"A throng of bearded men, in sad-colored garments, and grey, steeple-crowned hats, intermixed with women, some wearing hoods and others bareheaded, was assembled." (35)
The setting of this novel is in Salem, Massachusetts, in the 1700s. It is clear that is it not a big town, and everyone knows what everyone, and that includes their secrets. This is how towns in this time governed "effectively". Because Salem was such a small town the smallest rumor could be turned in to a full trail for witch craft, or in Prynne's case, adultery. Hester Prynne could not hide this from the town like a normal secret however, and knew that persecution was inevitable. Because of the small town, she also knew that giving up her accomplice in her crime would do more harm than good. Opposed to the chaotic opening scenes with Prynne being persecutee and surrounded by the towns people, the house in the country is quite different. Everyone leaves her alone out there to do her work. The setting like this family, is secluded from the rest of the town.
I think that the setting is as pivatol part in the story too. Also, I noticed that the setting of story connects to the characterization of Hester. When Hester is released from prison, she is given the opportunity to run and get away from her former life, but she decides to stay. To me, this says a lot about her character. I know that if I were in her shoes, I would be running to get away from everyone. But, she stays and faces judgments and persecutions all over again. I think that Hester knows the severity of her past wrongdoings and longs to make up for it in some way. Maybe she is finding forgiveness within herself by staying and suffering.
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