Analysis of Setting

The Prison Door

The settings all took place in  Boston, Massachusetts in the 1640s. Historically the setting is where the religious group the Puritans settled. The Puritans had power over the town socially and economically which is what made Bostons history. The first physical setting in Boston that the novel The Scarlet Letter  by Nathaniel Hawthorne took place in was the first prison.  The prison was a grass plot before becoming the very first prison.

The Market Place

The market place is where Hester and her daughter Pearl stood for three hours with the letter A in red on her chest. Hester stood on a pillory in front of the public because of the sin of adultery that she committed. Instead of death as her punishment Hester has to expose her self to the public in front of the Puritans that are on the balcony. Then where the A on her chest forever. The A represent the sin of committing adultery.

Hesters chat with Roger Chillingwood

After Hester is humiliating moment in front of the public she went back to jail and had unexpected visit from her husband in her jail cell. This setting is important because it shows the readers Rogers values and goals.

After Hester was released Pearl and her lived just on the boarder line of Boston in a small comfy house and Hester sowed for living. Hester kept herself and Pearl isolated from the town because of all the gossip.