The Scarlet Letter

             The book "The Scarlet Letter" written by Hawthorne has lot of changes within it. The Scaffold in the beginning of the book is represented as a place for transgressors. But each time it reappears in the story, it changes its meaning. So, it changes three times in the book from a place of retribution for transgressors to a place of unity and finally to a place of introspection.
             The Scaffold in the beginning of the book is represented as a place of shame and retribution for transgressors. Hester happens to be standing on the scaffold for she has committed a crime that could not be forgiven by the Puritan society. Hawthorne says that "Meagre indeed and cold was the sympathy that a transgressor might look for from such bystanders." In this passage he says that those who stand on the scaffold are often being humiliated and disgraced by the people that are surrounding them. The fact that Dimmesdale watching Hester as she is standing on the scaffold and after a while asking her to tell to the world with whom she had committed the crime with, symbolizes to the reader that it was merely an effort to urge a confession from Hester which he knew she would never make, and which he could not find the courage to make for himself. So, in the beginning of the book the Scaffold symbolizes to the reader that it is a place of retribution for the transgressors and also the punishment is a harsh and unforgiving treatment. .
             The second time in the book where The Scaffold changed its symbolism takes place at the middle of the night. Dimmesdale, Hester and Pearl stand on the Scaffold and hold their hands and form a circle symbolizes to the reader about the unity. Hawthorne said that "The moment that he did so there came a tumultuous rush of new life, other than his own, pouring like a torrent into his heart and hurrying through his veins; as if the mother and the child were communicating their vital warmth to his half-torpid system.