1. What political, cultural, and religious conditions are already presented in the story? Give specific examples for support.
2. Hester is now protecting two men. In your opinion, does this make her a strong or a weak character? Who do you think she has a loyalty to protect? Give support for both answers.
2. Hester is now protecting two men. In your opinion, does this make her a strong or a weak character? Who do you think she has a loyalty to protect? Give support for both answers.
July 3rd today. I should be seeing some posts here. The idea is to have them finished by the 31st which means you would all need to get started now. The comments should trickle in, not all be posted on the same day.
ReplyDelete1. Due to knowing very little about the Puritans religious views, I did my research. After finding out about what their goals were and what they thought needed to happen in the Reformation, I began to realize what was beginning to happen in this book. In the 17th century, Boston, Massachusetts was a Puritan society. The were a Christian faith based group that thought changes in the faith needed to happen. They believed embarrassing Hester Prynne publicly due to committing adultery was the correct way to deal with an issue. Puritans believed that harsh punishments and strict rules was one of the best ways to deal with sinners to create change. It was clear that they felt better about themselves after doing this act to Hester.
ReplyDelete2. Hester protecting two men who are both wrong makes her a very strong character in my opinion. I believe that if this situation happened today many people would try to bring someone who is just as guilty down to a level they are at to make themselves feel better about what they have done. In fact, i’m guilty of this, but on a sin not nearly as bad. As she faces her unfair punishment, she protects men who are just as guilty. I believe she does this because she is trying to protect herself from falling more into sin. She is realizing that they too are in the wrong, yet if they cannot find enough courage to admit to it, God will take care of this when we meet God for the first time. She is a very strong person for not allowing herself to stoop down to a lower level.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your thoughts here and I love how you brought today’s world into the situation. This was very easy to understand and was well written.
DeleteI enjoyed reading you piece and and like the personal touch you added. The thought of Hester trying to prevent herself from sin is interesting and I wish you expanded on that more. Overall I believe you’ve done a good job on this piece and I look forward to reading more.
DeleteI love how thought-out and original this was and how you incorporated today’s world. You did a very nice job!
Delete1. Throughout the first five chapters of this book, it is made clear that they are in desire for a utopian society. However, they are sure to build a graveyard and a prison right away, meaning there is still sin in a “perfect world.” As she walks out of the prison doors she is bashed by the people and tries to ignore it. How perfect does the society sound now? The puritans saw no difference between the laws of God and the laws of man, causing death and imprisonment to all people who made mistakes. Their political view on the Puritan society consisted of a strict rule and harsh consequences. Yes, Hester Prynne committed adultry, however it is shown that the government publicly humiliates her and feels dutiful and good about themselves while doing it.
ReplyDelete2. Hester protects two men who are both, in my eyes, horrific. Men who can not own up to their sins and men that can sit around and watch her be humiliated for keeping their secrets. I believe that this makes her both a strong and a weak character, and here is why. She is strong for not ratting them out in order to focus the humiliation on them as well, so she does not feel as bad for herself. I also believe that she is strong for owning up to her sin and holding her head high and wearing the scarlet A on her chest, while there are others in the crowd who are too selfish to do the same. However, protecting those two men also makes her weak. I believe she should have been more confident in herself and not let two men watch her be humiliated and let them sit on the side. Yes, maybe she did it for love, but if either of the men loved her, they would have owned up to their sins at this point instead of letting her go.
I can agree with everything you have said in your answer to the first question. I like how you pointed out the difference between the laws of God and the laws of men. However, in the second question it strikes me as how you see her as strong and weak. I agree that maybe she carries both of these traits, but you say she is strong because of her confidence and keeping her head held high, but is also weak because confidence is what she lacks. Perhaps some further explanation could clear this up and help me understand a bit more. As a whole, I really like your viewpoints and look forward to reading more from you! Nice job Em!
