The_Scarlet_Letter

The Scarlet Letter In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Scarlet Letter”, life is centered around a rigid, pure society in which one is unable to show his or her deepest thoughts and secrets. Every human being needs the opportunity to express how they truly feel, or the emotion is bottled up until it explodes. Unfortunately, Puritan society did not permit this expression, so characters had to use different ways to relieve themselves. Luckily, at least for the four main characters, Hawthorne provides a refuge in the dark forest. Hawthorne uses the forest to provide a shelter for members of society in need of a retreat from daily life. In the deep, dark parts of the forest, many of the significant characters bring out hidden thoughts and emotions. The forest track leads away from the settlement out into the wilderness where all signs of civilization is gone. This is the escape route, from strict requirements of law and religion. The forest is a refuge where men, as well as women, can open up, and be themselves. It is here that Dimmesdale can acknowledge Hester and his undying love for her. It is here scarlet letter, scarlet, letter, forest, hester, dimmesdale, society, out, natural, time, thoughts, puritan, people, life, characters, themselves, show, now, need, nathaniel, hawthorne, finally, away, yet, world, woman, without, wilderness, until, under, throw, thou, therefore, takes, stressed, speech, shunned, shield, settlement, sermons, self, restraints, religion, refuge, questions, presumed, place, person, open, occur, made, look