Scaffold Symbolism In The Scarlet Letter

The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne based in Boston, in the seventeenth century. In a Puritan society, a young married women committed adultery. Her adulterer and also the father of her child was the Reverend of the town, Reverend Dimmesdale. Puritan society was very judgmental and lawful, therefore Hester not only had to pay physical repercussions for her sin. Yet along with emotional effects from the people of the town. Important settings that influenced the development and the evolving of Hester were the Scaffold, where her physical punishment was demonstrated. Secondly was the forest, a theme of evil and was excluded from the rest of town. Lastly was the overall setting and environment of a Puritan society during the 1600s’.

After being released from jail she goes upon the Scaffold with her child in her arms, Pearl. In the past she could hide in a midst of her shadow. Not seen publicity for her sin, yet on the Scaffold their was no doing so. She had to face her sin, and seen by the people of the town for all eyes to see. Hester could not hide from her sin. Yet she became a stronger person from it, “I will not speak!”(Hawthorne 21). When being asked on the Scaffold who the adulterer was, she would not admit the father of her child. “Never!”(21). Even though she was publicly shamed she still would not budge in giving the name of her child’s

Often seen as a place of the Devil’s work, and a place of savage Indians. Mistress Hibbins often invited Hester to join her with witchcraft in the forest. This affected Hester when she was seen as one in the society who had ties to the Devil, because of her sin. “The sunshine does not love you. It runs away and hides itself, because it is afraid of something on your bosom.”(138). This shows that Pearl knows that the people act different towards her mother because of the letter “A” on her chest. Hester’s feelings are not hurt because she is used to the judging from society. The Forest also can be seen metaphorically, because Hester’s house was on the outskirts of town. Just like the forest was on the outskirts of town. She was seen as a sinful person and full of sin, and often judged harshly. Like as the forest was seen as a place of sin. Therefore Hester was in a metaphorical forest, as a outcast separate from society. “The forest was the first place Hester, Dimmesdale, and Pearl actually met together as a family.”(164). The forest was also the place where Hester, Pearl, and Dimmesdale all met in the same place. They were in sin for adultery, and as the the forest was seen as a place of sin. The forest was fitting for a place for them to