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Scarlet Letter Forest Symbolism

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In the book The Scarlet Letter there are two main settings, the town and the forest. Both of them are very important for the main characters. The town is where a lot happens including where Hester and Arthur, the two main characters, sinned. It is also where they lived for most of their lives, dealing with the pain the sin has caused them. The town is where both Hester and Arthur die and where they are buried. Therefore, not only is the town an important setting in the book but it is a very important place for Hester and Arthur. The forest is the second main setting and is important because of how there is a belief that the devil, or black man, lives there. It is also where Mistress Hibbins wanted to go when she tried to get Hester to go with …show more content…

These two things cause the characters to act differently when they are in them. In the forest they can be true and not have to worry about others and their opinions, while in the town they are forced to hide behind masks that keeps the truth hidden from everyone. Most of the book actually takes place in the town, so for most of the book the characters are forced to hide the truth. But when they both meet up in the forest the truth is revealed and they get to talk to each other about it. Also after the meeting in the forest Arthur finally reveals the truth to everyone. This shows how the forest changed him and caused him to decide to be truthful rather than keep the secret until his …show more content…

The two most significant changes are after Hester on the scaffolding and after Arthur and Hester return from the forest. For the first change after the scaffolding scene Arthur went from a strong young man to a sick and frail minister. He changed because of the guilt of not revealing his sin to everyone. This goes along with the town because in it there are laws and other people who can cause you to be a different person. This effected Arthur so much because he knew he broke the law, but the people did not. Therefore the people only saw him as the great minister who was sick. They even went on to say that the reason he was sick was because the devil was testing him and that he would certainly win. This caused him to feel even worse because he knew if he told them the truth their opinions of him would change dramatically. Then there is Hester who also changed after the scaffolding scene. She changed by wearing coarse dresses and putting her hair up in a formal cap. By doing that she was punishing herself. This shows that after everyone found out about her sin she started to change negatively. After the forest scene Arthur went from a frail and sick man to a strong man again. The townsfolk described him by saying, ¨It was the observation of those who beheld him now, that never, since Mr. Dimmesdale first set his foot on the New England shore, had he exhibited such energy as was seen

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