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Amila Talovic
Mr. Rutigliano
American Literature Honors
5 November 2015
Following the Crowd
In Nathaniel Hawthornes novel, The Scarlet Letter, the setting encourages the characters
to conceal their feelings and thoughts. The city of Boston makes it difficult for Dimmesdale to
live a life without regrets and the feeling of confinement because of his fear of being judged by
the public. Using the setting of Boston in the 17th century, Hawthorne shows how conformity
prevents one from showing individual character.
Dimmesdale struggles to find a place he fits in the so called utopia. Hawthorne uses irony
to show that even the highest authority, a saint, can sin and feel restrained from being his own
individual character. Hawthorne writes, Never!replies Hester Prynne, looking, not at Mr.
Wilson but into the deep and troubled eyes of the younger clergyman (Hawthorne 64).
Hawthorne describes Dimmesdales eyes as deep and troubled, meaning that he is nervous
about whether Hester is going to expose him or keep their secret. He feels as if he would be
letting down people if they found out the fraud he is. Therefore he is not able to show his true
self to the world. He fears the thoughts and judgement of the Puritans more than the judgement
of God. With this idea in mind, the only way Hester and Dimmesdale are able to pursue their
forbidden relationship is in the forest where they are isolated from the settlement. The forest is
their safe haven and the place that frees them from all the restrictions put upon them in the
settlement. Hawthorne writes, How dreary looked the forest-track that led back to the
settlement, where Hester Prynne must take up again the burden of her ignominy, and the minister

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the hollow mockery of his good name! (176). The dim and murky forest is the only place they
feel true to themselves and to one another. Its where theyre accepted, which means that they fit
into nature because they themselves are natural. Hawthorne contrasts the city of Boston and the
forest to prove that conformity does infact keep one from showing their true self.
Ultimately, through the setting of Boston in the 17th century, Hawthorne shows that
conformity makes it difficult for one to show their true character. He shows that what the public
may consider a wrongdoing, may just be an opinion. Just because the public doesnt accept it,
doesnt mean its not normal. Therefore, one shouldnt follow a crowd, but rather be true
themselves.

Works Cited
Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. New York: Bantam Dell, 2003. Print