Puritan Society In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter

Hawthorne displays images of the forest that stand in stark contrast to the images given to Puritan society. In the very first chapter, the narrator gives an image of a prison, the “black flower of civilized society” (43). This picture gives the setting a sense of cold confinement, which relates to the Puritan society. Similar to the iron prison, the narrator describes Hester bound by iron chains in the prison, that “could never be broken” (72). The chains that bind Hester are the rules of civilization, that cause her to live in shame for many years of her life. The townspeople also possess a solemn demeanor, a cause of their strict Puritan culture and ideals. Within the novel, the narrator portrays this civilization as strict and orderly, requiring religious obedience from all its citizens. However, the forest

Wallowing in despair, Hester staggers within the forest, “clad in garments so somber,” and Dimesdale does not know if it is “a woman or a shadow” (173). Hester bears strong emotions of depression and gloom, ultimately conveying a dark and heavy image. She has confined herself to the harsh disciplines of society and now suffers because of it. Not only has the culture confined Hester, but she has also fabricated an opaque wall around her heart, concealing her shadowy thoughts of suicide and uselessness. Nevertheless, when Hester removes her soiled cap and scarlet letter within the forest, “forth burst the sunshine, pouring a very flood into the obscure forest, gladdening each green leaf, transmuting the yellow fallen ones into gold…” (186). The light that once hid its face from her now bounds to envelop her whole body with its warm rays. Puritan civilization forces Hester to mark herself as an outcast due to her sin by wearing a scarlet letter and poor