Scaffold and The Scaffold and The Scarlet LetterScarlet Letter

Hovig SarkissianHovig Sarkissian

Mrs. HalajianMrs. Halajian

AP English 11AAP English 11A

What is a Scaffold?What is a Scaffold? a platform from which criminals are executed a platform from which criminals are executed

(hanged or beheaded)(hanged or beheaded) Scaffolding is a temporary framework used to Scaffolding is a temporary framework used to

support people and material in the construction or support people and material in the construction or repair of buildings and other large structures. repair of buildings and other large structures.

Scaffolding is a method of building database-Scaffolding is a method of building database-backed software applications. backed software applications.

A supporting structure for growing cells and A supporting structure for growing cells and tissues tissues

The central core structure of condensed The central core structure of condensed chromosomes. The scaffold is composed of non-chromosomes. The scaffold is composed of non-histone chromosomal proteins histone chromosomal proteins

PicturesPictures

Basic MeaningBasic Meaning

A scaffold’s main A scaffold’s main purpose is to purpose is to supply support or supply support or provide the provide the structure of structure of somethingsomething

It is the backbone It is the backbone of something. of something. Without it there Without it there will be disorder.will be disorder.

The Structure of the The Structure of the NovelNovel

Scaffold

First scene with Hester

and Pearl on The platform

Second scene with Dimmesdale, Hester

And Pearl at night

Third scene withDimesdale, Hester,

And Pearl

Basic Things Scaffold Basic Things Scaffold Symbolizes Symbolizes

Acknowledgement of Sin; ConfessionAcknowledgement of Sin; Confession Unity and StructureUnity and Structure Punishment; PilloryPunishment; Pillory Foundation of Puritan SocietyFoundation of Puritan Society Point of ViewPoint of View Show; SpectacleShow; Spectacle MirrorMirror

Showcase for Sin and Showcase for Sin and InfamyInfamy

"It was found," said the Sexton, ""It was found," said the Sexton, "this morning this morning on the scaffold where evil-doers are set up to on the scaffold where evil-doers are set up to public shamepublic shame. . Satan dropped it thereSatan dropped it there, I take , I take it, intending a scurrilous jest against your it, intending a scurrilous jest against your reverence. But, indeed, he was blind and reverence. But, indeed, he was blind and foolish, as he ever and always is. A pure hand foolish, as he ever and always is. A pure hand needs no glove to cover it!" (pg.130)needs no glove to cover it!" (pg.130)

The scaffold is a place inhabited by the devilThe scaffold is a place inhabited by the devil ““evil doers are set up to public shame”evil doers are set up to public shame”

Punishment and PilloryPunishment and Pillory In fact, this scaffold constituted a portion of a penal machine, which now, In fact, this scaffold constituted a portion of a penal machine, which now,

for two or three generations past, has been merely historical and 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 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 agent, in the promotion of good citizenship, as ever was the guillotine among the terrorists of France. It was, in short, the among the terrorists of France. It was, in short, the platform of the platform of the pillorypillory; and above ; and above it rose the framework of that instrument of disciplineit rose the framework of that instrument of discipline, , so fashioned as to confine the human head in its tight grasp, and thus so fashioned as to confine the human head in its tight grasp, and thus hold it up to the public gaze. The very ideal of ignominy was embodied hold it up to the public gaze. The very ideal of ignominy was embodied and made manifest in this contrivance of wood and iron. There can be no and made manifest in this contrivance of wood and iron. There can be no outrage, methinks, against our common nature—whatever be the outrage, methinks, against our common nature—whatever be the delinquencies of the individual—no outrage more flagrant than to forbid delinquencies of the individual—no outrage more flagrant than to forbid the culprit to hide his face for shame; as it was the essence of this the culprit to hide his face for shame; as it was the essence of this punishment to do. In Hester Prynne's instance, however, as not punishment to do. In Hester Prynne's instance, however, as not unfrequently in other cases, her sentence bore that she should stand a unfrequently in other cases, her sentence bore that she should stand a certain time upon the platform, but without undergoing that gripe about certain time upon the platform, but without undergoing that gripe about the neck and confinement of the head, the proneness to which was the the neck and confinement of the head, the proneness to which was the most devilish characteristic of this ugly engine.(pg.48) most devilish characteristic of this ugly engine.(pg.48)

- The scaffold - The scaffold provides the framework for disciplineprovides the framework for discipline

-Characterized as a devilish ugly engine-Characterized as a devilish ugly engine- Holds structure to punishment- Holds structure to punishment