DeleteI do agree with your beliefs on how their society is built around Puritan ideology, but I do not believe they are building a utopian society, but rather admitting when they are wrong and trying to improve themselves through harsh punishment. I do not think she's trying to humiliate her adulterer or Chillingworth, but I do believe that she is protecting them because she loved them both at some point. She isn't trying to ease how badly she feels or she would have announced who they are immediately that way her punishment would be over. I do agree with you in her being confident in wearing that scarlet letter and her adulterer being selfish for not announcing himself, but Chillingworth is innocent in this matter he just entered the colony during a period of time that was chaos. Overall, I do not think that you quite understood that the "two men" she is protecting are Chillingworth and the adulterer, meaning that one is innocent and the other is guilty, but you sum them up as if they've both committed a crime.
Delete1. Between the pages of these beginning chapters, a reader can quickly develop an understanding for the Puritan politics, culture, and religion. First off, it is rather simple to point out the broad use of public opinion for various political decisions. An example of this would be when Hester Prynne was publically commended for her sin. Also, it is clear that Puritans are already well aware of what humans are capable of doing as far as sin and evil, thus leading to the immediate construction of a prison and cemetery mentioned in the first chapter. Furthermore, their culture is very hypocritical. An example would be when Dimmesdale and the other town fathers instructed Hester to reveal the name of the father of her child. After harping the fact that she must confess and listening to Hester’s refusal, Dimmesdale practically denounces what he has just spoken. He insists that it would be wrong to force a woman to declare her deepest secrets to the entire community, even though that was exactly what he was pressuring her to do. Lastly, certain details about religious conditions are also presented in the opening chapters of the story. The strict and precise rules of religion are extremely evident within the Puritan civilization, such as the heavy and cruel punishment condemned to sinners. As a whole, political, cultural, and religious conditions were quite unjust during this time period.
ReplyDelete2. In my perspective, I am a firm believer that Hester is an extremely strong character. Not only is this woman raising a child, accepting public humility, and acknowledging her own sin, but she is protecting two men who are both in the wrong and have absolutely no compassion for her. Furthermore, I presume that Hester Prynne has no loyalty to protect either man. Yes, both have their pros and cons, but neither have any specific right that secures her word. One reason as to why she would protect the father of her baby would to ensure the security of his life and possible family, and one reason Hester would protect her husband would be for the safety of her and her child’s life. However, neither man deserves Miss Prynne’s secrecy due to the fact that instead of helping her or comforting her during such a hardship, both are secretly watching her and waiting for her to slip up. The best thing Hester could do right now is worry about her baby rather than what two conniving men are instigating.
I agree with all your views here. I especially like the point you make how the Puritan society is hypocritical. Your points are very clear and well stated. Overall, it’s very well written.
Delete1. There are many political, cultural, and religious conditions already present in the story. From the first few pages of the book, it is already apparent that the entire society is influenced by Puritan beliefs. The Puritan society believed that the best way to reform the faith was to make a public statement (usually as a form of punishment). For Hester Prynne, this was the public humiliation for her adultery. The culture tended twisted the laws of God, making them harsher and less merciful. This is apparent when the book shows that even the smallest sins result in harsh punishment. The immediate construction of the prison and the cemetery and the description of how they seemed to be well worn also shows that the Puritan society and culture has already become flawed in twisting the teachings of God they so seek to reform.
ReplyDelete2. Hester’s protection of two men makes her a stronger character in my opinion. She doesn’t give in to pressure easily and sticks firmly to what she believes. This is apparent when she refused to disclose the name of the father of her child as she is being interrogated. She is loyal to the people she cares about and disclosing the names of her husband and the father of her child would result in the humiliation of them both. Both of these men are cowardly as they don’t own up to their sins, and if I was in this position, I’m not sure I would have the loyalty Hester has to protect these two men. Furthermore, her strength shows because as this pressure is going on, she is being publicity marked, humiliated, and her human dignity is stripped from her as she is made to be an example to prove a point against sin. Hester has a loyalty to protect her husband. She does this by not disclosing the father of the child because this would tear the her family apart and create a life full of hardships for both her child and her husband. She realizes she must take responsibility for her action, but she does it in a manner that will not wreak havoc on her husband’s life. Her act of adultey wasn’t loyal, but she still believes she has a loyalty and responsibility to protect her husband.
