Scarlet Letter/3-Part Structure of Scaffold Scenes
1st Scene (“The Market Place”)
A} Demonstrates Emersonian
Self-Reliance“on the threshold of the prison door, she repelled him”
“a haughty smile”
“A glance that would not be abashed”
B} Demonstrates
Emergence of the Female“dark and abundant hair”
“so glossy”
“beautiful”
“impressiveness”
“feminine gentility”
“how her beauty shone out”
C}
Condemnation/Repression of Sexuality“ignominious letter on her breast”
“spectacle of guilt and shame”
“solemn presence of men”
“looking down”
2nd
Scene (“The Minister’s Vigil”) **reference to chapter title—i.e., def. of vigil—period of watchful attention maintained at night; nocturnal devotional exercise**the
focus here is on “night”—commentary on Dimmesdale’s
inability to openly admit sin(also reference his name); Hawthorne’s
comment on reversal of gender roles and “types”“no peril of discovery”
“no eye could see him”
“poor, miserable man”
“dread of public exposure”
Reference to the “A” in the sky—“No, . . . I had not heard of it”
3rd
Scene (“The Revelation of the Scarlet Letter”)**reference to chapter title—i.e., def.of
revelation—disclosure, admission, revealed; reference to final chapter in the Bible(God’s disclosure of himself; the Apocalypse; forces of good permanently triumph over
forces of evil; Hawthorne’s comment on society at that time; **the chapter also discusses
the fact that the “legend”
denies Dimmesdale’s admission of guilt—“neither had hisdying words acknowledged nor implied the slightest connection”
“come hither. . . come my little Pearl”
“God’s judgment on a sinner? Behold! Behold a dreadful witness of it”
“let me make haste to take my shame upon me”