The Scarlet Letter Puritan Society

Considering Hawthorne and how he viewed society and people, it is simple to find that there is a similar tone throughout the novel and short story. Hawthorne’s views on Puritans was very critical and harsh because he thought they had many flaws in their society. This tone was shown throughout the stories because he wanted to show through the plot and characters how the Puritan society was. For example in the novel it states, “But, in that early severity of the Puritan character, an inference of this kind could not so indubitably be drawn. It might be that a sluggish bond-servant, or an undutiful child whom his parents had given over to the civil authority, was to be corrected at the whipping- post” (The Scarlet Letter 47). Noting his background, Hawthorne …show more content…
The quote stated makes Puritans look like terrible people because they would send their own children to be whipped. Hawthorne wanted the reader to believe how the society during Hester’s time actually was. The reader would be able to understand what state Hester was in considering she had committed a crime considered to be a sin in society. The fact that the Puritans were seen as terrible people by the author showed how Hester was on her own and made the reader feel she is not as bad as she seems. Similar to the novel, “The Minister’s Black Veil” has a critical tone towards the Puritans. Thinking back to the story, it states, “Turning his veiled face from one group to another, he paid due reverence to the hoary heads, saluted the middle aged with kind dignity as their friend and spiritual guide, greeted the young with mingled authority and love, and laid his hands on the little children’s heads to bless them. Such was always his custom on the Sabbath day. Strange and bewildered looks repaid him for his courtesy. None, as on former occasions, aspired to the honor of walking by their pastor’s side” (“The Minister’s Black Veil”