Setting: The Silent Character

Oyoma Asinor, Shannon Drop Jared Boyden, Andrew Himes &

Tucker Burg

Main Characters• Hester Prynne

o Main character

• Pearl Prynneo Daughter of Prynne &

Dimmesdale

• Arthur Dimmesdaleo Father of Pearl Prynne and town

Priest

Themes• Light and Dark

o Use of the juxtaposition of light and dark in the provides differences between settings

• Individual vs. Societyo The town scenes compared to the scenes in

the forest aid in the difference between the uptight nature of the town and the relaxed atmosphere that the forest provides

• Natureo Nature (and the forest specifically) play an

important role in the novel, acting almost as if it’s another character itself.

Examining the Setting

• Themeso Different settings

emphasize certain themes

• Toneo Specific settings

highlight changes in tones

We will be Proving...● Hawthorne uses the setting to compliment

○ Characters○ Conflicts○ Themes

● Explicating examples in the novel

ThesisSettings in The Scarlet Letter hold a powerful role in the novel by explicating the characters, conflicts, and themes such as Hester, her isolation, and her individuality versus the whole of Puritan society.

Quote #1“Hester Prynne set forth towards the place appointed for her punishment,” (p. 63).• The scaffold• Central setting in novel• Three major events occur here• Ties to her punishment and

shame/guilt

“But here, in the sunny day, and among all the people, he knows us not; nor must we know him!” (p. 275)• Woods vs Town• Hester and Pearl interacting

w/ Dimmesdale• Secrecy vs Public

Quote #2

“On the outskirts of town, within the verge of the peninsula, but not in close vicinity to any other habitation, there was a small, thatched cottage,” (p. 94).• Hester’s cottage• Connects to her isolation from

town

Quote #3

“For the sake of the minister’s health [...] they took long walks on the seashore or in the forest,” (p.145).• Nature• Dimmesdale can be

stress-free in the forest• Honest in the forest later

on w/ Hester & Pearl

Quote #4

“Come up hither, Hester, thou and little Pearl [...] Ye have both been here before, but I was not with you. Come up hither once again, and we will stand all three together!” (p. 181).• Dimmesdale’s secret longing

to be truthful about Hester and Pearl• Desire for a family

Quote #5