to mock him, and she replies that she is punishing him for his refusal to stand in public with her and her mother.
Chillingworth approaches and coaxes Dimmesdale down, saying that the minister must have sleepwalked his way up onto the scaffold. Dimmesdale and Chillingworth return home. The following day, the minister preaches his most powerful sermon to date.
After the sermon, the church sexton hands Dimmesdale a black glove that was found on the scaffold. Dimmesdale has tried to invent for himself an alternate path to absolution, torturing himself both psychologically and physically. The nearly hysterical fear he feels when he imagines his congregation seeing him on the scaffold is a reminder that the minister has not only himself but also his flock to consider.
His public disgrace could harden his followers, or even lead them astray. However, the events in these chapters suggest that Dimmesdale must publicly confront the truth about his past.
He has a strong impulse to confess to his congregation, and, although he resists it, his attempts at private expiation begin to bring him closer to exposure. It helps to establish an ironic contrast between her public torments and his inner anguish.
In fact, it is so dark outside that he is not even visible to Reverend Wilson when the latter walks past. As long as he hides the truth about himself, he can never discover the truths of others.
His visions never wholly delude him, however, and he remains painfully aware of his reliance upon fictions. The Puritan world of The Scarlet Letter survives through convenient fictions. Ah, I see now how much books can trouble the brain. You should study less, good sir, and relax more often, or these nighttime fantasies will only increase.
With a chill despondency, like one awaking, all nerveless, from an ugly dream, he yielded himself to the physician, and was led away. With a chilling hopelessness, like one who wakes up trembling after a nightmare, he let the doctor lead him away. The next day, however, being the Sabbath, he preached a discourse which was held to be the richest and most powerful, and the most replete with heavenly influences, that had ever proceeded from his lips.
Souls, it is said, more souls than one, were brought to the truth by the efficacy of that sermon, and vowed within themselves to cherish a holy gratitude towards Mr. Dimmesdale throughout the long hereafter. But, as he came down the pulpit-steps, the gray-bearded sexton met him, holding up a black glove, which the minister recognized as his own. The next day, he preached a sermon considered the most powerful and inspired he had ever given.
It is said that many souls were saved by the strength of that sermon, vowing to remain grateful to Mr. Dimmesdale even in Heaven.
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