e realizes that it could be his demise.This new information is a shock to Dimmesdale, his doctor, his friend; his confidante was his enemy all along. Bent on revenge and destroying him, Dimmesdale realizes that the “Black Man” has his soul after all, and if he doesn’t submit to his will, his life and his reputation will pay the priceIn a daze, confused and hurt, Dimmesdale wanders to the place where seven years ago Hester had stood clutching their child to her bosom, to the scaffold where he should have stood beside her all those years ago. While standing on the scaffold, his shirt open revealing his own scarlet letter to the world, he looked up at the pulpit where he had stood all those years ago and realizes the hypocrisy of his past actions. He knew that he was no closer to God than Hester, if anything he was far lower than she was, for she had the courage to admit to her sins and to accept her punishment and make the best of it.The main scene that led up to the third scaffold scene is the encounter in the forest between Hester and Dimmesdale. During this scene, the last few details surrounding Hester’s situation is revealed. While Pearl plays on the other side of the brook, dancing in the “pure sunlight” and reveling in reality, while Hester and Dimmesdale are lost in their own fantasy world, dreaming of a life where their mutual sins will be forgotten. The main theme of this scene is that sin cannot be forgotten, but it must be forgiven through penance and penitence. For while Hester remains in this fantasy world, free and without inhibitions and the strict morals instilled by Puritan society, her daughter Pearl (truth) will not return to her, because this world that Hester has created is a lie. In this final scaffold scene, Dimmesdale is preparing to make a speech in honor of the election of the new governor, this speech, by Puritan standards, marks the height of his career. As Dimmesd...
