Chapter 12:
46. Why does Dimmesdale go to stand on the scaffolding?
- Dimmesdale decides to stand on the scaffolding as a symbol of the guilt he is holding. He believes that if he makes a silent vigil where Hester was publicly held some of his sins may be relieved.
47.Which two people come to their window when Dimmesdale shrieks? What symbolism might be involved in the author's choice of these two characters?
- The two people who come to the window when Dimmesdale shrieks are Governor Bellingham and Mistress Hibbins. These two characters are significant in running to the window because of the contrast between the two. Mistress Hibbins is an actual witch who works for the Governor. He is the one who enforces the order in the community, keeping the people pure and safe from evil and sin. The two coming to the window both are drwn to the sound but for two different reasons.
48. Why are Rev. Wilson and, later, Hester and Pearl out at night? Why does Rev. Wilson miss seeing Dimmesdale?
- The reason that Reverend Wilson, Hester and Pearl are walking home late the night that Dimmesdale is on the scaffold is that they have been to see Governor Winthrop. The first Governor of the Colony is dying and Reverend Wilson was sitting by his bedside comforting the dying man.Hester was there to measure the Governor for his burial clothes since she is an excellent seamstress. Reverend Wilson misses seeing Dimmesdale because he is walking home deep in thought and the sky has not yet brightened with the scarlet letter shining in the clouds.
49. What question does Pearl ask Dimmesdale? What is his answer? Why is this interaction significant?
- Pearl asks Dimmesdale to stand with her on the Scaffolding come noontide tomorrow, Dimmesdale says that he cannot do it tomorrow but come judgment day he will stand with Hester and Pearl at that time. This shows that Dimmesdale is a coward and that he does not want people to know his true identity or what he did.
50. What "sign" appears in the sky? How is it described? What two interpretations are offered by which characters?
- When Chillingworth sees Hester and Dimmesdale up on the scaffolding together Dimmesdale sees a letter A in the sky. Dimmesdale thinks that the A is their because of Chillingworth found out his secret of Hester and himself, but the sexton told him that the A in the sky was for angle because it shows that the governor is now an angle in the sky with God.
51. What is Chillingworth's reaction to finding Dimmesdale on the scaffold?
- The reaction that Chillingworth has at seeing Dimmesdale on the scaffold is satisfaction, finally he believes he has proof that the Reverend has admitted his guilt.
52. How does his experience on the scaffold affect Dimmesdale's sermon the next day? How does the Sexton interpret his discovery of Dimmesdale's black glove on the scaffold?
- The sermon that Dimmesdale gives to his congregation the next day is the most powerful that he has ever delivered. The Minister has a true experience in having sinned and the pain it costs to hold on to that sin. The Sexton finds Dimmesdale's black glove on the scaffold but tells him that the devil placed the glove there as a trick against the Minister.
- Dimmesdale decides to stand on the scaffolding as a symbol of the guilt he is holding. He believes that if he makes a silent vigil where Hester was publicly held some of his sins may be relieved.
47.Which two people come to their window when Dimmesdale shrieks? What symbolism might be involved in the author's choice of these two characters?
- The two people who come to the window when Dimmesdale shrieks are Governor Bellingham and Mistress Hibbins. These two characters are significant in running to the window because of the contrast between the two. Mistress Hibbins is an actual witch who works for the Governor. He is the one who enforces the order in the community, keeping the people pure and safe from evil and sin. The two coming to the window both are drwn to the sound but for two different reasons.
48. Why are Rev. Wilson and, later, Hester and Pearl out at night? Why does Rev. Wilson miss seeing Dimmesdale?
- The reason that Reverend Wilson, Hester and Pearl are walking home late the night that Dimmesdale is on the scaffold is that they have been to see Governor Winthrop. The first Governor of the Colony is dying and Reverend Wilson was sitting by his bedside comforting the dying man.Hester was there to measure the Governor for his burial clothes since she is an excellent seamstress. Reverend Wilson misses seeing Dimmesdale because he is walking home deep in thought and the sky has not yet brightened with the scarlet letter shining in the clouds.
49. What question does Pearl ask Dimmesdale? What is his answer? Why is this interaction significant?
- Pearl asks Dimmesdale to stand with her on the Scaffolding come noontide tomorrow, Dimmesdale says that he cannot do it tomorrow but come judgment day he will stand with Hester and Pearl at that time. This shows that Dimmesdale is a coward and that he does not want people to know his true identity or what he did.
50. What "sign" appears in the sky? How is it described? What two interpretations are offered by which characters?
- When Chillingworth sees Hester and Dimmesdale up on the scaffolding together Dimmesdale sees a letter A in the sky. Dimmesdale thinks that the A is their because of Chillingworth found out his secret of Hester and himself, but the sexton told him that the A in the sky was for angle because it shows that the governor is now an angle in the sky with God.
51. What is Chillingworth's reaction to finding Dimmesdale on the scaffold?
- The reaction that Chillingworth has at seeing Dimmesdale on the scaffold is satisfaction, finally he believes he has proof that the Reverend has admitted his guilt.
52. How does his experience on the scaffold affect Dimmesdale's sermon the next day? How does the Sexton interpret his discovery of Dimmesdale's black glove on the scaffold?
- The sermon that Dimmesdale gives to his congregation the next day is the most powerful that he has ever delivered. The Minister has a true experience in having sinned and the pain it costs to hold on to that sin. The Sexton finds Dimmesdale's black glove on the scaffold but tells him that the devil placed the glove there as a trick against the Minister.