The Scarlet Letter · Chapter
XXIII: The Revelation of the Scarlet Letter explained
After delivering a powerful Election Sermon, Reverend Dimmesdale, supported by Hester and Pearl, ascends the scaffold and publicly confesses his sin, revealing a scarlet letter on his chest.
What happens
After delivering a powerful Election Sermon, Reverend Dimmesdale, supported by Hester and Pearl, ascends the scaffold and publicly confesses his sin, revealing a scarlet letter on his chest. He dies in Hester's arms, having broken free from Chillingworth's grip. Pearl kisses him, and the spell of her wildness is broken.
Themes in this chapter
Public Shame vs. Private Truth
Dimmesdale finally reveals his hidden sin publicly on the scaffold, contrasting his private guilt with the public shame Hester endured.
Redemption and Transformation
Dimmesdale achieves a form of redemption through his confession and death, while Pearl is transformed into a more sympathetic being.
Sin and Guilt
The chapter culminates in the revelation of Dimmesdale's sin and the burden of guilt that has consumed him for seven years.
Characters to notice
- Arthur Dimmesdale
Publicly confesses his sin on the scaffold, reveals the scarlet letter on his chest, and dies after a final kiss from Pearl.
- Hester Prynne
Supports Dimmesdale on the scaffold and holds him as he dies, still bearing the scarlet letter.
- Pearl
Kisses her father Dimmesdale, breaking the spell of her wildness and showing newfound sympathy.
- Roger Chillingworth
Kneels beside Dimmesdale, defeated, repeating 'Thou hast escaped me!'
Key passages
“It was revealed! But it were irreverent to describe that revelation.”
Dimmesdale tears open his shirt to show the scarlet letter on his chest, but the narrator refrains from detailing the sight.
The moment of public confession and revelation of the hidden stigma.
“Thou hast escaped me!”
Chillingworth laments that Dimmesdale has eluded his revenge by dying.
Chillingworth's defeat as Dimmesdale's confession and death thwart his plans.
“A spell was broken. The great scene of grief, in which the wild infant bore a part, had developed all her sympathies;”
Pearl's kiss breaks her wild nature, and she becomes capable of human sympathy and sorrow.
Pearl's transformation from an elfish child to a more human and compassionate being.