Strict Puritan Code example essay topic

Hester Pyrene is a Puritan woman that thinks that her husband is dead or lost at sea. She has a love affair with Dimmesdale that no one knows about but themselves. Hester is ridiculed for it because she has a baby resulting from it, however nothing is done to Dimmesdale by his fellow Puritans because no one knows that he took part in the affair and is the baby's father. The Puritans show their disapproval of Hester by doing a variety of things like spreading rumors, out casting her, and even sewing a scarlet letter 'A'; to her bosom. So is what being done here right? How about other Puritan views and attitudes?

Are they right as well? Well, it is clear that Hawthorne doesn't think so, and he shows this in so many ways and symbols that it is at some times hard to unfold. He clearly states in his writing that the Puritans are sinners themselves in the way they act because they are stubborn and believe that their way is the only way. There are many examples in the book that show these views that he has. The first sign of these views came in the second chapter. Here she is ridiculed by the entire Puritan society because of the adultery that she has committed, but they don't let her get off easy.

They put her on the scaffold in front of the whole town to be made an example of, and the whole village just starts talking about her and the scarlet letter on her bosom. Why do they do this? Probably because they are afraid to become just like her. So what did they do?

The Puritans made an example of her. They were so bent on keeping the perfect society that whenever anyone did something wrong they felt that they had humiliate the person to avoid this type of situation from occurring again. However, in all probability this wasn't the first time that this had occurred in the community. It was just the first time that anyone had been caught in the community. So it scared people to think that they were just like her. For the very same reason of ridicule, Dimmesdale was not able to confess his sin of adultery.

If he admitted his sin, then people would have constantly harassed him for the rest of his life. Probably more so than they would others too since he had always lived under strict Puritan code other than that act of passion with Hester. The fact that the Puritans would humiliate him eroded his insides until he couldn' t take it anymore. The Puritans lived by such a strict code that just one sin could ruin anyone's reputation. The stiff religious code that they lived by basically molded their lives. People just were not able to express themselves freely like they should have been able to.

This is illustrated well when the Puritans celebrated one of their most important holidays, Election Day. They were allowed to show very little joy which was ridiculous. All they did was live to die and go to heaven, having no fun while they were here. It is the same case with ridicule and the letter 'A'; that is sewed to Hester's breast. This occurs over in over throughout the classic novel. The 'A'; that stood for adultery she had to wear day and night, and it serves as one of the most important symbols in the book.

The shame and condemn that came along with letter she is reminded of at all times by the Puritans. Every time that the letter showed up it was a reminder that the Puritans were actually mean, unforgiving, and sinful people that were stubborn although they claimed to follow the word of God. But isn't God supposed to be the most forgiving of all? Does this suggest that maybe the Puritans were not as close to God as they thought they were? It is highly likely, and Hawthorne is able to incorporate and disguise this view wonderfully with the drama and symbols that he uses. Through his style he is able to do this wonderfully and often it isn't even noticed.

In fact, many of his views probably are not noticed until they are reflected on two or three times because of his style which enables him to be such a great and admired author.