An ‘Outsider’ is someone who lives on the fringes of society because they variate from the social norms and standards that society conforms to. They do not agree with society 's morals, values, standards, rules, customs or behaviour and as a result they are met with contempt and condemnation, which can gravely injure one’s reputation or social standing. Both The Scarlet Letter and Far from Heaven show this prejudice and treatment of the ‘outsider’. The Scarlet Letter is set in the 1600’s Puritan society which bases its laws and society values on their religion. Everything about this society is based on the strict religious standard and if not this standard is not upheld they are duly and uncompromisingly punished with no empathy. Hester Prynne,
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The story is filled with Biblical allusions. For instance the circumstance of Hester and Dimmesdale alludes to that of Adam and Eve in Judeo-christianity, where they both commit a sin that is seen as social taboo and this results in banishment. But also results in knowledge about society and human nature, this is brought about by being able to observe human nature from a more outside point of view and is no longer influenced by the need to conform. The scarlet letter, ‘A’ is used as a symbol. it symbolises as Hester’s “passport into regions where others women dare not tread” (page 150) leading her to create opinions on Puritan society that singular to her. With Dimmesdale, his sin and burden gives him “sympathies so intimate with the sinful brotherhood of mankind, so that his heart vibrates in unison with theirs”(page 106). The imagery emphasises his connection to Puritan society and give him a greater sense of empathy which is what makes his sermons so meaningful and powerful. Ironically by punishing and spurning Hester from the community they actually strengthen her relationship with it, she is now seen as a living symbol in the town, she has overcome her hardships and refuses to bow in the face of shame and shares this with her daughter and continues to be imperturbable to humiliation and integrates their roles as the ‘outsider’ and sin into their identity. In disparity Dimmesdale whose sense of …show more content…
Cathy Whittaker appears to the naked eye as the perfect housewife with a perfect family. Yet all this is actually just a charade. Frank Wittaker is cold and distant from his family and he struggles behind his illusion of the hard working executive and father. Cathy initially decides to ignore his change in behaviour but as he becomes more distant and melancholic, starts drinking, and is uninterested in sex or time with her, her faith in her marriage is crumbling. Cathy soons discovers him being unfaithful with another man in his office and to save their marriage they are both determined to ‘cure’ his husband of his homosexuality and take him to a conversion therapist. This reflects the 1950’s stigma behind homosexuality, treating as an illness that needs to be fixed instead of a natural occurrence that should be accepted and embraced. This revelation of Frank’s makes Cathy an outsider despite her being upper class, white and straight, she brunts the shame of her husband 's self-loathing. She is alone of her troubles in need to keep this burden private for the sake of reputation. In need of a sympathetic ear she befriends her gardener who is African American, breaking the social norms. Just being seen with him makes her feed for gossip and rumour mills and soils her reputation. Cathy and Raymond’s relationship can not survive such a prejudiced world and Frank escapes with his male lover. With him having
The story is filled with Biblical allusions. For instance the circumstance of Hester and Dimmesdale alludes to that of Adam and Eve in Judeo-christianity, where they both commit a sin that is seen as social taboo and this results in banishment. But also results in knowledge about society and human nature, this is brought about by being able to observe human nature from a more outside point of view and is no longer influenced by the need to conform. The scarlet letter, ‘A’ is used as a symbol. it symbolises as Hester’s “passport into regions where others women dare not tread” (page 150) leading her to create opinions on Puritan society that singular to her. With Dimmesdale, his sin and burden gives him “sympathies so intimate with the sinful brotherhood of mankind, so that his heart vibrates in unison with theirs”(page 106). The imagery emphasises his connection to Puritan society and give him a greater sense of empathy which is what makes his sermons so meaningful and powerful. Ironically by punishing and spurning Hester from the community they actually strengthen her relationship with it, she is now seen as a living symbol in the town, she has overcome her hardships and refuses to bow in the face of shame and shares this with her daughter and continues to be imperturbable to humiliation and integrates their roles as the ‘outsider’ and sin into their identity. In disparity Dimmesdale whose sense of …show more content…
Cathy Whittaker appears to the naked eye as the perfect housewife with a perfect family. Yet all this is actually just a charade. Frank Wittaker is cold and distant from his family and he struggles behind his illusion of the hard working executive and father. Cathy initially decides to ignore his change in behaviour but as he becomes more distant and melancholic, starts drinking, and is uninterested in sex or time with her, her faith in her marriage is crumbling. Cathy soons discovers him being unfaithful with another man in his office and to save their marriage they are both determined to ‘cure’ his husband of his homosexuality and take him to a conversion therapist. This reflects the 1950’s stigma behind homosexuality, treating as an illness that needs to be fixed instead of a natural occurrence that should be accepted and embraced. This revelation of Frank’s makes Cathy an outsider despite her being upper class, white and straight, she brunts the shame of her husband 's self-loathing. She is alone of her troubles in need to keep this burden private for the sake of reputation. In need of a sympathetic ear she befriends her gardener who is African American, breaking the social norms. Just being seen with him makes her feed for gossip and rumour mills and soils her reputation. Cathy and Raymond’s relationship can not survive such a prejudiced world and Frank escapes with his male lover. With him having