I strongly agree with a lot of your points. I really like how you talked about the almost immediate building of the prison. It shows the awareness of human sin as well as the struggle for change among their group. Also, it can be seen as the basis for their society. Furthermore, I agree with you on the fact that Hester Prynne is seen as a stronger character for protecting both men. She has taken all the humiliation and bore it on her shoulders, all for the benefit of her child.
DeleteThe setting of the Scarlet Letter was based in a very unique period. The story takes place in Boston, in a period when most of the city was Puritan based. The idea of putting the story in a strong Puritan society is probably the most prominent part of the setting.
ReplyDeleteThe Puritans believed that the reformation of the church was a good thing, but they still needed to correct their false doctrines. Today, the Puritans are remembered for their strict rules, heavily enforced principles, and harsh punishments for sin. The children in the book are described as "heartless" and often abuse Hester. Through this the author shows the society to be more caught up in the good and bad of a thing, with complete disregard for the people involved.Taking this into consideration, it seems as though everybody feels better about themselves when attacking others for their sins rather than their own.
I really liked how you mentioned that the society was more caught up in the good and bads, instead of the people involved. This was well written, nice job Stephen.
ReplyDeleteThe political cultural, social, and religious standard of the society present in the book thus far were derived from the Puritan religion. Puritan religion was characterized by their strict punishments, harsh doctrine, and simple lifestyle. (And also burning witches but this is not the time or the place.) Every part of their society was totally under the influence of their religion. There was no separation of church and state in this time and it certainly shows. For example, the two pastors are called forth to try to make Hester confess in front of the crowd. The political structure of Boston is completely run by men (magistrates) and they run the colony and administer justice. These are the men that condemned Hester to her fate as a bearer of the brand of the letter. Women do not run the political structure they are not involved in politics directly in Puritan Boston. In the second chapter the women of the lament about not being able to judge Hester officially and they believe that the magistrates are too merciful to her and let her off easily. It is ironic because they are compared to Queen Elizabeth I, who was able to make sentence people and held vast political power. However, they do have an enormous influence on the social structure of the society. They, especially the older women of the colony, have been shown that leads in part to her isolation from the rest of the people. To sum it up, men run politics, women run social circle and religion oversees both of the them.
ReplyDeleteI personally believe that Hester is a strong character for protecting the men, whom she both has the loyalty to protect. One is the father of her child and another is one that she is legally married to. Both of them should own up to their faults and reveal themselves, but they do not. If the do, they will be ostracized from society and could even be in serious legal trouble. However, Hester suffers for both of them and vehemently refused to name them so they would not be subject to such a fate. For that, I consider her a strong character.
I like how you mentioned that there was no separation of church and state. I think it may be important to note, however, that this story is also one of making the personal political, of making an example. I also liked how you talked about how the men may have ran the politics but the women made the whole situation more dramatic. I agree that Hester Prynne is a strong women within “The Scarlet Letter”. Julie, you did a excellent job writing.
Delete1. In just a few short chapters, political, cultural, and religious conditions of the Puritans become notably present in the story. It is very clear that the society is under full control of Puritan influences by evidence of harsh punishments and the involvement of religious code in not only their own lives, but everyone’s lives around them. Every person sought to impact the rest of society in accordance with the beliefs of the church. The Puritans believed publicly displaying and scorning Hester would be the best punishment. They thought humiliating her and her daughter in front of a crowd would be the best way to bring her shame. In doing so, they believed they were reforming the Anglican Church and ridding the church of sin and evil. However, the Puritans knew sin was exceedingly present from the beginning, which was the reason that the prison and cemetery were so quickly built when society was forming. The punishment for Hester truly shows the Puritan conditions of the time.
