Why does she find sanctuary in the crowd Scarlett letter?

In Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel "The Scarlet Letter", Hester Prynne does not find sanctuary in the crowd. Rather, she is ostracized and subjected to public humiliation for committing adultery. She is forced to wear a scarlet letter "A" on her chest as a mark of her sin and is excluded from society. As a result, Hester seeks solace in nature, where she finds a measure of peace and freedom from the judgment of others.