The true test of an individual’s fortitude of spirit and mind derives from how they carry themselves when faced with adversity. Ultimately, there will be challenges in life, and the ability to fight them without compromising one’s character shows the true manifestation of power and strength. Hester overcomes an unfathomable adversity, displaying her inner resilience. In novel The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne asserts the power of Hester through the surrounding imagery of the scaffold scenes. Hawthorn forces this message with the continual incorporation of the scaffold as the physical representation of this adversity in the context of public shaming. Beginning from the onset with his message, Hawthorne introduces the scaffold surrounded
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Unlike Hester’s scene, Hawthorne presents Dimmesdale as shyly creeping to scaffold at nighttime when the marketplace is vacant of people in a time when he could not be humiliated. However, even with this lack of a tangible audience to shame him, Hawthorne describes Dimmesdale as being “overcome with a great horror of mind” from reacting to the “ gnawing and poisonous tooth”(102) and the resulting shame and judgement of society. He is incapable of maintaining power over himself and therefore cannot be strong when faced with even the adversity of confronting the judgement of the scaffold, which is the fundamental test of inner fortitude. Furthermore, in disparity with Hester’s quiet strength while fighting off these “venomous” animals of the public, Dimmesdale is powerless to defend himself even against the concept the scaffold embodies when he loses control and “he shrieks aloud”(102). Both Hester and Dimmesdale fear this humiliation, but the display of power in their character lies in their responses. Hester is able to hold herself above the shame, battle it and find growth in it, while Dimmesdale utterly cowers under the concept of it, causing him to crumble and break will. This fracturing of Dimmesdale’s psyche and therefore loss of strength is manifested in this pleaful vocalization. Moreover, in contrast to Hester’s silent contemplation
Unlike Hester’s scene, Hawthorne presents Dimmesdale as shyly creeping to scaffold at nighttime when the marketplace is vacant of people in a time when he could not be humiliated. However, even with this lack of a tangible audience to shame him, Hawthorne describes Dimmesdale as being “overcome with a great horror of mind” from reacting to the “ gnawing and poisonous tooth”(102) and the resulting shame and judgement of society. He is incapable of maintaining power over himself and therefore cannot be strong when faced with even the adversity of confronting the judgement of the scaffold, which is the fundamental test of inner fortitude. Furthermore, in disparity with Hester’s quiet strength while fighting off these “venomous” animals of the public, Dimmesdale is powerless to defend himself even against the concept the scaffold embodies when he loses control and “he shrieks aloud”(102). Both Hester and Dimmesdale fear this humiliation, but the display of power in their character lies in their responses. Hester is able to hold herself above the shame, battle it and find growth in it, while Dimmesdale utterly cowers under the concept of it, causing him to crumble and break will. This fracturing of Dimmesdale’s psyche and therefore loss of strength is manifested in this pleaful vocalization. Moreover, in contrast to Hester’s silent contemplation