ReplyDelete2. In my personal opinion, Hester is a particularly strong character for protecting both men. She has a loyalty to both of them to protect their identities, which she was never forced to do but rather chose to on her own. Her daughter’s father and her husband are the two men that should admit to their own mistakes and share blame with Hester, but refuse. They understand the consequences that they would endure, so she endures all of the criticism and humiliation for the both of them. I understand her act of committing adultery is extremely, morally wrong, but the acceptance of her ridicule makes her stronger than both of the men combined.
I agree with the points you made here. I think they were well thought out and easy to understand. I like how you mentioned that Hester is enduring the men’s criticsism. Good job.
DeleteI think that Hester is rather strong for protecting both men. She is helping them hide their identity for the sake of her daughters comfort. She was practically saving two men who were showing her little to no support out of love and responsibility. She didn't want to have her daughter live the rest of her life knowing that she handed her father over as a sign of revenge or hatred. And as for her husband, she knows what he would go through if she handed him over and all of the public humiliation he would have to intake. Yes, he did wrong against her, but she also did wrong against him so she was being mature and stronger by taking all the blame rather than turning the two men in.
ReplyDeleteThat's an interesting perspective. I never thought about the revenge side of things. I agree with your post entirely.
DeleteYour idea about the revenge situation really intrigued me. I initially did not think about it that way, but now I agree with you entirely.
DeleteWithin “The Scarlet Letter” there are many examples of political, cultural, and religious conditions. It is made clear within the first few pages of “The Scarlet Letter” that the community is run by Puritans. The time period set for this book is towards the beginning of the New World. The Puritans during this time partook in acts of public humiliation and death as punishments. In the story, they make an example out of a women by the name of Hester Prynne. Hester is an adulteress with a child. As Hester’s punishment she is sentenced to public humiliation and to have the scarlet letter “A” stitched into her cloths. The Puritans believed that harsh treatment could help wipe sin like this out of the New World. They took the condemnation of sinners into their own hands. There was no line drawn on the fact that this should have been more of a private issue than public issue during this time. It is just not right that these people would think that tearing someone else down would build themselves up. Simply, it is unjust, unnecessary, and self-righteous.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, I think Hester Prynne is a strong and independent character so far. She is protecting the names of two men. One man being her husband the other the man being the one she slept with, the father of her child. Everyone in the town wants her to give out the names of these men but Hester refuses to indicate who these men are. The two men are cowards and Hester realizes this. She said, “my child must seek a heavenly Father; she shall never know her earthly one!(pg. 74)” Hester Prynne made the decision to raise her child on her own. Hester has to protect her daughter. I think Hester Prynne is doing the right thing in that of taking care of her child no matter what happens. Even though Hester is an outcast she is still making sure her daughter has all the essentials by becoming a needle worker. Overall, I think Hester Prynne is a strong character in “The Scarlet Letter”.
1. "The Scarlet Letter" up until chapter five has followed a religious theme centered upon Puritan ideology. Their belief that all humans are born evil and should be punished is captured within the first chapter of the book when it is stated that "The founders of a new colony, whatever Utopia of human virtue and happiness they might originally project, have invariably recognized it among their earliest practical necessities to allot a portion of the virgin soil as a cemetery, and another portion as the site of a prison." The Puritan ideology further explains the public humiliation within their culture and it being made into a show because it further encourages the public to not sin in fear of the humiliation. The Puritan ideology further feeds into politics all the way into the court system causing unjust punishments because of their strong religious convictions towards humanity.
ReplyDelete2. Hester is a strong female protagonist who has gone against societal standards of her times and current day for love. Under the possible conviction for adultery facing possible death she refuses to reveal her true love in fear that he may be punished as well. Following her conviction and punishment for adultery she remained faithful to her true love but, was faced with a new challenge that was her husband through the church appearing in Boston. Her husband, who was presumed dead, later visited her in the prison and treated her but, threatened her lover's life if he was to ever be discovered alive. She has the loyalty to protect her own lover during the trial and punishment, but only is loyal to her husband because he has made threats against her lover's life.
