The nature of the society in which Hester and Dimmesdale live in comes from its religious teachings, combined with the unfamiliar and hostile surroundings in which it exists. One such thing which the they did not have control over was the wilderness beyond the town. The Puritans' manners and customs are important to the power of the story in The Scarlet Letter. The story of The Scarlet Letter would be different in modern society. The Scarlet Letter is greatly influenced and shaped by the Puritan context. One aspect of which they did not have control over was the wilderness beyond the town. The forest was unmanageable and overgrown, a block for the apparent perfection of the ordered society whose control did not extend pass the forest. This
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Hester and Dimmesdale's relations would not have the consequences in today's society, so the tragic life impact of the story would be reduced. Modern society is not as confined and does not function as a cohesive whole. Today there are many more freedoms given to members of society. Today, punishments are normally done in the private of ones home, not in the middle of the town square."Knowing well her part, she ascended a flight of wooden steps, and was thus displayed to the surrounding multitude, at about the height of a man's shoulders above the street" (Hawthorne 49). Members of society today do not concern themselves as much with secrets as Hester does with the secret of her husband's identity. Hester keeps this secret even though she knows it will hurt Dimmesdale. Society moves on so rapidly that people's lives are not defined around the actions of one night or the friendship from one person. In other words, Puritan context greatly influences the story of The Scarlet Letter. The wilderness beyond the town was not in the Puritans control. The Scarlet Letter gives power to the important customs and manners of the Puritans. In modern society the story of The Scarlet Letter would have been different. The setting of The Scarlet Letter is an important part of the book, and The Scarlet Letter could not have taken place anywhere else due to its reliance on Puritan morals and
Hester and Dimmesdale's relations would not have the consequences in today's society, so the tragic life impact of the story would be reduced. Modern society is not as confined and does not function as a cohesive whole. Today there are many more freedoms given to members of society. Today, punishments are normally done in the private of ones home, not in the middle of the town square."Knowing well her part, she ascended a flight of wooden steps, and was thus displayed to the surrounding multitude, at about the height of a man's shoulders above the street" (Hawthorne 49). Members of society today do not concern themselves as much with secrets as Hester does with the secret of her husband's identity. Hester keeps this secret even though she knows it will hurt Dimmesdale. Society moves on so rapidly that people's lives are not defined around the actions of one night or the friendship from one person. In other words, Puritan context greatly influences the story of The Scarlet Letter. The wilderness beyond the town was not in the Puritans control. The Scarlet Letter gives power to the important customs and manners of the Puritans. In modern society the story of The Scarlet Letter would have been different. The setting of The Scarlet Letter is an important part of the book, and The Scarlet Letter could not have taken place anywhere else due to its reliance on Puritan morals and