The scarlet letter took place in Massachusetts Bay Colony during the seventeenth century. There are many themes and ideas in The Scarlet Letter, they were based on the beliefs of the puritans during that time. Nathaniel Hawthorne uses the ideas of how society was being hypocritical and punishing others for their own pleasure throughout the book to show how the people in society treated Hester prynne based on the sin that she commited and pearl based on her parent's actions. The author exposes Hester as an adultress who must wear an A embroidered on her chest that shows that she’s an adultress as her punishment. The people in the community made her stand in public in front of everyone so they could know what she did and a punishment for that
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They say that everyone is equal but they do the exact opposite. The women treat Hester and Dimmesdale based on their genders and because men were admirable during that time so, he didn’t really get punished. On page 35 it says “if the hessy stood up for judgement before us five, that are now here in a knot together, would she com off with such a sentence as the worshipful magistrate have awarded” this quote is basically saying that Hester can’t defend herself because she’s a woman but for Dimmesdale they would've not been able to say anything because they viewed him as a religious man so they couldn’t really do anything to him, also because he didn’t tell anybody that he was Pearl’s father which made him go mentally ill. The author is juxtaposing both Hester and Dimmesdale, to show how they were treated differently based on their sex and to show how the people are willing to punish Hester but not Dimmesdale for their sin. He is trying to emphasize the idea of equality and its importance in society. On pg 98 it states “I,whom you behold in these black garments of the priesthood,-I,who ascend the sacred desk,......,am utterly a population and a lie!”. This quote is saying that dimmesdale had power in society so he didn’t get punished for sin he did. Which also shows how all power was given to men and women had no position in society. Hawthorne is stating that in this puritan society, men were considered the rulers of their society, while in truth the women were, but since the women were treated as unremarkable, they receive the greater punishment. This puritan society treats opposite sex unequal since they are
They say that everyone is equal but they do the exact opposite. The women treat Hester and Dimmesdale based on their genders and because men were admirable during that time so, he didn’t really get punished. On page 35 it says “if the hessy stood up for judgement before us five, that are now here in a knot together, would she com off with such a sentence as the worshipful magistrate have awarded” this quote is basically saying that Hester can’t defend herself because she’s a woman but for Dimmesdale they would've not been able to say anything because they viewed him as a religious man so they couldn’t really do anything to him, also because he didn’t tell anybody that he was Pearl’s father which made him go mentally ill. The author is juxtaposing both Hester and Dimmesdale, to show how they were treated differently based on their sex and to show how the people are willing to punish Hester but not Dimmesdale for their sin. He is trying to emphasize the idea of equality and its importance in society. On pg 98 it states “I,whom you behold in these black garments of the priesthood,-I,who ascend the sacred desk,......,am utterly a population and a lie!”. This quote is saying that dimmesdale had power in society so he didn’t get punished for sin he did. Which also shows how all power was given to men and women had no position in society. Hawthorne is stating that in this puritan society, men were considered the rulers of their society, while in truth the women were, but since the women were treated as unremarkable, they receive the greater punishment. This puritan society treats opposite sex unequal since they are