Traces of Puritanism
While one may argue that Puritanism can be seen in modern society through values of community and the precedence of outward appearance, it is the Puritan ideal of strict morality that is most prominent in present day culture.
The unspoken and unwritten rules of current society can be traced back to the Puritan times, where citizens inherently knew right from wrong, an act of good faith from an act of sin. Piecing together evidence from literary and historical sources, it is simple to notice the Puritan’s views have not since disappeared, just altered to appease contemporary times.
There may be extreme examples of communal righteousness in the Scarlet Letter, but only some that exemplify the emphasis on the value of …show more content…
It is the United States’ dedication to justice that explicitly relates to Puritan times.
If you commit a sin, you will be used as a public sermon, “Thus she will be a living sermon against sin, until the ignominious letter be engraved upon her tombstone” (Hawthorne, 58). The scarlet letter plastered to Hester’s chest acts as a reminder to herself and others of what is right and what is wrong; a walking and talking example of what happens when you break the rules. Embroidered ornately, the visual does not signify any real truth of character; instead it serves to reinforce popular opinion, to uphold the ethics of the society for the good of the people.
While the scarlet letter is not used as punishment today, there are similar examples of penance, where the power of shame can be equally as powerful when purging the “bad” from someone. Sentences of public shame are given to young adults who commit minor crimes such as theft (This American Life). These small time criminals are forced to hold up signs reading, “I stole from this store”, linking the value of public opinion to today’s society. By projecting the admittance of misdeed to the general public, the community benefits the most, acquiring fear and knowledge of what they must not do; reminded again of what is right and what is
While one may argue that Puritanism can be seen in modern society through values of community and the precedence of outward appearance, it is the Puritan ideal of strict morality that is most prominent in present day culture.
The unspoken and unwritten rules of current society can be traced back to the Puritan times, where citizens inherently knew right from wrong, an act of good faith from an act of sin. Piecing together evidence from literary and historical sources, it is simple to notice the Puritan’s views have not since disappeared, just altered to appease contemporary times.
There may be extreme examples of communal righteousness in the Scarlet Letter, but only some that exemplify the emphasis on the value of …show more content…
It is the United States’ dedication to justice that explicitly relates to Puritan times.
If you commit a sin, you will be used as a public sermon, “Thus she will be a living sermon against sin, until the ignominious letter be engraved upon her tombstone” (Hawthorne, 58). The scarlet letter plastered to Hester’s chest acts as a reminder to herself and others of what is right and what is wrong; a walking and talking example of what happens when you break the rules. Embroidered ornately, the visual does not signify any real truth of character; instead it serves to reinforce popular opinion, to uphold the ethics of the society for the good of the people.
While the scarlet letter is not used as punishment today, there are similar examples of penance, where the power of shame can be equally as powerful when purging the “bad” from someone. Sentences of public shame are given to young adults who commit minor crimes such as theft (This American Life). These small time criminals are forced to hold up signs reading, “I stole from this store”, linking the value of public opinion to today’s society. By projecting the admittance of misdeed to the general public, the community benefits the most, acquiring fear and knowledge of what they must not do; reminded again of what is right and what is