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Character Analysis on Society vs Hester Prynee in The Scarlet Letter

Uploaded by brini617 on Feb 28, 2009

In The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the effects that society have on Mistress Hester Prynne are shown in different ways. For example, the change from what the reader first learned of her being an adulteress to becoming a humble servant of doing good. The effects of society are shown in her very being. Hester keeping quiet about her lover, taking care of Pearl, wearing the scarlet letter, hiding her beauty, and fighting to keep her daughter. Going from being an adulteress to feeding the poor is a drastic changed that is usually influenced by others.
The Puritan society wanted life to be a certain way, a utopia, and if you did something wrong you were punished. The society also believed that everyone is born evil and is a natural born sinner due to the fall of Adam and Eve, and the only way to get into Heaven is if you are lucky enough to be chosen by God. The puritan society was also against individualism, and wanted everyone to be the same. With these beliefs throughout the society, there were very strict rules that were to be followed, and if not, the magistrates gave you a sentence. The sentence that the ‘gossips’ wish Hester had received was that of the actual sentence supposed to be given, which is death, and not the lean sentence that she was actually given. The society and magistrates sentence making Hester wear the scarlet letter “A” shows that they are trying to punish her by embarrassing and belittling her in front of everyone. Hester, with her pride and dignity stood on the scaffold with her infant daughter in her arms, bearing the mark of her sin on her bosom.
Shame was a big issue in the puritan society. While waiting for Hester to come out from the prison door, a remark was made, “This woman has brought shame upon us all, and ought to die” (Hawthorne, 49). Many puritans in the Boston community did not associate with Hester because of the shame. They used Hester as an example, to their young ones, of what they do not want to become. The punishment that Hester received also made the townspeople believe that they had done some good, humiliating her and making her an outcast had made the society “pure”.
While...

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Uploaded by:   brini617

Date:   02/28/2009

Category:   Scarlet Letter

Length:   6 pages (1,428 words)

Views:   5019

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