Answer the following in at least 2 well developed paragraphs; using textual evidence to provide support for you claims:
The final scaffold scene brings the various themes, characters, and plot lines woven throughout the novel to a powerful conclusion. Describe your response to this scene, and to the disputed event that occurs near its end.
Respond to at least 2 of your classmates in at least 1 paragraph about their response.
There are three main scaffold scenes throughout the Scarlet Letter. The first scaffold scene is between chapters one through three. The second scaffold scene is in chapter twelve and the last scene is in chapter twenty-three. All of the books main characters are present in these three scaffold scenes. In the final scaffold scene, all characters meet at the market place during the day. Hester is the center of attention as usual, because she is still wearing the scarlet letter. The scarlet letter still causes Hester be an outcast of the group, while Dimmesdale is still portrayed as a saint. But there is a twist, Dimmesdale is dying. This is Dimmesdale’s last chance to confess.
ReplyDeleteMy response to this scene is anxious. Throughout the entire novel, Hester is portrayed as a bad person and sinner because she is the one whose sin was out in the open for everyone to see. Dimmesdale should have confessed sooner, to make things easier for Hester and his daughter. I am relieved that now Chillingworth no longer has control over Dimmesdale because he decides to choose the path of truth and free Pearl of his and Hester’s guilt.
as stated in the introduction of my post, our posts our heavily similar, so obviously I agree with you about the significance of that final scene. However, our views differ on the reactions. To be fair, you made very good points about why you felt the way you did, and while I do not agree with you, I can see where you're coming from with that analysis. But don't you just agree that this is all a bit too fairy tale? Even though most fairy tales aren't quite as dark as Hawthorne novels.
DeleteGood inquiries, but referring back to a discussion we had in class, do you believe that maybe even if Dimmesdale confessed his sins at an earlier time, the village would forgive and forget him a lot quicker than with Hester? I was also relieved that Chillingworth no longer has bondage over Dimmesdale due to his confession.
DeleteI also agree with you that Dimmesdale should had confessed sooner so he could live out the shame with his lover, Hester, and know how much pain and challenges she went through. Also, I do think it was nice of him to tell the truth to help out his daughter Pearl because in her defense it really was not her fault. She did not try to be who she was, which was a product of sin.
DeleteI agree that Dimmesdale should have confessed earlier in the story so he can also live with the shame of sinning just as Hester, but as jesus said about our class discussion I doubt that the townspeople would as reacted towards Dimmesdale as they did to Hester. The townspeople would not have given him such a punishment as Hester.
DeleteLike pretty much everyone else said, I belive that Hester's life would have been the same regardless if Dimmesdale had confessed earlier. I believe the time simply would have allowed Dimmesdale to walk away with a slap on the wrist, leaving Hester with all of the punishment.
DeleteSpoiler alert, my response is possibly going to be painfully similar to Megan's. I apologize, but that is just how the cookie crumbles. Anyways, on to the discussion. Throughout the novel, we are treated to three individual scaffold scenes, during which there is plenty of exposition about the main characters. The first scene is in the very beginning of the book, and presents the main character, Hester Prynne, and explains her supposed crime of Adulterer and gives the story premise and setting. The second scene is when Hester, Dimmesdale and Pearl are standing atop the scaffold, hand in hand, and the sky is marked with the Letter A, created by a comet or meteor. This is the middle of the story, and provides Hester's transition from poor, doomed girl to a strong woman, who has earned her acceptance from the people around her. The final scene is the one in this discussion, where Hester, Dimmesdale, and Pearl all meet in the marketplace. Hester is still viewed as an sinner and outcast, and Dimmesdale reveals he is dying. Thus, this is the final opportunity for Dimmesdale to confess his sin and removed some of the weight of responsibility from his lover and daughter's shoulders.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I can honestly say my reaction to this scene was... lackluster. I am sure that it was shocking to some, but to me, it was almost laughable. The terrible tradition of cliche has penetrated even the dark classics, even though one could argue that this is the foundation to said cliche. To me, the story just ends up being too perfect. The reluctant hero becomes the fallen hero, the heroine either goes on to a nice "happily ever after," or dies a tragic death, and the daughter is left behind. It wraps up too predictably to me. This ending would bring a tear to Walt Disney's Cryogenic-ally frozen eye.
