The Scarlet Letter: Symbolism of the Forest In Puritan Society In the democracy that America holds presently, government attempts to make society much less harsh and more easygoing. In Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel, The Scarlet Letter, life is centered around a seventeenth century, rigid Puritan society in which one is unable to express his or her innermost thoughts and secrets. Every human being needs the opportunity to express how he or she truly feels, otherwise their emotions can become bottled up until some-sort of outlet is granted. Unfortunately, Puritan