FREE ESSAY ON SCARLET LETTER-SCAFFOLD

SCARLET LETTER-SCAFFOLD

Extended Definition: Scaffold
"I am as content to die for God's eternal truth on the scaffold as in any other way
(Bookshelf)," John Brown, a U.S. abolitionist in 1859, said in a letter to his children
on the eve of his execution. The scaffold is a raised wooden framework or platform used
for public speaking. It is similar to a stage or a framework. A scaffold is also a
platform used in the execution of condemned prisoners, as by hanging or beheading. A
scaffold can also be a raised platform, seat or stand used for the purpose of exhibiting
persons or actions to the public view (Webster's). A scaffold, similar to a stage,
platform or framework, can be permanent. Other types of permanent scaffolds are used in
bridges. The basic beam bridge, a simple beam over a span, is strengthened by adding
support piers underneath and by reinforcing the structure with elaborate scaffolding
called a truss. This method of scaffolding is clearly apparent in most present day
bridges, but most travelers do not even realize this fact. The scaffolding includes the
huge poles or wires that sit on top of the bridge; this suspension is an extremely
advanced scaffold. This method is sometimes also used in suspending a roof. 
Scaffolds, however, can also be temporary. A scaffold is also a temporary platform,
usually suspended on poles from below or suspended from above, on which workers sit or
stand during the erection, repairing or decoration of a building. For instance,
construction workers stand on scaffolds when building a new structure. Scaffolding allows
workers to transport themselves and their materials up and down an unfinished building
during construction. Also, a person cleaning the windows of a building must use a
scaffold to reach all the windows above ground. Michelangelo used a scaffold to paint the
frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome (Groiler's). He worked on a
scaffold sixty feet above ground, which covered 10,000 square feet of surface. Another
type of temporary scaffold is used in boating and fishing. A flake is a scaffold lowered
over the side of a ship to support workers or caulkers when they are either fishing or
drying the captured fish (Webster's).
The ancient Egyptians can be considered the first people to use temporary scaffolding.
The entrance to the Great Pyramid is fifty-five feet above ground level. The entrance was
intended for use only once, during King Khufu's funeral (Groiler's). Special scaffolding
was erected so the coffin could be placed inside the pyramid. The scaffolding was then
dismantled as a safety measure against grave robbers. 
Scaffold can also be used as a verb. To scaffold could mean to prop up. For instance, new
titles may be scaffolded with laws. That is, laws will support the titles. Another, every
day, yet connotative, use of the word scaffold would mean to execute. A person who is
scaffolded is executed. Scaffold usually denotes a negative, punishing aura when it is
used as a verb. As a verb, scaffold is not often used and is a word from early America.
Thus, the word can have many different meanings. 
The scaffold plays an important denotative role in many books, movie and plays. One such
book is The Scarlet Letter. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a story of a
young woman, Hester Prynne, living in Puritan dominated Salem, Massachusetts, who commits
adultery. The man with whom she engages in the affair is one of the town's Reverends, Mr.
Dimmesdale. Hester and Dimmesdale have a baby, Pearl. Hester's husband, Roger
Chillingworth, who was missing for two years, returns to find Hester being punished for
cheating on him. "Hester Prynne passed through this portion of her ordeal, and came to a
sort of scaffold (51)," Hawthorne tells in the opening seen of the novel. In The Scarlet
Letter, the scaffold acts as a place for punishment. "This scaffold constituted a portion
of a penal machine, which now, for two or three generations past, has been merely
historical and traditionary among us, but was held, in the old time, to be as effectual
an agent in the promotion of good citizenship, as ever was the guillotine," Hawthorne
states in explaining the scaffolds use. The scaffold had wooden steps leading on to it.
The steps of the scaffold became the walk of death for many people before they were
beheaded. A balcony or open gallery stood over the platform and was attached to the
meetinghouse. During Hester's punishment, the ministers and Governor sat in the gallery
in order to question her. The scaffold was located at the "western extremity" of the
market place, near the church. The scaffold was a raised platform made of wood and iron.
Men and women who sinned would be forced on the scaffold, either for beheading or, in
Hester's case, extreme embarrassment. 
