Chapter 12:The Minister's Vigil

Going a bit crazy, the clergyman now heads over to the scaffold where he encounters Pearl and Hester. The second most important scaffold scene takes place in this chapter. Whereby Hester, Pearl and Dimmesdale stand on the scaffold in the middle of the night. I like how Hawthorne describes this as “electric chain” it just shows the importance of a man in a women’s life and that of a father’s importance in a child’s life. For the first time, the three are together on the scaffold making it one my favorite scenes. Moreover, Dimmesdale finally questions Hester about the ‘nameless horror’ in the shape of Chillingworth. However she refuses to say anything and brushes the matter aside. I dislike how Hester just refuses to tell him anything about Chillingworth.Furthermore, Hawthorne’s tone in this chapter seems curious. Another important thing  that happens is the falling of the meteor in the shape of letter A. Obviously Hester and Dimmesdale take it as a reminder of the sin of adultery they had committted.Chillingworth almost stalks Dimmesdale which is creepy. Towards the end the minister returns Dimmesdale’s glove which he found on the scaffold and doesn’t even doubt him for a second. This implies that your name was more than just a name it was your reputation. And so Dimmesdale easily escapes but I am this is not going to happen all the time.

“I tell thee, my soul shivers at him!” muttered the minister again. “Who is he? Who is he? Canst thou do nothing for me? I have a nameless horror of the man!”

This is significant because Dimmesdale finally starts getting those cynical vibrations from Chillingworth. Firstly because Chillingworth is creepy and secondly because he fears his secret might not just be a secret anymore.