I did not think about the ending of being cliche until you explained the "fallen hero and heroine." Now, that I think of the ending like that it is pretty true. Dimmesdale is just strangely dying at the end, and feels that he should confess his burden. Which I think is selfish, to leave his daughter and Hester with what will come after he dies and announces the secret. Like I said in my discussion it will help with Hester's guilt, but it will still make people wonder and question Dimmesdale as a person. They will also say things about Hester's character and about Pearl and her future actions.
DeleteBefore reading your opinion on the ending, I did not even view the ending as too cliche. I shunned that possibly since Dimmesdale did ultimately die and did not live happily ever after with Hester and Pearl, but maybe this death makes the story more predictable than if he would have survived. The obvious foreshadowing before this moment makes me feel like I messed very important facts that would have made Dimmesdale's death far too predicable.
DeleteI agree that the ending of the story is cliché. This is the foundation for the cliché like you said, so you can't blame Hawthorne for being unoriginal. I don't agree that the heroine "lives happily ever after", or dies a tragic death. In the end she ends up in the same place where she started.
DeleteSpoiler alert, my response is possibly going to be painfully similar to Megan’s. I apologize, but that is just how the cookie crumbles. I think it’s completely selfish that Dimmesdale decides to die and leave Pearl and Hester with what comes after he dies and all. How could he do that? What a jerk. He could have obviously stayed alive. So selfish of him to clear his conscious before he dies. And of course, great catch with the cliché ending. Man, I knew that Hester being buried right next to Dimmesdale just wasn’t original. Grrr, heroine and hero death cliché. Good stuff, Kale.
DeleteIn the final scaffold scene, Hester, Dimmesdale, and Pearl are in the marketplace. With Dimmesdale dying, it makes it the perfect opportunity for him to confess his sins, regardless of Chillingworth attempting to stop him. After his confession, he then reveals the red mark likely to be the scarlet letter A (The narrator does not specify). Afterwards, he falls into the scaffold and dies. Chillingworth then says "Thou hast escaped me!"
ReplyDeleteMy reaction to this scene fluctuated in a multitude of ways. It seemed predictable that with Dimmesdale and Hester's plans to run away together, Dimmesdale would leave the town confessing his sins. It is questionable, however, whether his imminent death was the sole cause of his confession; if he was not dying, would he have been a bit reluctant to confess his sins? To me, it was satisfying that with Dimmesdale's confession, he was liberated from the bondage that Chillingworth had him in. No longer could Chillingworth torture Dimmesdale with guilt, ultimately rendering Chillingworth's life, pointless. It was touching that Pearl was more than willing to kiss Dimmesdale after he confessed his sins. If he were alive to witness this moment, it is very possible that he would have been more amenable to confess his sins at an earlier time.
I did not think of that possible if question there. I also to wonder is Dimmesdale was not dying would he confess his sins? Throughout the entire novel he did not, so what are the odds that in his final moments he decides to confess. Rather selfish if you ask me. However, at the time, Hester and Pearl thought that him confessing his sins was a great thing at this time of death, but I do not think that they really thought much of it.
DeleteI agree that the end was predictable. It is satisfying to know that when Dimmesdale confessed, Chillingworth could no longer torture him. If he wasn't dying, I think he would've kept his sins to himself.
DeleteI agree with Eric here, if he wasn't dying he wouldn't have confessed his sins. It's true that Chillingworth could no longer torture Dimmesdale and I feel as if he regrets that he couldn't talk him into being saved. The ending was pretty predictable though
DeleteI'm going to jump on this "If Dimmesdale wasn't dying, he wouldn't have confessed" wagon. I like to believe this is true. “’At the great judgment day… then, and there, before the judgment-seat, thy mother, and thou, and I must stand together. But the daylight of this world shall not see our meeting!" pg 150. Sounds like Dimmie isn't really thinking about confessing. The guy plans to just leave with Hester and travel the world or whatever. Now, that Dimmesdale is about to die, he wants to go to Heaven so he confesses. He simply wants to die in a clear slate. Chilling only wanted to save the man so he can continue his vengeance. If he exposes himself, where is all the fun then?
DeleteI agree with jesus about Dimmesdale confusing his sins and then dying which was predictable but as abby said if Dimmesdale wouldn't have been dying he would have never said anything. Its like he knew he was going to die so might as well die with his sins confessed so he can go to heaven.
