Passage From the Text
" The grass-plot before the jail, in Prison Lane, on a certain summer morning, not less the two centuries ago, was occupied by a pretty large number of the inhabitants of Boston: all with their eyes intently fastened on the iron-clamped oaken door. Amongst any other population, or at a later period in the history of New England, the grim rigidity that petrified the bearded physiognomies of the good people would have augured some awful business in hand. It could have betokened nothing short of the anticipated execution of some noted culprit, on whom the sentence of a legal tribunal had but confirmed the verdict of public sentiment." (54-55)
Response to the Text
4) The tone of this part of the novel is satiric. As strange as satire may seem in a story that focuses its plot around adultery and pious religion, the author's purpose is what makes this specific section satiric. The author's purpose throughout the novel is to highlight the hypocrisy and futility of the Puritan society. The author directly addresses the reader in this portion of text, which means that whatever he is saying is very likely tied to the purpose of his story. The language that is used here is also slightly more informal than the dialogue portions of the novel. The phrase "pretty large number" almost sounds like a modern person speaking and is meant to juxtapose the author's age with that of the setting in the novel. The description of the Puritan masses is also meant to be satiric as it is ironic that such a pious crowd is excited for the punishment of someone else. Nathanial Hawthorne specifically states that no other crowd in throughout the world and throughout time, would be as rigid as the the Puritans that inhabit Boston at this time period. Hawthorne takes occasional satiric stances throughout the novel to drive home his purpose of showing the dark side of the Puritan faith.