PilloryPillory

Foundation of Puritan Foundation of Puritan SocietySociety

Walking in the shadow of a dream, as it were, and perhaps Walking in the shadow of a dream, as it were, and perhaps actually under the influence of a species of somnambulism, actually under the influence of a species of somnambulism, Mr. Dimmesdale reached the spot where, now so long Mr. Dimmesdale reached the spot where, now so long since, Hester Prynne had lived through her first hours of since, Hester Prynne had lived through her first hours of public ignominy. The same public ignominy. The same platform or scaffoldplatform or scaffold, , black black and weather-stainedand weather-stained with the storm or sunshine of seven with the storm or sunshine of seven long years, and foot-worn, too, with the tread of many long years, and foot-worn, too, with the tread of many culprits who had since ascended it, remained standing culprits who had since ascended it, remained standing beneath the balcony of the meeting-house. The minister beneath the balcony of the meeting-house. The minister

went up the steps.went up the steps. (pg.122)(pg.122)

Scaffold holds structure to years of sin and punishment Scaffold holds structure to years of sin and punishment which are the main fundamentals of the puritan society.which are the main fundamentals of the puritan society.

““black and weather-stained with the storm or sunshine of black and weather-stained with the storm or sunshine of seven long years”seven long years”

Tread of many culpritsTread of many culprits

Scaffold and Puritan Scaffold and Puritan SocietySociety

Foundation of Puritans=sin and Foundation of Puritans=sin and punishmentpunishment

Scaffold=sin and punishmentScaffold=sin and punishment

Scaffold=foundation/basis of puritan Scaffold=foundation/basis of puritan societysociety

Confession and ExposureConfession and Exposure With a convulsive motion, he tore away the With a convulsive motion, he tore away the

ministerial band from before his breast. ministerial band from before his breast. It was It was revealedrevealed! But it were irreverent to describe that ! But it were irreverent to describe that revelation. For an instant, the gaze of the revelation. For an instant, the gaze of the horror-stricken multitude was concentrated on horror-stricken multitude was concentrated on the ghastly miracle; while the minister stood, the ghastly miracle; while the minister stood, with a flush of triumph in his face, as one who, with a flush of triumph in his face, as one who, in the crisis of acutest pain, had won a victory. in the crisis of acutest pain, had won a victory. Then, down he sank upon the Then, down he sank upon the scaffoldscaffold! Hester ! Hester partly raised him, and supported his head partly raised him, and supported his head against her bosom. “Tore away the ministerial against her bosom. “Tore away the ministerial band.” (pg.209)band.” (pg.209) Dimmesdale finally confesses his sin on the Dimmesdale finally confesses his sin on the

platformplatform The secret is exposedThe secret is exposed

UnityUnity She silently ascended the steps, and stood on the She silently ascended the steps, and stood on the platformplatform, ,

holding little Pearl by the hand. The minister felt for the child's holding little Pearl by the hand. The minister felt for the child's other hand, and took it. The moment that he did so, there came other hand, and took it. The moment that he did so, there came what seemed a tumultuous rush of new life, other life than his what seemed a tumultuous rush of new life, other life than his own pouring like a torrent into his heart, and hurrying through all own pouring like a torrent into his heart, and hurrying through all his veins, as if the mother and the child were his veins, as if the mother and the child were communicating communicating their vital warmththeir vital warmth to his half-torpid system. The three formed an to his half-torpid system. The three formed an electric chainelectric chain. (chap. 12). (chap. 12)

- Creates Unity between the threeCreates Unity between the three- They communicate their warmthThey communicate their warmth

- Positive connotationPositive connotation- ““electric chain”- a bondelectric chain”- a bond

Unity Continued…Unity Continued… They beheld the minister, leaning on They beheld the minister, leaning on

Hester's shoulder, and supported by her arm Hester's shoulder, and supported by her arm around him, approach the scaffold, and around him, approach the scaffold, and ascend its steps; while still the little hand of ascend its steps; while still the little hand of the sin-born child was clasped in his. Old the sin-born child was clasped in his. Old Roger Chillingworth followed, as one Roger Chillingworth followed, as one intimately connected with the drama of guilt intimately connected with the drama of guilt and sorrow in which they had all been and sorrow in which they had all been actors, and well entitled, therefore to be actors, and well entitled, therefore to be present at its closing scene. (pg. 207)present at its closing scene. (pg. 207)

The scaffold unites the threeThe scaffold unites the three Also represents a show/stage/playAlso represents a show/stage/play

