The Puritan colonies in America were characterized by rigid standards in both the church and state. They had to be harsh and possess perseverance in order to survive in the New World. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter has preserved in literature a certain perspective as to the harsh Puritan justice and lives we believed them to have lived out. While Hawthorne includes historical details and settings in his book, he does take liberties in his fictional story of the justice system and punishments used by the Puritans.
The Puritan colonies in New England were characterized by a church centered society. In England, the Puritan Christians desired to purify the Church of England. They did not agree with how the church system seemed corrupted …show more content…
The Scarlet Letter is essentially a story of crime, sin, and punishment. It tells a story of a woman who has broken both Biblical and statutory law. Richard Bellingham portrays the puritan justice system as he is the chief magistrate who sentences Hester Prynne. Many elements of The Scarlet Letter are accurate to that time, although Hawthorne does steer away from some realities in his fictional tale. The whole rule of the law in the story is signified by a small group of men; which is all that stands between Hester and the gallows. Hawthorne’s book avoids the procedures of the public criminal process and rather focuses on the relationship of crime and law to the …show more content…
She is to stand in the town square on the platform of the pillory for three hours, furthermore, she must wear a scarlet letter ‘A’ on her bosom for the rest of her natural life. The towns people believe this sentence to be quite merciful. Gossiping together, the women of the town agree that she should be “branded with hot iron on the forehead” and “ought to die”. During Hester’s public humiliation, one townsman says that she, "Deserves death, but the merciful magistrates out of the tenderness of their hearts let her live”. While standing on the platform, Hester is questioned by the Governor Bellingham, the elder Reverend John Wilson, and Reverend Dimmesdale. They question and implore her to reveal the man who is the father of her child. It is also mentioned that she has been questioned before but would not reveal anything claiming that she would bear the father’s burden of sin with hers. No description of a trial or jury is given but rather her crime and punishment are publicly
The Puritan colonies in New England were characterized by a church centered society. In England, the Puritan Christians desired to purify the Church of England. They did not agree with how the church system seemed corrupted …show more content…
The Scarlet Letter is essentially a story of crime, sin, and punishment. It tells a story of a woman who has broken both Biblical and statutory law. Richard Bellingham portrays the puritan justice system as he is the chief magistrate who sentences Hester Prynne. Many elements of The Scarlet Letter are accurate to that time, although Hawthorne does steer away from some realities in his fictional tale. The whole rule of the law in the story is signified by a small group of men; which is all that stands between Hester and the gallows. Hawthorne’s book avoids the procedures of the public criminal process and rather focuses on the relationship of crime and law to the …show more content…
She is to stand in the town square on the platform of the pillory for three hours, furthermore, she must wear a scarlet letter ‘A’ on her bosom for the rest of her natural life. The towns people believe this sentence to be quite merciful. Gossiping together, the women of the town agree that she should be “branded with hot iron on the forehead” and “ought to die”. During Hester’s public humiliation, one townsman says that she, "Deserves death, but the merciful magistrates out of the tenderness of their hearts let her live”. While standing on the platform, Hester is questioned by the Governor Bellingham, the elder Reverend John Wilson, and Reverend Dimmesdale. They question and implore her to reveal the man who is the father of her child. It is also mentioned that she has been questioned before but would not reveal anything claiming that she would bear the father’s burden of sin with hers. No description of a trial or jury is given but rather her crime and punishment are publicly