DeleteIn the final scaffold scene, Hester, Dimmesdale, and Pearl meet in the market place. Dimmesdale is dying, so he feels it is a good time to confess his sins(no surprise there). Chillingworth wanted to stop Dimmesdale, but he could not, and Dimmesdale confessed and then he revealed a red mark on his chest. We can only assume that the mark is the scarlet letter. He then dies when he falls into the scaffold and dies.
ReplyDeleteMy reaction to this scene was neutral. I was not surprised that Dimmesdale died and that he revealed his sins in front of the whole town. I knew not to expect a happy ending, because it is after all, a Hawthorne story, where there are no happy endings. Hester coming back to town without Pearl did catch me off guard. What happened to Pearl? Also, how did everyone just accept Hester as normal again?
BOYYYY you copied me, but yea it wasn't really a shocker when Dimmesdale died. Either way Chillingworth would've killed him if anything really. I did actually sit and contemplate as to why Hester was just suddenly accepted into the town as a normal person again. Did they just suddenly forget that she smashed ole boy?
DeleteI agree and thought about the same thing with the situation about Pearl missing in the ending. The ending doesn't mention much about where Hester and Pearl went, or why Hester even came back to the town that shamed her for years. Why would she come back to the town where she had so many bad memories? I suppose because the town has "forgiven Hester" or at least chosen to forget her sin that she feels comfortable in the town again.
DeleteI also agree with you Eric. God been workin on Dimmesdale so he already knew he had to come clean. But Hester being the thot, was keeping it real as well. My emotions during this scene was neutral also, because we all had a feeling that Dimmesdale was going to die, we just didn't know how. And in other words, wassup with these 1940's books Lear, when are we going to hear about stories on how Tyrone made it out the hood without using baking soda.
DeleteI agree with Gloria. Why would Hester come back to a town with such bitter memories. Why did Hester come back without her daughter, wasn't her daughter the most important and valuable being to her. I do not think that anyone was surprised with Dimmesdale's death, I mean we all knew he was going to die sooner or later and that with this he was going to speak the truth. The only thing that I can say is that Dimmesdale was a coward not to speak the truth in the first place, but then again with him saying the truth in the begining there would be no story to follow.
DeleteThe final scaffold scene is what ties the whole story together. Dimmesdale had just finished his sermon that the townspeople said to be his best sermon he has ever preached. The scene goes on to explain that Hester and Pearl accompany Dimmesdale on the scaffold. He then leans on Hester for support, since he is rather old and dying, and declares that God has lead him there to repent of his sins in his final moments. He yells out to the townspeople that he is "the one sinner of the world". He then supports himself up and rips open his shirt to show everyone some kind of mark upon his chest which he says to mean like the "A" embroidered on Hester's clothes. After all this mishap, Dimmesdale then dies and the whole town is flustered.
ReplyDeleteMy reaction to this scene was anger and I also felt as if it was not fair at all. Dimmesdale lived his life knowing that he had sinned, knowing that Pearl was his daughter and that Hester was his lover without the town being unaware of it. Maybe throughout his life he might have felt guilty, but if it was extreme guilt then he would had confessed to the town long ago. In my opinion, I feel like he got off with a clean slate. He was about to die and that is when he decides to confess? No fairness to either Hester or Pearl there. He does not live the judgment from the townspeople of his sin like Hester did. To me, Dimmesdale did not want to be judge by the people because he could not take it and was too ashamed because he was apart of the church. He confessed his sins in his final moments to not be judged and break away from Chillingworth's demands.
I agree with you that it was cowardly way out for Dimmesdale, since he wanted to confess his sins but he did not want to stick around to receive the same judgement and even punishment Hester faced. This is infuriating because Hester suffered so much when her sins were called out but for Dimmesdale, the lover she sinned with, came out with a clean slate
DeleteIn the final scaffold scene in the main characters, Hester, Dimmesdale, and Pearl meet up in the market place, along with the other characters in the story. Dimmesdale is dying, and feels that now is the perfect time to confess his sin. Chillingworth did not want Dimmesdale to die saying, "Do not perish in dishonor, I can yet save you." Basically Chillingworth is saying to Dimmesdale, don't die in shame of your sin, I can save you from your death. Instead Dimmesdale ignores Chillingworth's proposal and confesses his sins, and revealing the mark on his chest. He then falls into the scaffold and dies.
