Scarlet Letter - Three Scaffolds
...e of thy fellow-sinner and fellow-sufferer"(p. 65). By deliberately speaking to Hester as if the sinner were not himself, the pastor makes sure that nobody suspects him. One may also interpret Dimmesdale's speech as a hint to Hester not to name him. He feels he must deny his sin in order to keep his standing in the town. He thinks that if the town finds out about his sin, they will never forgive him, much like his belief system tells him that God will never forgive him. So great is his relief when he finds that "she will not speak" that he stands in awe of the "wondrous strength and generosity of a woman's heart"(p. 66). Despite an inward wish for his sin to be discovered, Dimmesdale feels better knowing that Hester will not willingly expose him. In this scene in front of the town, Dimmesdale shows his original strength of character, which will diminish along the course of the book. In the middle of the night, seven years after Hester's punishment, Dimmesdale finally accepts his sin. The battle within Dimmesdale between "Remorse, which dogged him everywhere" and "Cowardice, which invariably drew him back"(p. 144) concludes in compromise with his guilt for his sin. Here, he openly confesses his sin not to the town, but to himself. This was a major step toward his self-forgiveness. In addition, the death of Governor Winthrop not only represents the death of Puritan society, but also the death of certain Puritan values within Dimmesdale. He no longer buries his sin deep within himself. His sin rests on the surface of his soul which causes his already poor health to waste away even faster. This scene shows the progressive weakening of Dimmesdale's Puritan beliefs as well as the continuous strengthening of his passionate side. In the final scaffold scene, Dimmesdale finally conquers his sin and delivers himself into the hands of a waiting God. He escapes the Devil (here symbolized by Roger Chillingworth) saying, "Thy power is not what it was! With God's help, I shall escape thee now!" (p. 248). Dimmesdale's confession redeems his soul and frees him from the one secret binding the Devil to him. Next, Dimmesdale tore away the "ministerial band from before his breast"(p. 250), revealing a scarlet letter bu...