The Scarlet Letter Commentary
Throughout the history of American Literature, there have been many authors who have succeeded in writing novels with much credibility. One of these authors is Nathaniel Hawthorne, one of the greatest novelists of his time. His unique style of writing which consists of the extended use of imagery and symbolism transforms his novels from having a simple mundane plot to a very eloquent picture. One of his best-known works is The Scarlet Letter, and in chapter twelve, Hawthorne uses the themes of night, guilt, and humiliation to develop the character of Dimmesdale. In chapter twelve, there are many examples of how Hawthorne uses the theme of night to develop the character of Dimmesdale. For example, Dimmesdale walks over to the scaffold on "an obscure night of early May" (Hawthorne, 12). By using the setting of night, the author is not only able to give this chapter a dark and eerie mood but also able to show the reader that Dimmesdale is trying to conceal his sin by hiding it in the dark. Hawthorne continues to describe that the night was so dark that the people "would have discerned no face above the platform, nor hardly the outline of a human shape" (12). This quote further suggests that Dimmesdale chose this setting because he is ashamed at the sin he has committed.