In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, life is centered

around a rigid Puritan society in which one is unable to divulge his

or her innermost thoughts and secrets. Every human being needs the

opportunity to express how he or she truly feels, otherwise the

emotions are bottled up until they become volatile. Unfortunately,

Puritan society did not permit this kind of expression, thus

characters had to seek alternate means to relieve their personal

anguishes and desires. Luckily, at least for the four main characters,

Hawthorne provides such a sanctuary in the form of the mysterious

forest. Hawthorne uses the forest to provide a kind of "shelter" for

members of society in need of a refuge from daily Puritan life.

In the deep, dark portions of the forest, many of the pivotal

characters bring forth hidden thoughts and emotions. The forest track

leads away from the settlement out into the wilderness where all signs

of civilization vanish. This is precisely the escape route from strict

mandates of law and religion, to a refuge where men, as well as women,

can open up and be themselves. It is here that Dimmesdale openly

turns out to bear a remarkable resemblance to one of Dimmesdale's

recognize her as the Hester from Chapter 1. The beautiful, attractive

is undying love for her. It is also here that

people may do as they wish. To independent spirits such as Hester

sermons. "Begin all anew! ... Preach! Write! Act!"(p. 188) The

natural personality of the people who use it correctly. When Hester

leads yonder forest-track? Backward to the settlement, thou sayest!

people in the stations of life which Hester and Dimmesdale hold, it

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Approximate Word count = 1140
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)