Point of ViewPoint of View ““Be that as it might, the scaffold of the pillory Be that as it might, the scaffold of the pillory

was a point of view that revealed to Hester was a point of view that revealed to Hester Prynne the entire track along which she had Prynne the entire track along which she had been treading, since her happy infancy. been treading, since her happy infancy. Standing on that miserable eminence, she saw Standing on that miserable eminence, she saw again her native village, in Old England, and again her native village, in Old England, and her paternal home: a decayed house of grey her paternal home: a decayed house of grey stone, with a poverty-stricken aspect, but stone, with a poverty-stricken aspect, but retaining a half obliterated shield of arms over retaining a half obliterated shield of arms over the portal, in token of antique gentility. She the portal, in token of antique gentility. She saw her father's face, with its bold brow, and saw her father's face, with its bold brow, and reverend white beard that flowed over the old-reverend white beard that flowed over the old-fashioned Elizabethan ruff; her mother's, too, fashioned Elizabethan ruff; her mother's, too, with the look of heedful and anxious love with the look of heedful and anxious love which it always wore in her remembrance, and which it always wore in her remembrance, and which, even since her death, had so often laid which, even since her death, had so often laid the impediment of a gentle remonstrance in the impediment of a gentle remonstrance in her daughter's pathway. “(150)her daughter's pathway. “(150)

Scaffold offers a new viewpoint to gaze Scaffold offers a new viewpoint to gaze atat

By standing on the platform, Hester By standing on the platform, Hester develops a point of view on her life so develops a point of view on her life so

farfar

Show/Amusement/MirrorShow/Amusement/Mirror It could have betokened nothing short of the anticipated execution of some It could have betokened nothing short of the anticipated execution of some

rioted culprit, on whom the sentence of a legal tribunal had but confirmed rioted culprit, on whom the sentence of a legal tribunal had but confirmed the verdict of public sentiment. But, in that early severity of the Puritan the verdict of public sentiment. But, in that early severity of the Puritan character, an inference of this kind could not so indubitably be drawn. It character, an inference of this kind could not so indubitably be drawn. It might be that a sluggish bond-servant, or an undutiful child, whom his might be that a sluggish bond-servant, or an undutiful child, whom his parents had given over to the civil authority, was to be corrected at the parents had given over to the civil authority, was to be corrected at the whipping-post. It might be that an Antinomian, a Quaker, or other heterodox whipping-post. It might be that an Antinomian, a Quaker, or other heterodox religionist, was to be scourged out of the town, or an idle or vagrant Indian, religionist, was to be scourged out of the town, or an idle or vagrant Indian, whom the white man's firewater had made riotous about the streets, was to whom the white man's firewater had made riotous about the streets, was to be driven with stripes into the shadow of the forest. It might be, too, that a be driven with stripes into the shadow of the forest. It might be, too, that a witch, like old Mistress Hibbins, the bitter-tempered widow of the witch, like old Mistress Hibbins, the bitter-tempered widow of the magistrate, was to die upon the gallows. In either case, magistrate, was to die upon the gallows. In either case, there was very much there was very much the same solemnity of demeanor on the part of the spectators,the same solemnity of demeanor on the part of the spectators, as befitted a as befitted a people among whom religion and law were almost identical, and in whose people among whom religion and law were almost identical, and in whose character both were so thoroughly interfused, that the mildest and severest character both were so thoroughly interfused, that the mildest and severest acts of public discipline were alike made venerable and awful. Meagre, acts of public discipline were alike made venerable and awful. Meagre, indeed, and cold, was the sympathy that a transgressor might look for, from indeed, and cold, was the sympathy that a transgressor might look for, from such bystanders, at the scaffold.. (pg. 43)such bystanders, at the scaffold.. (pg. 43)

““Speculators”-it has become a show Speculators”-it has become a show Represents show or amusementRepresents show or amusement Scaffold also represents a mirrorScaffold also represents a mirror

““The same solemnity of demeanor on the part of the spectators”The same solemnity of demeanor on the part of the spectators”

Final NotesFinal Notes

In the Scarlet Letter, the scaffold In the Scarlet Letter, the scaffold has been a platform structuring sin, has been a platform structuring sin, punishment, confession, exposure to punishment, confession, exposure to truth, point of view, the ideals of the truth, point of view, the ideals of the Puritan society, and etc.Puritan society, and etc.

The 3 scaffold scenes provide the The 3 scaffold scenes provide the backbone of the story which backbone of the story which everything revolves around.everything revolves around.

The End!!!!The End!!!!