ReplyDeleteMy reaction to this scene wasn't really a shocker to me considering that this is a Nathaniel Hawthorne story. What was shocking to me actually was that Chillingworth wanted Dimmesdale to live. I don't think he actually wanted Dimmesdale to live though, I think that he wanted to fulfill his revenge and with Dimmesdale dying on his own he wouldn't be able to fulfill that revenge.What made me happy was that the puritan elders had no power to judge or punish Dimmesdale, due to the fact that he you know, "DIED". If the man wanted to smash LET HIM SMASH.
I agree with you that it was strange for Chillingworth to want Dimmesdale to continue living though as you said it's not because he cared for the minister's well being but instead he wanted to continue torturing him until he died not for him to die all of a sudden without having Chillingworth consent leaving him lonely with no one to torture.
DeleteI as well find it pretty weird why he wanted to save his life when he was torturing him before. I agree that he really didn't want him to live... I think he probably would have gotten on the scaffold and pushed him off before he could tell his sins. Maybe that would have given Hester no sense of pressure release... No one would know who knocked her up and they would still talk down on her.
DeleteTowards the end of the novel all the main characters come together in the center of town surrounding the scaffold. In every scene that the scaffold is the main part of we can find Chillingworth, Dimmesdale, Hester, and Pearl as an infant and a young child. The final scene however as we all know Dimmesdale feels like it is time to confess his sin because he has become too weak to continue carrying the pain with him. Dimmesdale asks Hester and Pearl to join him on the scaffold and, while Hester supports him up, he confesses his sin to the entire town. The foreshadowing of Dimmesdale continuously clutching his chest reveals the mark which is inferred to be a scarlet letter just like Hester's . The symbol of their sin. Dimmesdale eventually dies in front of the townspeople.
ReplyDeleteMy reaction to the ending of the novel was pretty neutral like Eric's. I expected someone to die or something tragic to happen. In the chapters before Hester and Dimmesdale made plans to run away together and it was pretty suspicious how this story's tone completely changed and turned to that of hope and somewhat happiness. It is a Hawthorne novel so I expected a darker ending. Dimmesdale grew weaker as the story went on and he was being poisoned and torturing himself. I wasn't surprised, but I do have some unanswered questions about the details the book leaves out in the end.
I agree, what we expect from this novel is not a happy ending. Hawthorne meant for Dimmesdale to die since the beginning when he seemed sick in the first place. One can't help but wonder where Pearl has gone and why she was left without a father.
DeleteSo, we see Hester’s growth from the scarlet letter upon her chest throughout these scaffold scenes. She begins in front of everyone. The full weight of the scarlet letter and judgment is thrown at her. The people treat her horribly. The judgment falls upon her and Pearl. Later, Hester begins to grow. She begins to help people making people rethink the meaning behind the scarlet letter. Perhaps, it mean’s Able. Who knows? The scene of the A in the sky begins to give another interpretation of the letter. Hester begins to grow stronger. Then comes this big finale where Dimmie comes out as Pearl’s father and the man Hester slept with. Hester now has someone else to share that judgment with. Everyone is shocked that Dimmie was the father. Eventually, Dimmie dies, Chilling dies, Hester and Pearl leave, and Hester comes back. However, this conclusion also adds to Hawthorne’s idea that everyone is a sinner. As Dimmie exposed himself as a sinner and an adultery, people begin to see that everyone is capable of sin.
ReplyDeleteI never cared much for these characters so I was apathetic to the ending. Everyone knows who was the other sinner know. Yippie. At least, Dimmesdale died with a clear conscious. Chillingworth had nothing to live for anymore after Dim dies; so, he dies. Hester leaves and what not. So basically, Is my team plowing? Yeah, probably, everything is still how it was. No one really cares and everyone is still a hypocrite.
I think the townspeople were more shocked than anyone in class about how this story ended. Their precious minister who was supposed to be the perfect puritan model was a dirty sinner just like the rest of them. Dimmesdale who had not been exposed for seven years ended up dying in front of his own child, the result of the sin he committed with Hester. Pearl is already a disturbed child because of the townspeople labeling her an outcast just like her mother. Seeing her father die right in front of her must have messed her up even more. I agree with you that everyone is a hypocrite, they shunned Hester for so long and after the minister dies and a small amount of time has passed, they all of a sudden "forgive and forget" the meaning of the scarlet letter. Psht. Right.
DeleteI agree Gloria the townspeople are the most shocked about how the story ends, because everyone saw the Dimmesdale as a perfect person.The townspeople never thought that he would be capable to be the sinner. I also agree the child has been affected by all the things the townspeople have said to her and about her and just seeing her father die in front of her is affecting her even more in both an emotional and psychological manner. I also agree how can the people forget so quickly of all the crap they've said to both Hester and her child and also the meaning of the scarlet letter.