Very well written and I can tell you have thought this out. I loved how you called out Hester as a protagonist. I don’t think many people would say this but I love how you did.
Delete1. Punishment was the primary motive for obeying laws set forth by the Puritans. Religion and law were the two pillars of their society, for both good and bad. It is stated in the book how religion and law are so integral and it is evident by the scarlet letter on Hester.
ReplyDelete2. Hester protecting two men is both strong and weak. As for being strong, holding a secret for two different people with two different problems takes an enormous amount of concentration and self control. However, it is weak because it can be seen as not facing the consequences for her actions. While the punishment is harsh, inhumane even, relatively speaking, she could be considered weak for hiding behind her secrets. She only has a loyalty to protect her husband because of what he has done to return to her and his vow to find the man. She has no loyalty to the man who got her pregnant.
I agree with your insight on whom she has loyalty to. While originally I firmly believed she was entirely strong for protecting the men, I do now see how protecting the man who got her pregnant can be seen as avoiding facing the truth.
DeleteYour first prompt is well written and I agree with every topic that you mentioned. I am very pleased that you also believe that just because Hester is protecting two men, doesn’t mean that she is a strong character. I also believe that Hester’s ignorance can protray her as a weak character but also a strong one because of her bravery and will power.
DeleteAfter reading the first few chapter of the book, I wanted to go back and get a better understanding of the political, cultural, and religious beliefs and conditions. With that being said, after reading it over, I got a better understanding of how a Puritan run society worked. The goal of the Puritans was to publicly humiliate those who have committed a crime or those who have sinned, to basically make them pay for it. As we know, Hester was harshly punished and humiliated for the act of adultry she committed. The Puritans used the punishing of sinners as a way to have fun in a way and way to think that they are better and make it known to people that they are the best people to rule the community.
ReplyDeleteHester is unbelievably strong and independent women for protecting these two men against the Puritan rules and beliefs. She shows she has loyalty to both men by protecting their names, but on the other hand, committed an act of adultry with another man. This man ends up being the father of her child. Although, both of these men should be living up and admitting their sins and mistakes, and the hiding of them could result in an even greater punishment. So, Hester takes all the humiliation and punishments that the husband and the child’s father would have to endure. Hester is an incredibly strong women for having to go through all of this for these men, even after receiving her own punishment for the act of adultry.
After reading the first five chapters of this book, I took the religious aspect most heavily. It seems as though the principles followed by the society are based on religious law, but are clearly twisted in ways unintended by God. They veered from God’s basic teaching such as “love the neighbor as thyself” and failed to leave God to do the judging. Hester has thousands of eyes judging her that failed to realize they were sinners as well. The Puritans justified their acts of publicly humiliating others for their sins by saying it was done as an example for others of what not to do. I believe this may have twisted ideas of religion, making people afraid to sin because of public humiliation, rather than striving not to sin because of the Lord’s teaching.
ReplyDeleteI believe that by protecting both men, she is strong. Although she may feel anger toward both of the men, she avoids inflicting the same pain she has gone through onto them. She knows that one day the men will get their fair judgement. As someone who is judged daily, she does not want to be one to judge others. In addition, I believe she is protecting herself and her daughter by trying to stay out of the spotlight since her release from prison.
I agree with you that Hester believes the men will one day get their judgment. Only God has the power to do so, not the ignorant people of the town.
Delete1.The beginning of this book establishes a detailed setting for the reader. The reader is able to understand the harsh conditions of living in this utopian society. Hester Prynne is going through a trial and a public humiliation, where she is forced to wear a scarlet letter “A” on her chest. This tells a lot about the society that Hester is living in. If wearing a scarlet letter “A” on her chest is a form of punishment, means that the society is very plain. This Puritan society also seems extremely strict. Hester is being force to go through a harsh punishment, in this setting, for the simple act of having a child. This is breaking Puritan law, but for this form of public humiliation there is a lot worse she could have done. These beginning chapters give the reader a good idea of what to except in the upcoming chapters regarding Hester’s future life.
