# XXIII: The Revelation of the Scarlet Letter explained — The Scarlet Letter

> Chapter companion for The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/chapters/xxiii-the-revelation-of-the-scarlet-letter
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_scarlet_letter_se/chapters