The scaffold plays a role in the book three times, during three major scenes. The scenes
are placed equally apart in the book, one at the beginning, in the middle and in the
final scene at the end. The first scaffold scene encompasses Hester's punishment and open
confession. While the third scaffold scene includes Dimmesdale's confession. In the
second or middle scaffold scene, both Hester and Dimmesdale are on the scaffold in the
middle of the night. The scaffold is introduced in the novel for its literal uses, but
the scaffold comes to symbolize and embody many other meanings.
The scaffold is a symbol of the stern Puritan code of law in Salem. Hester is put on the
scaffold to face ignominy. The scaffold was the ultimate punishment in Salem. Often used
for execution, the scaffold was a place where no person ever wanted to stand. "The
scaffold of the pillory (58)," as it is described, was a place of shame and
embarrassment. The scaffold was the place where Puritan law was enforced, and so it comes
to symbolize their strict laws. The scaffold, ironically raised, was the lowest point any
Puritan could reach while on Earth.
The scaffold also represents the acknowledgment of personal sin in the novel. The
scaffold is the place where a person must go when they sin. A sinner must face the harsh
Puritan people after they have sin. Whether facing death or just shame on the scaffold, a
Puritan must stand on the scaffold in order to completely acknowledge their sin to the
public. For this reason, the scaffold becomes a major force in the life of Reverend
Dimmesdale. 
Hester Pyrnne stood on the scaffold, with her child, but without her lover. Her lover,
Reverend Dimmesdale, was too cowardly to stand beside her in shame. He keeps his sin
concealed for almost the entire book. Due to this concealment, Dimmesdale suffers both
mentally and physically. He knows he must reveal his sin in order to save his soul and
return to G-d's good graces. Dimmesdale also realizes that the place where he must go to
confess and atone is the scaffold. 
About halfway through the novel, at night while the town was asleep, Dimmesdale goes onto
the scaffold. Dimmesdale gives a huge scream and fears the town will awake to find him on
the scaffold. However, the town does not hear him. "Doubted whether he should be able to
ascend the steps of the scaffold (136)," Hawthorne says about Dimmesdale's frozen body.
Though it is a cold night, Dimmesdale feels frozen on the scaffold because of the
scaffold's power. Dimmesdale realizes that on the scaffold is where he must confess and
so subconsciously his body attempts to shut down in order to keep him on the scaffold.
Hester hears his scream and she, with her daughter, joins him on the scaffold. After a
powerful discussion between Hester and Dimmesdale, all three leave the scaffold.
Dimmesdale has reached the scaffold, but in the concealment of the night. 
In the climax of the novel, Dimmesdale finally reaches the scaffold in the daytime.
Following his greatest sermon in the church, Dimmesdale says, "Come Hester, come! Support
me up yonder scaffold (219)." Dimmesdale, Hester and Pearl again stand on the scaffold
together, but this time the entire town is watching them. On the scaffold, Dimmesdale
admits to his part in the birth of Hester's daughter, Pearl. He admits he has sinned and
concealed it for seven years. Following his confession, Dimmesdale dies on the scaffold.
"To die this death of triumphant ignominy before the people (224)," Dimmesdale says in
his final moments on the scaffold. Dimmesdale reaches the scaffold and is able to atone
before his death. Thus, he is able to die in sanctity following his confession. The
scaffold had become the physical object that stood between Dimmesdale and confession.
Dimmesdale's cowardice kept him off the scaffold in the daytime until the end of the
novel. 
"There was no place so secret, no high place nor lowly place, where thou couldst have
escaped me, save on this very scaffold (220)," Chillingworth says to Dimmesdale in the
third scaffold scene. The scaffold is the only place where Dimmesdale can escape
Chillingworth and his quest for revenge. Chillingworth, combined with Dimmesdale's own
cowardice, are the obstacles Dimmesdale must overcome in order to atone for his sin.
Both in the novel and in everyday use, the scaffold has a certain connotation to it. For
instance, a person told that they were going to be scaffolded would most likely be
fearful. However, as used scaffolding could simply mean that they were going to be
propped up. Likewise, in The Scarlet Letter all Puritans fear chastisement on the
scaffold. In the novel, the scaffold is never used for public speaking or a theatrical
performance, but only for the confession of sin. Most Puritans did not realize that the
scaffold could have many positive uses. Likewise, to be scaffolded, by definition, is
just as likely to be a good action as a bad one. Unfortunately, most historical
documentation about the scaffold relates to of executions and punishments. Thus, the word
scaffold can do many beneficial things for mankind, yet carries a very negative aura.