A Hypocritical Society
In The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the core of the story line revolves around a movement known as “Puritan”. These puritans followed a very strict code of practice; they were greatly influenced by the bible, their ministers and the government. They tended to follow their codes of practice a little too seriously and seemed almost hypocritical and farfetched at times. The history of puritan society itself indicates that the community and its leaders have the right intentions necessary for a stable and healthy environment. The fact that they were trying to live purely shows that they had their hearts in the right place, but it was never their outright intentions to produce a hypocritical society. Nathaniel Hawthorne …show more content…
He describes them "as a throng of bearded men, in sad colored garments, and grey, steeple -crowned hats intermixed with women, some wearing hoods and others bareheaded" (45). Hawthorne 's description of these people also gives the readers an insight into their personalities and characteristics. After Hester 's release, "the scene was not without a mixture of awe, such as much always invest the spectacle of guilt and shame of a fellow creature"(53). They almost took delight in seeing her punished, having thought they had spiritually cleansed the town, and therefore only leaving a pure society. They took the view that if they struck fear into the citizens of the puritan society then no one would commit any sins for fear of the punishment they would …show more content…
In the Scarlet Letter these leaders go by the name of Bellingham, Dimmesdale, and even Chillingworth to some extent. It is these people that the readers see the biggest degree of hypocrisy, among the puritan society. The readers can see that Governor Bellingham asks Hester to make a pair of embroidered white gloves, when it is stated earlier in the novel that fancy dress code was considered a sin by the puritan society. If something is considered a sin, then it should not be set as a double-standard. The most noticeable form of Hypocrisy is found in Dimmesdale. The minister was then regarded as a very outstanding, even godlike member of society. But yet he has been carrying a burden of knowing he has committed
In The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the core of the story line revolves around a movement known as “Puritan”. These puritans followed a very strict code of practice; they were greatly influenced by the bible, their ministers and the government. They tended to follow their codes of practice a little too seriously and seemed almost hypocritical and farfetched at times. The history of puritan society itself indicates that the community and its leaders have the right intentions necessary for a stable and healthy environment. The fact that they were trying to live purely shows that they had their hearts in the right place, but it was never their outright intentions to produce a hypocritical society. Nathaniel Hawthorne …show more content…
He describes them "as a throng of bearded men, in sad colored garments, and grey, steeple -crowned hats intermixed with women, some wearing hoods and others bareheaded" (45). Hawthorne 's description of these people also gives the readers an insight into their personalities and characteristics. After Hester 's release, "the scene was not without a mixture of awe, such as much always invest the spectacle of guilt and shame of a fellow creature"(53). They almost took delight in seeing her punished, having thought they had spiritually cleansed the town, and therefore only leaving a pure society. They took the view that if they struck fear into the citizens of the puritan society then no one would commit any sins for fear of the punishment they would …show more content…
In the Scarlet Letter these leaders go by the name of Bellingham, Dimmesdale, and even Chillingworth to some extent. It is these people that the readers see the biggest degree of hypocrisy, among the puritan society. The readers can see that Governor Bellingham asks Hester to make a pair of embroidered white gloves, when it is stated earlier in the novel that fancy dress code was considered a sin by the puritan society. If something is considered a sin, then it should not be set as a double-standard. The most noticeable form of Hypocrisy is found in Dimmesdale. The minister was then regarded as a very outstanding, even godlike member of society. But yet he has been carrying a burden of knowing he has committed