Is punishment
more bearable
shared or
alone
Symbolism:
The Scarlet
Le=er
"The scarlet le=er was
her passport into
regions where other
women dared not
tread. Shame, Despair,
Solitude! These had
been her
teachers,—stern and
wild ones,—and they
had made her strong,
but taught her much
amiss."(pg. 190)
"the scarlet
le=er had the
effect of the
cross on a
nun's bosom.
It imparted to
the wearer a
kind of
sacredness
which enabled
her to walk
securely amid
all peril" (pg.
157).
Throughout the book of the Scarlet Letter, we see Hester and those around her evolve and adapt to
their situation of her punishment. Although all of the literary elements are not an organic being,
they still go through a symbolic sort of evolution. We see the perception of the Scarlet Letter
change, as well as the Scaffold's role in the story. Hester herself learns to change to her treatment,
and this evolution across all spectrums proves that punishment is more bearable when the burden
does not fall on one person's shoulders alone. Through these changes, the reader is able to
comprehend the very root of the book. The Scarlet letter begins as a punishment and a mark of
adultery upon Hester's breast at the same time as the Scaffold is used as the scene of said
punishment. Both of these carry heavily negative connotations from the beginning of the story. As
Hester grows stronger under the bear of her burden, the negativity from those two elements begins
to fade. Pearl begins to become more mature and that gives Hester an ally; one to share her burden
and her sorrows. With Pearl's growing maturity we see the Letter go from a curse to almost
something of honor. It becomes almost a talisman against Hester being harmed and no longer
draws long stares from the community. With this changing mind set going on, Hester has visited the
Scaffold, her place of initial torture, yet again. In this case Dimmesdale and Pearl are by her side.
She no longer feels as intense of a public pressure and embarrassment as she once did. The Scaffold
returns into play once more for the dramatic ending of the book as the place where the truth is set
free. Dimmesdale confesses to the world his involvement with Hester and Pearl, and by this time
she has grown nearly immune to her punishment. Because of how these elements all change in a
similar timeline, it gives the reader a great understanding of how with the aid of those around her,
the severity of Hester's punishment is lessened.
Se3ng:
Scaffold
"one token of
shame... on
the breast of
her gown...
appeared the
le=er "A." (pg.
60)
The Scarlet le=er starts as a
symbol of Hester's isolaSon
and as a mark of punishment,
yet the longer she endures the
stronger she becomes and it
eventually loses its deep
meaning. It is when
Dimmsdale reveals his
supposed mark that it is
realized that having such a
brand is a personal torture
that cannot be lessened
Created using Inspiration® 9 by Inspiration Software®, Inc.
"as he stood out
from all the earth to
put in his plea of
guilt at the bar of
Eternal JusSce" (pg.
237).
The Scaffold is where the
beginning of Hester's shame
takes place. Because this
place has such a negaSve
connotaSon to her, it makes
it all the more powerful that
she stands united with Pearl
and Dimmesdale in that very
spot at endures her shame
with them by her side.
"Come up hither, Hester,
thou and li=le Pearl,"
said the Reverend Mr.
Dimmesdale . "Ye have
both been here before,
but i was not with you.
Come up hither once
again and we will stand
all three together!" (pg.
148)
Character:
Dimmesdale
"Hester Prynne set forth
towards the place appointed
for her punishment... [she]
passed through this porSon of
her ordeal and came to a sort
of a scaffold... it was in short,
the pla_orm of the pillory; and
above it rose the framework of
that instrument of discipline,
so fashioned as to confine the
human head... and thus hold it
up to the public gaze" (pg. 62-­‐
63)
"Hush, Hester,
hush!" he
said, with
tremulous
solemnity.
"The law we
broke! the sin
here so
awfully
revealed!" (pg.
239)
"Wilt thou
stand here
with Mother
and me,
tomorrow
noonSde?"
inquired Pearl.
"Nay; not so,
my li=le Pearl,
answered the
minister" (pg.
148)
Dimmesdale
eventually
confesses his
involvement
with Hester
and lessens
her public
embarassment
by standing
with her. His
confession is
her relief.
Character:
Hester
"For thee and
Pearl, be it as
God shall
order," said
the minister...
so let me
make haste to
take my
shame upon
me!" (pg. 236)
"Pearl was a born
outcast of the infanSle
world... Never, since her
release from prison, had
Hester met the public
gaze without her." (pg.
95).
"but now the idea came strongly
into Hester's mind that Pearl,
with her remarkable precocity
and acuteness, might already
have approached the age when
she could be made a friend and
intrusted with as much of a
mother's sorrow as could be
imparted, without irreverence
either to the parent or the child"
(pg. 172)
"she felt an eye... upon the
ignominious brand... the next
instant, back it all rushed again...
for in that brief interval, she had
sinned anew. Had Hester sinned
alone?... Her imaginaSon was
somehow affected... by the
strange and solitary anguish in
her life." (pg. 89).
Hester is the one forced to
endure this punishment of
isolaSon. She begins the book
absolutely alone and is affected
so strongly. As Pearl ages she
becomes like a confident and
gives her mother an ally, which
in turn gives Hester some kind
of relief