Private Setting In The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne

The scarlet letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a well known book, between the scandals and lies within it. It starts out with Hester prynne, a women from a small puritan community. Hester is forced to stand out in front of the people of her community for a few hours as punishment for breaking one of them many laws of the people. What law did she break to be forced to do this? She committed adultery, having a child with another man while still married to her husband back in amsterdam. Throughout all of the book she refuses to tell the people who the father of the child is, to protect him from the same fate as herself. Later, however, we as readers do find out who the father is. It is only in a private setting, and in her own mind, where hester is comfortable to say that dimmesdale is the father. Setting is a big thing in this novel. We see different sides of characters in places and at different times. In the town, out characters are much more reserved. They won't speak out or say what they really feel and think. They want to fit in to a point. In public settings there are always people watching, always judging their every move. It's almost as if they are playing a role, hiding behind this mask so the townspeople won't see the truth, so they won't see their sins. …show more content…
For example, in the beginning, just after Hester was brought back to the prison after being on the scaffolding and chillingworth comes in. He talks to her as if it's just them, he talks freely about their marriage not afraid if people hearing him. He wouldn't do that when they meet outside the cell, when they're outside with the others. Or later in the book when Hester and dimmesdale meet in the forest. They plan to leave together without second thought about people listening in on their