Puritan society, ruled by a set of strict rules, is essentially in the dark and can not itself see the light. Many of the leaders of Boston are themselves breaking the rigid Puritanical laws. Governor Bellingham lives in a mansion whose " brilliancy might have befitted Aladdin's palace, rather then the mansion of a grave old Puritan ruler." (pg. 98) Bellingham's extravagant house shows the hypocrisy of the Puritans. They seek to punish those, like Hester, who break the laws of Puritan society but at the same time they too violate their own laws. The Puritans can not see the faults within themselves. Puritan society is seen as a place where "iniquity is searched out, and punished in the sight of rulers and people." (pg. 58) The Puritans pride themselves on the uniform goodness of their town and their ways of dealing with sin

The Puritan society, plunged deep into darkness seems in sheer contrast with the bright, sunlight-filled, earnest truth of the forest. Hester, having been able to experience life in both places, finds truth in the forest. In comparison, the Puritans, never allowing themselves to see beyond their rules, will never experience the revelation of truth and light one experiences, free in the forest.

Living in the wilderness, Hester Prynne is able to see the light of truth, as none in Puritan society can. The Puritans have punished Hester for her sin and she is now free to go where she pleases, yet she decides to stay in Boston. The woods are a haven for Hester and yet they are also a showcase for her sin. Hester's secluded cottage, alone in the dark forest is surrounded by a circle of trees. These scrubby trees "did not so much conceal the cottage from view, as seem to denote that here was some object which would fain here been, or at least ought to be, concealed." (pg. 76) The Puritans despise secrecy, as is seen when Hester's sin is displayed in public fashion and also in the scarlet letter itself. Both of these showcasings of Hester's sin, leave her with nothing to hide before the Puritans. The forest is the right place for her in the Puritan sense, in that all of society knows she is there, yet none want to acknowledge her presence. She is much like Mistress Hibbins, who incidentally also finds haven in the woods. For Hester, this haven helps her find what she is in search of. Early on, Hester says to her daughter that Pearl must "gather her own sunshine. I have none to give thee." (pg. 98) Hester has been forced into submission by the Puritans and believes that she has

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1143
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)