Daniel of the Old Testament was an important member of the
court in Babylon where he became very knowledgeable and pious, gaining the respect of
many. He was accomplished at interpretations of dreams, and was also called upon to
interpret mysterious handwriting on a wall. This supernatural writing foretold the
demise of the Babylonian empire.
In Chapter III
of The Scarlet Letter, Roger Chillingworth inquires of a Puritan
who is in the market place, "And who, by your favour, Sir, may be the father of yonder
babe...?" To this, the Puritan replies with the remark that the magistrates have laid
their heads together in vain, so "A Daniel...is yet a-wanting." In other words, one who
can reader the supernatural writing that is behind the scarlet A on Hester's bosom is
lacking to the community. The magistrates need someone like Daniel who can interpret
such things as dreams and read supernatural writing and the souls of
others.
This remark by the bystander to Chillingworth is,
indeed, ironic as it is Chillingworth in his demonic, rather than divine, scrutiny of
the Reverend Dimmesdale who is able to read the "spiritual writing" on the chest of the
minister, a writing that comes from the guilt of his conscience. He, then, is the
Daniel of whom the bystander says the community is "a-wanting."
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