I have suddenly realized from reading that this story takes place in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in New England, which was also where the Puritans had first settled. Furthermore, in chapter three, the narrator introduces the audience to Dimmesdale, a man who obtained much respect as a Puritan minister of the colony. This in turn provides him much of his authority in proclaiming her punishment to the entire town - declaring that instead of facing death, she must "wear a mark of shame upon her bosom" which is a scarlet letter for committing adultery, (72). This scene reflects the Puritan principles. Dimmesdale is regarded as a highly virtuous man only due to him being a minister, just like the rest of men with authority during this period. The scene also shows how vulnerable women were during the Puritan era, comparatively to men.
Another connection I have made pertains to the scarlet letter. The narrator explains that the symbol on Hester's chest "derives its scarlet hue from the flames of the internal pit, (79). As soon as I read this line, I immediately thought of Jonathan Edwards' A Model of Christian Charity, which uses robust imagery God's wrath in order to get more people to convert to Christianity, which also had taken place during the Puritan period. In chapter four, the letter also is described as scorching Hester's breast, "as if it had been red hot, (89.) I believe that the guilt from committing adultery will never be fully forgotten in Hester's daily life, especially since she lives in a society where every person alienates her, treating her as a pariah. The Puritan people truly felt the need to reprimand those who did not demonstrate a godly life, who, in this situation, is Hester Prynne.
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