"Hester looked, by way of humoring the child; and she saw that, owing to the peculiar effect of this convex mirror, the scarlet letter was represented in exaggerated and gigantic proportions, so as to be greatly the most prominent feature of her appearance."(page 87) She is no longer a woman of able being, she is back to being the wearer of the scarlet letter. .

             In Nathaniel Hawthorne"s The Scarlet Letter, life is centered on a rigid, Puritanistic-structured society in which one is scrutinized by the public and not allowed to stray from Christian ideology. Unfortunately, Puritan society did not permit expression of ones feelings. So the in characters The Scarlet Letter had to seek alternate means in order to relieve themselves. Luckily, the two of the main characters, Hawthorne provides such a safe haven in the form of the mysterious forest. Hawthorne uses the woods to provide a shelter for members of society in need of a refuge from daily life. In the deep, dark portions of the forest, the main characters bring forth hidden thoughts and emotions. The woods lead away from the settlement out into the wilderness where all signs of civilization vanish. This is precisely the place where characters lose themselves and are not afraid to show their true feelings because they are not fettered by law and religion. The woods acts as a refuge where men and women can breathe a cathartic sigh of relief. It is here that Dimmesdale and Hester can openly acknowledge each other and their undying love for another. It is here that the two of them can openly engage in conversation, without the ears Puritan society judging them. .

             Truly, Hester takes advantage of this, when Arthur Dimmesdale appears. Hester openly talks with Dimmesdale about subjects which would never be mentioned in any place other than the forest. "What we did."had a consecration of its own. We felt it so! We said to each other!"(p.