In chapters 1-3, Hester Prynne and her daughter Pearl are on the scaffold enduring public persecution and humiliation. This is Hester's first public appearance with her child and the scarlet letter on her bosom. She maintains a confident poise about her, despite the judgement that comes along with standing on the scaffold. Hawthorne's usage of the scaffold depicts Hester's isolation from the Puritans, and illustrates the theme of punishment that is common throughout the novel. Roger Chillingworth is present, watching the sinner upon the scaffold who is secretly his wife. Hawthorne says Chillingworth's grim and evil nature is exuded as, "A writhing horror twisted itself across his features, like a snake gliding swiftly over them". Minister Dimmesdale is partaking in the persecution of Hester by repeatedly questioning who the father of the child is. Dimmesdale says she may remove the scarlet letter she bears upon her chest if she confesses. Hester refuses the proposition and says, "It is too deeply branded. Ye cannot take it off. And would that I might endure his agony as well as mine!" Her statement signifies an early attachment to the letter and declares her plans to willingly endure her punishment. .
The scaffold is again made prominent in chapter 12, when Dimmesdale ascends its steps as Hester had done seven years prior. Hawthorne depicts Dimmesdale as evidently overwhelmed with feelings of guilt and remorse, saying, "Mr. Dimmesdale was overcome with a great horror of mind, as if the universe were gazing at a scarlet token on his naked breast, right over his heart." The scaffold serves as a symbol of Dimmesdale's uneased burden of inner torture that has resulted from his hidden sin. Although Dimmesdale is attempting to rid his conscious of sin, he is still cowardly and hypocritical in his confession by using the night to conceal his identity. In this scene, Pearl and Hester join him on the scaffold, as they link hands together and watch as a meteor illuminates a letter "A" in the sky.