We are reading the story, THE SCARLET LETTER, in class and I am confused on this question. From my understanding, Dimmesdale gets on scaffold and imagine what would be to tell the truth about his sin but then all of the sudden Hester and Pearl walks by. But I don't think Dimmesdale ever confessed nor denied that he is the father of Pearl. Did I understood the story right?? If so, then is the correct answer B??? Please help! thanks!
In the second scaffold scene, Dimmesdale:
a) denies that he is Pearl's father
b) stands with Pearl and Hester
c) refuses to stand with Pearl and Hester
d) confesses everything
Read about Dimmesdale here:
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/scarlet/characters.html
Let us know what you decide.
Yes, I checked here as well. But I just can't seem to get understand the second scaffold scene. I am debating between answer A and C.
Or, is it D? confessing everything?? Because it looks like he wants to confess but something is holding him back.
I've never read this book (I wasn't an American Lit major!), but did he actually say out loud that he was not Pearl's father? If so, that's A.
This is in the plot overview of the Sparknotes for this book:
He impulsively mounts the scaffold with his lover and his daughter, and confesses publicly, exposing a scarlet letter seared into the flesh of his chest. He falls dead, as Pearl kisses him.
That overview you provided is the third scaffold. But if you have time, can you read the passage below??
The second scaffold scene is directly in the middle of the novel. Dimmesdale is wandering around town at night feeling guilty and tests out the scaffold. What would it be like to stand there and confess? Coincidentally Hester and Pearl walk by the scaffold and see him. In any event, Pearl and Hester join Arthur on the scaffold to talk with him, and Pearl, with the sagacity of children, asks him if he will stand with them by daylight. All the other children in town have fathers, and she has probably been looking at men’s faces for a long time trying to find hers. Of course Dimmesdale is too cowardly and selfish to commit and gives her an answer familiar to children, someday but not now.
This is what I have in my lecture note. I am just not understanding this passage fully..... as you can see :(
I am not sure if he reject Pearl as his daughter or stands with Pearl and Hester.
Arthur is Dimmesdale by the way. So you don't get confused. thanks!
Then I would choose C!
Thanks ... the more I read of the Sparknotes and students' notes and reactions, the more I learn about this book.
=)