The Tone Is Reflective And Somewhat Somber, With An Undercurrent Of Critique Of Human Society'S Tendency To Punishment And Solemnity.

A crowd gathers outside a weathered prison, symbolizing the motif of nature's persistence in the harsh environment of Puritan society.

In the opening chapter of the novel, a group of somberly-clothed men and women stand before a grim, old prison door in Boston. The prison is described as having an ancient appearance despite the New World's youth. It is juxtaposed with a wild rose bush, which offers a glimpse of beauty and compassion amidst the harshness of punishment and the severity of the Puritans. The narrative suggests that the rose-bush may have historical significance, possibly being associated with the figure of Ann Hutchinson.