What does Dimmesdale do on the scaffold?

Dimmesdale climbs the scaffold at night so that he can confess his sin and feel how Hester felt. The source of his chest pain is the scarlet “A” he bears.

What does Dimmesdale dramatically show on the scaffold?

Here again, the main characters come together, and this time Dimmesdale reveals his “scarlet letter.” His Election Day sermon should have brought him his greatest triumph, but instead that honor is saved for his confession of sin and his final act of penance in standing on the scaffold with his lover and child.

Does Dimmesdale stand on the scaffold?

As in the first scaffold scene, this chapter abounds in both major and minor symbols: the scaffold itself; Dimmesdale’s standing on it; the three potential observers representing Church, State, and the World of Evil; the “electric chain” of Hester, Pearl, and Dimmesdale; Pearl’s appeal to Dimmesdale; the revealing …

What is the significance of Dimmesdale’s confession on the scaffold?

This third and final scaffold scene serves as a catharsis, as all unsettled matters are given resolution. Pearl acquires a father, Dimmesdale finally confesses, and Chillingworth definitively loses his chance for revenge.

Why does Dimmesdale cry out while on the scaffold?

Why does Dimmesdale cry out while on the scaffold? Dimmesdale shrieks out of horror at the thought that his guilt is exposed to the view of the universe. He calls to Wilson out of a fatalistic impulse that tells him he will soon be exposed because he feels he cannot move.

Who does Dimmesdale see while on the scaffold?

There is no reaction, except for two lights, one in Governor Bellingham’s window, and one coming from his sister Mistress Hibbins’ window. After these lights are extinguished, Dimmesdale sees a man, who turns out to be the Reverend Wilson, with a lantern approaching the scaffolds.

What is the significance of the scaffold scenes in the scarlet letter?

The scaffold plays a vital role in The Scarlet Letter. In the novel, it’s both the symbol of sin and shame, as well as the site of ultimate redemption.

What motivates Dimmesdale to go stand on the scaffold at night?

This is another way Dimmesdale attempts to relieve his agony. He believes that subjecting himself to the same punishment as Hester Prynne had years ago, he would feel better. However, due to his intense shame and weakness, he opts to stand on the scaffold at night.

Who dies when Dimmesdale stands on the scaffold?

The structural juxtaposition of Governor Winthrop’s death with Dimmesdale’s crisis is significant. Winthrop was one of the founders of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and its first governor.

What explanation does Chillingworth provide for Dimmesdale’s presence on the scaffold?

purging his guilty conscience
What explanation does Chillingworth provide for Dimmesdale’s presence on the scaffold? He is purging his guilty conscience.

What does the scaffold symbolize in the scarlet letter?

What is the physical condition of Dimmesdale on his first vigil on the scaffold?

Describe Dimmesdale’s first vigil on the scaffold. He seems to be going mad, agonizingly caught between the impulses of Remorse and Cowardice. Hester and Pearl joined him, after finding him laughing madly atop the scaffold. Their presence and touch were revitalizing to him.