The Scarlet Letter: Light And Darkness

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However, Pearl
creates a need in Dimmesdale to repent in front of the town. During the
third scaffold scene, Dimmesdale is able to release his guilt about his
crime and his lack of strength. He is also able to complete his obligation
to accept the hands of Pearl and Hester on the platform from the second
scaffold scene. Through his confession, he creates a sense of reality for
the entire town. It can be clearly seen that what is created in the first
scaffold is released in the second scaffold; while, the things created in
the second scaffold are finally released in the third and final scaffold.

There is another complexity to the scaffold scenes in the presence,
or lack there of, of lighting. The first scaffold scene is in the sunlight.
The sunlight in this novel is a symbol of disguise. In the sunlight of
the first scaffold, Hester is shown as strong and determined. She gives
the appearance that the letter does not bother her. However, later in the
novel we learn her ...

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