The Scafolding Vs. The Forest Essay -- essays research papers

Nathaniel Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter, a dark tale of sin and redemption, meanings on the small Puritan community of Boston during the seventeenth century. In the center of this bustling community is the market place. With in it are all the exchange features of the town, the most symbolic of these is the scaffold. Many a soul is scarred upon this scaffold. It is a place of intense scrutiny and upon it, reality comes into a brutal light. In exceptional contrast to the scaffold is the forest beyond the town. Here, there is no judgement and reality waxes and wanes. Hawthorne creates this place for the characters to escape and themselves without restraint or worry. The analogy is clear the market place, especially the scaffold, represents the harsh reality of Puritan parliamentary law and the forest provides escape. The scaffold is the center of criticism. Here, any unfortunate soul to spring up the stairs is subject to the superficial examination by the eyes of society. Those b elow the scaffold see a light of the character distorted by their own jealousies and suspicions, and clouded by gossip. Where the truth may be out of the question to them, it is substituted by things society coerced them to believe. Those on the scaffold experience reality. The only puff of air is the ability to see beyond the town from this pernicious pedestal. As Hester spends her dispense time in the spotlight, her mind escapes as she gazes off into the distance. But eon some are able to escape, others such as Dimmesd...