Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Impression on Puritan Society
Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Impression on Puritan Society Back in the day during colonial times, law and religion were inseparable. When a woman cheated on her husband, she had to be punished by law, even if her husband had been missing for two years and she had not thought that she would ever see him again. The heroine of the novel “Scarlet letter”, Hester, cheats on her husband. Her punishment is to wear a scarlet letter “A” on her clothing for the world to see. The “A” stands for Adultery. She is punished via displaying her scarlet “A” for the rest of her life, which makes her constantly exposed the community’s negative judgment. This single letter serves the purpose of separating Hester from the society in which she lives: the non-adulterers. Nathaniel Hawthorne, the author of this book, had Puritan ancestors; one of his grandfathers was a judge during the Salem Witch trials. In the book he tries to make peace with the past by showing the weaknesses and transgressions of the Puritan society. He seems unbiased and objective when he gives historical information on how this society functions and their daily lifestyles. But he obviously disapproves the Puritan theology. Hawthorne shows this conflict through his main character Hester. Sympathetic and admiring, he demonstrates Hester’s good qualities, her compassion towards others, her kindness, which transform her into a heroine, as opposed to a sinner. At the same time, the mistreatment of Hester and her daughter have to face by Puritan society, opens up the weaknesses and suppressions of the system.
Nathaniel Hawthorne describes Puritans as a stringent society where everyone must work together and abide by the rules or the whole system will collapse. During early years of colonization, many colonies did not survive due to the brutal conditions in the Americas. However, this particular colony held its own and within a year built a successful town. Although his description of the Puritan life in general is
Nathaniel Hawthorne describes Puritans as a stringent society where everyone must work together and abide by the rules or the whole system will collapse. During early years of colonization, many colonies did not survive due to the brutal conditions in the Americas. However, this particular colony held its own and within a year built a successful town. Although his description of the Puritan life in general is