Huck and Hester’s punishment of isolation provides the opportunity of an alternate perspective, allowing them to instigate the morals implemented by their respective society, which resulted in the development of individuality. In hopes of emancipating Jim, Huck decides to travel on the Mississippi River instead of on land in order to avoid contact with their racist Southern society that would punish them for their social defiance. Since providing hospitality towards an escaped slave is illegal and socially unacceptable in the Southern antebellum America, Huck’s decision to help Jim immediately resulted in the consequence of isolation. During his journey in isolation, Huck observes that the Mississippi River was “very wide, and was walled with
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Likewise to Huck’s experience, Hester’s consequence of isolation also creates an opportunity for her to develop her identity and reevaluate the morals of the Puritan society. Due to her adulterous affair, Hester was physically outcasted from her society, forcing her to find shelter away from the core of her town. Although it was initially meant to induce guilt, the scarlet letter ironically becomes Hester’s “passport into regions where other women dared not tread, [as] shame, despair, [and] solitude … had made her strong” (Hawthorne 165). By accepting the scarlet letter as a part of her identity, Hester was able to transform the social perception of her badge of shame, proving her power and strength. Despite her rejection from society and the consequence of isolation, Hester continues to provide charitable work for the less fortunate through her skillful embroidery. Due to her social contributions, the symbolism of the scarlet letter begins to change in the minds of society from the initial identification of adultery to able, which is reflective of Hester’s …show more content…
Huck’s decision to defy authority ultimately leads him to encounter multiple events that contradict the morals that society tries to impose upon him. During his misfortunate association with the supposed Duke and King, Huck experiences the shooting of a man whose behavior closely resembles that of his own father. After witnessing the murder, many citizens of that town try to lynch Colonel Sherburn, the assailant. In response to the mob that arrived in unity to his house, Sherburn retorts that “they don’t fight with the courage that’s born in them, but with the courage that they borrowed from their mass, and from their officers” (Twain 146). Despite only being a minor character, Sherburn’s observation and criticism of society emphasizes the hypocritical ideals of his community. As individuals, the citizens lack the confidence to enforce the laws and morals they created, as they become dependent on the support of others to implement authority. In addition, the reenactment of Bogg’s death proves that society essentially feeds off of the negativity and evil that they supposedly disprove of, as they view the misfortunes of others as a form of entertainment. This proposes the possibility that some individuals within the mob only join for entertainment purposes and the opportunity to integrate themselves into their society, as their enthusiasm suggests
Likewise to Huck’s experience, Hester’s consequence of isolation also creates an opportunity for her to develop her identity and reevaluate the morals of the Puritan society. Due to her adulterous affair, Hester was physically outcasted from her society, forcing her to find shelter away from the core of her town. Although it was initially meant to induce guilt, the scarlet letter ironically becomes Hester’s “passport into regions where other women dared not tread, [as] shame, despair, [and] solitude … had made her strong” (Hawthorne 165). By accepting the scarlet letter as a part of her identity, Hester was able to transform the social perception of her badge of shame, proving her power and strength. Despite her rejection from society and the consequence of isolation, Hester continues to provide charitable work for the less fortunate through her skillful embroidery. Due to her social contributions, the symbolism of the scarlet letter begins to change in the minds of society from the initial identification of adultery to able, which is reflective of Hester’s …show more content…
Huck’s decision to defy authority ultimately leads him to encounter multiple events that contradict the morals that society tries to impose upon him. During his misfortunate association with the supposed Duke and King, Huck experiences the shooting of a man whose behavior closely resembles that of his own father. After witnessing the murder, many citizens of that town try to lynch Colonel Sherburn, the assailant. In response to the mob that arrived in unity to his house, Sherburn retorts that “they don’t fight with the courage that’s born in them, but with the courage that they borrowed from their mass, and from their officers” (Twain 146). Despite only being a minor character, Sherburn’s observation and criticism of society emphasizes the hypocritical ideals of his community. As individuals, the citizens lack the confidence to enforce the laws and morals they created, as they become dependent on the support of others to implement authority. In addition, the reenactment of Bogg’s death proves that society essentially feeds off of the negativity and evil that they supposedly disprove of, as they view the misfortunes of others as a form of entertainment. This proposes the possibility that some individuals within the mob only join for entertainment purposes and the opportunity to integrate themselves into their society, as their enthusiasm suggests