Which event described in chapter 1 of The Scarlet Letter takes place before the story begins?

The crowd discusses Hester's crime.

The crowd walks to the scaffold.

The Puritans elect officials.

The Puritans erect a jail.

The answer is : The Puritans erect a jail.

In Chapter one, before the story begins, we are presented with the first symbol in the novel - the prison door. The heavy, prison door is made of iron spikes, and it symbolizes the harshness of the Puritans. People have gathered and are staring at the door. Despite the gloomy atmosphere, there is a rosebush next to the door, which many interpret as a symbol of kindness.