DeleteIn the last scaffold scene, Hester, Pearl, and Dimmesdale are seen at the marketplace. These three characters fall into the theme of Sin. Hester is the first with being condemned by the townspeople years prior by committing adultery and for this she was forced to wear the scarlet letter upon herself. Next is Pearl, even though she herself has not done anything wrong since she is young and innocent. The fact lies that she is the product of sin created by Hester. Finally is Dimmesdale, though we discover until late in the novel that he was Hester's lover. He confesses that it was him that, when Hester was branded, did not come clean and that he wishes to confess that he is not so holy in which the townspeople make him, with his final breath.
ReplyDeleteMy reaction to this scene came to a surprise for me. This is because I was not expecting the minister to confess about his sins to the townspeople after being considered for so long a saint to actually be a sinner. While he drew his final breath after confessing, the weight of keeping this secret for so long is lifted off his shoulders and even though he went through a lot of torture, at the end he could die oath having no regrets.
I agree with you also, they do all fall in the line off sin after this part of the novel. But like I always hear from my parents, the truth will set you free. With that being said, i believe that because the truth was killing Dimmesdale so bad that when he finally let out his sin to the public, he passed. Even though he's been holding it in for the whole novel, they finally freed him when he let it out. What a sad ending for Dimmesdale, even though everyone knows that these chickenheads ain't loyal.
DeleteUnlike you, I do expect that Dimmesdale will die. First of all, there are signs that he will die. For example, Dimmesdale was sick for a long time and he was struggling. At the same time, Chillingworth wants his revenge. This book is also by Hawthorne, so death is a necessary part of it. Dimmesdale was sinned, so he is the perfect candidate to confess to die at the scaffold. The last scaffold scene served as a great ending, and all main characters are seen at the place.
DeleteWassup ye fellow skallywags. I'ma go hard in the paint like flocka flame on dis one cuh. OK (takes deep breath).(Lets out a quick silent one) In "The Scarlet Letter" many themes in the novel catches our attention especially the scaffold scene. During that scene, Minister Dimmesdale does not find peace with God until the very end of his life. Many times in the novel he wishes to be forgiven, rebirthed, and redeemed back to things were before him and Hester committed that sin. Chillingworth however, transitions himself from a good guy, to a bad guy, then back to a good one. He is first known as a physician. He soon begins to help Dimmesdale because he is slowly decaying and needs medical assistance. Chillingworth begins to suspect that Dimmesdale was the one who commited the sin with Hester and because of that he begins to seek revenge and his demeanor changes. Nathaniel Hawthorne describes, "The former aspect of an intellectual and studious man, calm and quiet, which was what she best remembered in him, had now altogether vanished, and been succeeded by an eager, searching, almost fierce, yet carefully guarded look."
ReplyDeleteChillingworth had the choice of taking revenge on the man that impregnated Hester, and he took it and in doing so also transformed himself into a nasty crooked old man instead of the warm-hearted man he used to be. But after Dimmesdale dies, Chillingworth leaves and he ends up giving his land to Pearl which shows the kindness that is still there now that he no longer has anyone to fight with or hate. Throughout the novel, all characters inherit good and bad desires, but based on their lives they choose which side they want. This really ruined my coffee now that Chillingworth doesn't have no one to bully anymore. This could be referred back to that one TV show Recess, when all those kids used to play then they would always have to do stuff on the low because Ms. Finster and Randal would come and foil their plans. I just wish they could go away like Dimmesdale did...
LOL I love this Recess reference! You came up with some really interesting points about Dimmesdale and Chillingsworth and their perspectives on their actions. I hadn't thought about them before.
DeleteI read the first sentence three times already and I'm still laughing because I cannot imagine what Mr. Lear will think when he reads your first sentence lol. I never really got the image of Chillingworth as a warm-hearted person. I never really liked his character.
DeleteIn the final scaffold scene, all of the main characters meet at the market place during the day. Hester is the center of attention due to the fact that she is still wearing the scarlet letter. The letter still shows that Hester is an outcast and sinner in the community; however, Dimmesdale is a saint in the minds of others. Since Dimmesdale is dying, this is his last chance to confess his sins. He does and dies with a clear concious. Everyone else moves on after this; Chillingsworth dies, Hester and Pearl move to Europe, and life goes on.
