In Nathaniel Hawthorne 's acclaimed novel The Scarlet Letter, one of the most fought over quotes in the novel is, “The scarlet letter had not done its office” (150). Although this may appear that quote is decisive in its meaning, it is intrinsic to Hawthorne 's style to provide evidence for and against any literary argument. In light of this, I believe Hawthorne is telling the truth in this statement. The office, or purpose of the scarlet letter is to punish Hester for being an adulteress by shunning her from the community. The intent behind the pillory of the letter is to also provide motivation for the townspeople against sinning. Instead, the scarlet letter causes both Hester and the townspeople to question Puritan ideals.
The scarlet letter allows …show more content…
The Puritan community is extremely tight-knit, Hester is ostracized because of the letter and is given a house to live in away from the town. While living in the woods, Hawthorne describes her situation as a “moral wilderness”, describing both her physical and mental separation from her community and their values. In fact, Hester starts to question the value of virtue, and whether it is meaningful in the Puritan community. She, “yet struggled to believe that no fellow-mortal was guilty like herself” (78). Hester now fails to believe in the value of virtue because she thinks that many other members of Puritan community were also sinners. Additionally, without Puritan ministers to constantly tell her otherwise, Hester question the value of patriarchy. This is described when she thinks, “the very nature of the opposite sex, or its long hereditary
The scarlet letter allows …show more content…
The Puritan community is extremely tight-knit, Hester is ostracized because of the letter and is given a house to live in away from the town. While living in the woods, Hawthorne describes her situation as a “moral wilderness”, describing both her physical and mental separation from her community and their values. In fact, Hester starts to question the value of virtue, and whether it is meaningful in the Puritan community. She, “yet struggled to believe that no fellow-mortal was guilty like herself” (78). Hester now fails to believe in the value of virtue because she thinks that many other members of Puritan community were also sinners. Additionally, without Puritan ministers to constantly tell her otherwise, Hester question the value of patriarchy. This is described when she thinks, “the very nature of the opposite sex, or its long hereditary