17th-century life on display in The Scarlet LetterThe Scarlet Letter of Nathaniel Hawthorne expresses aspects of relationships, religion, community, discipline, and punishment in the Puritan community of 17th-century Boston century. Relations between men and women were very constrained and this is what made adultery such a serious sin in the eyes of all members of the community. Religion seemed to rule everything, people looked up to the reverends, and the community believed that destiny was their destiny. Public discipline and punishment were used to discourage everyone from committing the same crime or sin as the offending “criminal.” The community was to follow God's beliefs and fulfill its duties as best it could, while also being there to criticize and punish anyone who disobeyed religion or laws. In 17th century Boston, everything was very strict and everyone had to follow the laws, which makes Hester's sin a great example of the beliefs of that time period. The first scaffolding scene is very important because it summarizes the beliefs of the general public of the time and gives an idea of ​​what Hester Prynne must face. At the beginning of chapter two, the scene is described as "it might have heralded nothing less than the anticipated execution of a notorious culprit" (47), showing that the entire city was there for merciless public punishment. The crowd, however, was not there for an execution, but for a public punishment of Hester Prynne who had committed adultery. A townsman describes Hester's punishment to a stranger as follows: "They condemned Mistress Prynne to remain only three hours on the pillory platform, and then, for the remainder of her natural life, to bear a mark of shame on his body. her bosom."(58) This scene shows the weight of values ​​and morals on society in the 17th century and how public punishment was not only used as punishment but as a way to discourage others from committing the same crime. The community played a key role in this punishment because it helped to alienate Hester and increase her pain The punishment brings out Hester's underlying pain: “[Hester] cried out, she looked down. on the scarlet letter and even touched it with his finger, to make sure that the child and the shame were real..