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There are three scaffold scenes in The Scarlet Letter, all of which hold significance in the novel. The three scaffold scenes show the positions of Hester Prynne and Dimmesdale as the novel progresses. The first scaffold scene is at the start of the novel with Hester's public humiliation. The scaffold symbolizes her sin and shame, and allows for the public to taunt her. This scaffold also signifies her new identity within the societyalthough it is not her true identity, the townspeople associate her with the scaffold from then on. With the public jeering at Hester and calling her names, there is a cruel feel to the brooding mood. Furthermore, Hawthorne's description of Hester's feelings emphasizes the dark mood in which she realizes her fate and loss of true identity.

The second scaffold scene is where Dimmesdale, out of guilt and desire to alleviate his agony, suddenly goes to the scaffold and stands up on it. His pain and agony multiply, and once on the scaffold, he becomes delirious. There is a sort of chilly tone in this scene, because Dimmesdale acts extremely different from how he normally acts. He seems to lose control over himself, and almost seems as though consumed by the sin he has not atoned for. When Hester and Pearl join him on the scaffold, his dishonesty is emphasized through Pearl's constant questions. The mood thickens as he mentions he evil he feels around Chillingworthwhen Chillingworth actually appears, he strikes a chord of fear in both Dimmesdale and Hester. It is apparent that there is a sense of evil and foreboding when Chillingworth is present.

The third and last scaffold scene is where Dimmesdale finally confesses his sins, and where the novel essentially "ends." This scaffold scene wraps up the novel, and illustrates the release of evil. Through his confession, Dimmesdale is able to escape the clutches of Chillingworth's vengeance, and is also able to die free of sin. Chillingworth, on the other hand, does not last much longer without the goal of revenge, and passes on as well. Hester and Pearl are somewhat accepted back into society, and ultimately emerge with their own true identitiesthe townspeople forget or disregard the identities they had for them. The mood that encompasses this scene is one of relief with a tinge of bitterness, as well as grief. Hester had loved Dimmesdale, so seeing him die was heartbreaking; likewise, Pearl kisses him a final good-bye, knowing that he was her father. On the other hand, Chillingworth, having his victim escape from his grasp, is overcome with evil rage and fury.

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