Chapter 23 Summary

Dimmesdale's speech, the Election Sermon, crown of the day's festivities, is legendary, riveting and almost prophetic. After its over, the procession continues towards a great banquet, the culmination of the day's events. Many who saw the procession were inspired and it was as if the entire crowd was moved by a single voice into one giant shout of collective victory and happiness. As the procession marches on, Dimmesdale comes again to the scaffold, where he now sees Hester and Pearl. He opens his arms to them. Chillingworth comes out of the crowd to warn him, to keep him from revealing his identity. He has Hester help support him as he climbs up the scaffold, insisting to Chillingworth that he will now escape forever from his sinister intent.

Now on the top of the scaffold, he addresses the crowd in a high, majestic voice...