The fist scaffold scene sets the picture/image of a solitary figure against an inimical society in a village which hovers on the edge of the inviting and perilous wilderness – a beautiful young woman standing on a raised platform confronting in silence and pride a hostile crowd, a young woman who has come alone to the New World where circumstances have divided her from the community now gathered to oppose her. The scene sets the tone of the narrative that is to unfold with these protagonists in the ‘romance’ – Hester, Pearl, Dimmesdale and Chillingworth as the dramatic personae. Chillingworth is a mere spectator of Hester’s public humiliation while Dimmesdale is too cowardly and timid to admit his part in her shame.
Seeing that Hester has recognized him, he slowly and calmly raises his finger and puts it on his lip, asking her not to reveal his identity in the crowd.ĭimmesdale’s apparent status among the community leaders contrasts with Hester’s predicament in this scene, while Chilllingworth has no status to speak of at this juncture. His face darkens with some power of emotion which he controls by an effort of his will. She stands alone in the world with the symbol of her sin, concealing the torture she is undergoing when she spots Roger Chilllingworth at the edge of the crowd. She tries to hide it by shifting the infant to that side, but bears her ordeal with dignity and a certain amount of haughtiness. People gaze at the embroidered scarlet letter ‘A’ “fantastically embroidered and illuminated upon her bosom”. She can expect no sympathy from anyone in the community. Women in the crowd pass harsh comments on her, but Hester is resolute. They even hold out the temptation that she may be allowed to take off the scarlet letter if she reveals his name. John Wilson and the young priest Arthur Dimmesdale – exhort Hester to reveal the name of her partner-in-sin. The leaders of the community – Governor Bellingham, the Reverend Mr. People jeer at her and mock her and while the people stand below the platform, the leaders of the community – civil officers, magistrates, priests – stand above on a balcony.
She has been let off in the opinion of many in the crowd, with a ‘lenient’ punishment for breaking a sacred commandment. She has committed the unforgivable sin of adultery and must be made a public spectacle. The first scaffold or pillory scene occurs right at the beginning of the novel when Hester stands with an infant in her arms on the scaffold in midday.
Each of these scenes brings together the major characters and forces of the story and each scene, rivets our attention to the scarlet letter ‘A’ on Hester Prynne’s bosom.
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