ReplyDeleteThis scene, in a way, gave me closure. Throughout the entire novel, Hester is portrayed as an adulterer and, therefore, an unholy person. On the other hand, Dimmesdale goes on with his life unrightfully deemed pure and holy. I'm glad to see that he finally manned up and did the right thing by telling the truth about his relations with Hester. If I were in Hester's position, his honest would be greatly appreciated and it would make my life easier to deal with.
Overtime the scarlet letter becomes a symbol for "Able" instead of "Adulterer" because Hester has progressed positively in the novel from when she was first condemned to wear the letter. One can't help but notice the hypocrisy of people who think they are without sin and aren't capable of committing such sin as Hester and Dimmesdale committed.
DeleteIn the final scaffold scene all the main characters meet as Dimmesdale was giving his great sermon, Hester soon arrived with her daughter, Pearl. Dimmesdale calld to them to join him on the scarffold when Chillingworth highly disapproves but he doesnt care. Dimmesdale confesses to the townspeople that he has also sinned. He starts to rip off his shirt revealing a kind of "A" that appears similar to Hester's "A". Dimmesdale afterwards dies of course after a period of time Chillingworth also dies as well, while Pearl and Hester simply disappear.
ReplyDeleteMy response towards the last scarffold feels quite predictable. Death was bound to come in the story and how much of a coincidence it is that Dimmesdale dies after he confesses that he has sinned. If Dimmesdale would have not died then he would have not confessed to his sins. He basically died "sin free"
I agree with you Daisy, the end was pretty predictable. All the parts before the scaffold scenes built up to it. Conflicts between Chillingworth and Dimmesdale, Dimmesdale's sickness, we seen a lot of signs. However, the question remains whether or not Dimmesdale will confess if he was not dying. But, Dimmesdale's death was justified because he was sinned.
DeleteThe scaffold scenes are very important parts in the story. The first scaffold scene begins the story, the second one connects it, and the last one concludes it. At the last scaffold scene, most, if not all, the main characters are present. For a ending to the story, Dimmesdale confesses his sins. After his confession, he shows a mark similar to the scarlet letter on his chest. It also reveals to the readers the reasons why he held his chest throughout the story. After the confession, Dimmesdale passed away. Chillingworth, who think he has not get his revenge, yelled "thou hast escaped me (pg 228)."
ReplyDeleteWell, to me, the ending is very much expected. In most classics, especially Hawthorne, somebody has to die. In this story, from Hester's scarlet letter to the conflict between Dimmesdale and Chillingworth, I know somebody will die. With the setting being at the scaffold, it is the perfect place to give the story a ending, so Dimmesdale confesses. But one question I do have remain is that whether Dimmesdale will confess if he is not dying. He was planning to escape with Hester, so the story did take a dramatic turn. However, Dimmesdale's death did in some way justified due to his sin.
I agree with you about the importance of the scaffold scenes in the story, and how they play into the structure of the novel. Your quote works to support my claim that even if Dimmesdale hadn't of died at that moment Chillingworth would have gotten to him later. I also agree with you about how predictable the ending was. Someone dies in every novel we read. That's a good question. It'd be easier to confess your sins without having to live with what comes next.
DeleteSimilar to the other scaffold scenes, all the main characters of this novel are also in this last scaffold scene. As everyone may recall from the last couple discussion posts the scaffold represents a place of shame. Now that Dimmsedale is dying he has the chance to confess the truth, that he is too a sinner. Hester is still the main character in these scences, because she still has the scarlet letter on her. Dimmesdale had just finished election day sermon, and he sees Hester and hesitatesTurning toward the scaffold, he calls to Hester and Pearl to join him. Chillingsworth tried to stop him, but he couldn't.
ReplyDeleteDimmesdale then confesses the truth and tells everyone that he is the sinner. Dimmesdale said that god is merciful, with this Dimmesdale means that god will not punish Hester and Pearl, but god will punish him, because he should have spoken 7 years ago when he had the chance for the first time to actually confess his sin. My response to this scene is that Dimmesdale should have said the truth at the beginning when he had a chance and could have taken full responsibility for his part and not let Hester and Pearl be the ones to go through all the crap the townspeople gave them.
I agree with you that Dimmesdale should have confessed his sin long before he did in this scene. He should have been man enough instead of letting Hester & Pearl deal with judgment & humiliation by themselves. Yes, Dimmesdale took this opportunity to confess his sin because he was dying since he knew that he would not face all the judgment that Hester & Pearl did.
