Essay On Puritanism In The Sovereignty And Goodness Of God

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Puritanism is a religion that believes man is inherently flawed. The practicing Puritans focus on outward manifestation of inner goodness and try to keep up appearances of not losing sight of their faith. This ideology placed upon people has detrimental effects to human nature. In both, “The Minister’s Black Veil”, by Nathaniel Hawthorne and The Sovereignty and Goodness of God, by Mary Rowlandson, explore themes of hypocrisy and prejudice. On one hand we have Mr. Hooper who is on receiving end of such transgressions, while Mary Rowlandson is an individual enacting those same transgressions of hypocrisy and prejudice. The roots of the attitudes expressed in both works are found in Puritanism. Puritanism is rooted in the doctrine of “What would …show more content…
Hooper. His veil leads his peers to assuming that he is ashamed of a malignant action committed which is revealed when his wife Elizabeth confronts him. She tells Mr. Hooper, “Beloved and respected as you are, there may be whispers, that you hide your face under consciousness of secret sin.” In the beginning of “The Minister’s Black Veil” Hawthorne reveals how secular, in relation to Puritan beliefs, the community of Milford is as they make their way to church, “children…mimicked a graver gait, in their Sunday clothes. Spruce bachelors looked sidelong at pretty maidens.” This sets the foundation of the hypocrisy within their community. The children are mocking how individuals walk and young men are lusting after maidens. Hawthorne uses the juxtaposition of the Sabbath and the actions portrayed to emphasize the hypocrisy. The townsfolk are committing sins while the minister only added an accessory of clothing. In The Sovereignty and Goodness of God Rowlandson’s hypocrisy is revealed through her own testament. This can be seen when she says, “That night they bade me go out of the Wigmam

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