The Scarlet Letter: Visions Of A Past Society
In a world where society is disorganized, unhappy, and chaotic, it
can be extremely difficult to provide an honest, and just law system. As a
result, in Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, people use their
religion (Puritan), as judge, jury, and executioner. For some people, it
can be very troublesome to live a normal life when you are surrounded by
biased and chauvinistic men and women. In this story, Hester Prynne is a
victim of her religion, and her fellow townsfolk.
Throughout the book, Hawthorne writes about the townspeople and how
they act and behave towards each other, Hester, and life in general. The
novel starts with Hester walking towards the town scaffold to ...
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to stare into her face, and at the wink-ing baby in her arms,
and at the ignominious letter on her breast.
P. 52, 53
As this is happening, all the people see is the crime that Hester
committed, not the person behind it. They do not take into consideration,
that the crime itself, is not as evil as they make it out to be. Hawthorne
describes it as enjoyable to the spectators, by showing the children watch
her and laugh as she makes her way to the scaffold. It's as though the
people of the Puritan religion are heartless, ruthless, cold blooded, and
that what is going on, is considered fun.
Aside from forcing Hester to stand on the scaffold, they make her
knit an "A" onto her chest. The "A" symbolizes adultery. The plan was for
people to look upon this symbol, pity her, and make Hester feel deprived of
humanity. Instead of knitting a simple "A", Hester designs a very complex
and elaborate one. The reaction from the people shows how evil ...
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The Scarlet Letter: Visions Of A Past Society. (2004, November 11). Retrieved April 19, 2024, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/The-Scarlet-Letter-Visions-Past-Society/17331
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"The Scarlet Letter: Visions Of A Past Society." Essayworld.com. November 11, 2004. Accessed April 19, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/The-Scarlet-Letter-Visions-Past-Society/17331.
"The Scarlet Letter: Visions Of A Past Society." Essayworld.com. November 11, 2004. Accessed April 19, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/The-Scarlet-Letter-Visions-Past-Society/17331.
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