DeleteThe whole story is tied together by the final scaffold scene. In this scene, Dimmesdale just finished a sermon that is said by the townspeople to be the best sermon he has ever preached. The scene tells how Hester & Pearl accompany Dimmesdale on the scaffold. Dimmesdale declares that God has brought him there to repent for his sins. To the townspeople he yells that he is "the one sinner of the world". After this, Dimmesdale rips open his shirt to show everyone a mark on his chest which is supposed to be like the scarlet letter "A" that Hester has to wear. Not long after this, Dimmesdale dies.
ReplyDeleteI believe that what happened in this scene was very unfair. Dimmesdale lived life hiding the fact that he sinned, & that Pearl was his daughter & Hester his lover, from the town. Although Dimmesdale may have felt guilty about this, it could not have been much because he took such a long time before confessing. If one felt as much guilt as he tried to make it seem by confessing in this scene, then it would have eaten him alive long before this time, & he would have already confessed. It seems as if Dimmesdale chose to confess because he knew he was going to die. This is unfair towards Hester & Pearl because they had to live with harsh judgment & humiliation from the public when he was hiding from his sin. By confessing when close to death, Dimmesdale could escape from the same judgment.
Yes!! I agree with you. If the guilt Dimmesdale felt was really that unbearable, he would've come out with the truth earlier. As I said in my response to Ping, it must be easier to speak your sins when you know you don't have to deal with the repercussions. (Being told that he's "the one sinner of the world" x 1000.) I don't think it's that unfair that he died though. I think he would've died either way, by illness or by Chillingworth, it would've happened.
DeleteI feel like someone could probably just read the scaffold scenes and have an alright understanding of The Scarlet Letter. The first scaffold scene (in chapters 1-3) introduces the story; it is in this chapter that Hester is branded as an adulterer. The second scaffold scene (in chapter 12) connects the first and the last, and I think could probably represent the climax of the story. It is at this point of the story where Hester decides to take action and tell Dimmesdale about Chillingworth and where Dimmesdale's guilt about being Hester's lover starts really hardcore hitting him. The third and final scaffold scene (chapter 24) serves as the conclusion. Here Dimmesdale confesses to being Hester's lover/babydaddy to the town. He dies right after. His dying words do well though, now Pearl is no longer a bastard demon-child, and now the relabeling of Hester from "adulterer" to "able" seems like a more legitimate thing.
ReplyDeleteThe ending felt pretty predictable to me. “Happily ever afters” aren’t really a thing and Dimmesdale had been ill..so yeah, it just makes sense that he’d die. I think one way or another he was going to end up dead because of Chillingworth. Him dying in town was better because at least now he and Hester can be buried next to each other, which is sort of like a second rate happily ever after. I’m not really all that upset Pearl lost her father because she didn’t really have one to begin with. Dimmesdale only being able to confess his sins on his death bed shows how weak his character (not the character itself but the morality of the character) is.
I agree. Happily ever afters aren't real and I didnt expect there to be one, especially with Hawthorne being the author. "Able" seems legitimate to me as well because ow she is able to move on to Europe and start over without people talking about her
DeleteThe final scaffold scene brings the various themes, characters, and plot lines woven throughout the novel to a powerful conclusion. Dimmesdale confesses his sin to the entire town that he is Hester's lover and then dies. This is a symbol of how in the Bible it says that the effect of sin is death. My reaction to the ending of the novel is pretty predictable. I didn't expect there to be happy ending like other stories. I'm glad Hester could move on to Europe and get a new start with Pearl. Please take it easy on the grading... just got home from the game and we lost and I'm dead tired
ReplyDeleteThe final scaffold scene may be interpreted as the final outcome of transitions that took place throughout the novel. In the first scaffold scene, Hester was seen as the Adulterer who committed sin and was judged for her actions influenced by the Black Man. In the final scene the shroud is lifted and people now take into consideration that no one is without sin, even those who attend church and that give powerful sermons. People are hypocritical, by nature we make mistakes, judgement is given from those who do not reflect on their own actions.
ReplyDeleteMy reaction was not out of the ordinary, a story of a woman prevailing with hardships usually end with hardships. Pearl's real father dies at the end just after he confesses his sin; such as Chillingworth who dies as well, thus, Hester is left with no one but her daughter. Sad, but life is not made up of cookies and sunshine most of the time, there has to be downturns and misery.