ReplyDelete2.Hester has been put in a tough situation and is attempting to protect her life and others. I believe that by Hester taking care of these people and how she has embraced the scarlet letter makes her a strong person. She is being public shamed, but stands strong and does not given. She continues to refuse to tell the officials who the father of the child is. In this situation most people would attempt to bring down as many people as they possible can, but Hester is staying quite and not getting others involved. This takes a lot of strength to do and says something about her personality.
At first, I would not have thought of public humiliation to be a really horrible punishment, I would think there are many worse punishments. But reading your comment did make me think about how bad public humiliation would be in a time where people live by their connections to others and in the community. Having everyone treat you as less would be really hard to take since there was no hiding it. Good perspective.
DeleteThere are a number of political, religious, as well as cultural ideals and conditions already in place at the beginning of this story. In a political sense, whenever someone is ordained, new magistrates are in place, or new people in government are appointed, public ceremonies are considered a mandatory service for this society. Culturally, people who have sinned were to be made known of their faults publicly as a way of branding them as such sinners. For example, Hester Prynne had the scarlet letter on her chest. This was the way that she was personally branded as being a sinner due to her act of adultery. Also, she was left to stand for a certain amount of time out in public so that people could witness her. Religious officials were viewed as very important people in the society, and were involved in government offices, especially because it was a Puritan settlement. Hester was punished publicly for her sin, which was for a religious reason. Religion and government go hand in hand in this society.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, I see Hester Prynne as a strong character for protecting both her husband and the father of her child. She agrees not to say who her husband is so that he may not be thrown into the mess of things, and she agrees not to say who the father of her child is. Due to the fact of Hester not revealing who she had the affair with, she also takes on his punishment as well, humbly silencing herself for the sake of the child and suffering for them both. She also talks about the child only knowing who her Heavenly Father is, and how she will not know her earthly father. In this moment, Hester Prynne takes on full responsibility of the child, as well as for the affair itself. Of these two men, Hester Prynne’s loyalty is to protect her husband. At this point in the story, it isn’t clear about any details of the affair or what was totally happening. On the other hand, she was married. Even if she was not faithful to him through his absence, she was still loyal to him in regards of respecting his wishes.
This was very well written, Emily! I like how you mentioned religious leaders were also seen as a type of political influence. As you mentioned, religion and government are linked in this story.
DeleteThere are many conditions presented in the first five chapters of this story. One first religious condition that is shown is the need for punishment of sins. Hester, a young naive woman, was condemned to a life of shame and abandonment. Her only companion was her infant child, who had been conceived within her sin. Another condition proven in these chapters is the desire for a better society. Although the townspeople would rather live in peace, a prison wars constructed to keep captive those who had committed wrong doings. By doing so, they are attempting at bettering their town and the people within it. One last condition shown is the opinion of the people concerning political matters. As Hester is standing in front of the townspeople, a proclamation can be heard from over head. The officials of the town begin speaking on was is to be done with the woman. The people in the crowd speak out and give their opinions. These each are considered and help decided her punishment. These are all conditions discovered within the first five chapters.
ReplyDeleteHester protecting two men shows her strength as a character. She takes all the punishment of her sins by herself and is to be forever humiliated with the scarlet letter upon her chest. By keeping the names of the men a secret, she prevents further chaos within the town. She believes that the man who she committed it with will get what he rightly deserves in the end. God will take care of her and the infant child, but he will also give a guilt-ridden man his rightly punishment. Her loyalty lies with no one but herself and the child she’s borne.
1) There is already a very clear distinction of cultural and religious conditions in the story where Hester is considered an outcast by society and the church. She had done something that the people nor the Puritan faith agree with, and they were not afraid to treat her as something less than human and to make an example out of her. This may seem an obvious distinction but it really is a big part of the story so far so it should definitely be acknowledged. It is also stated very early how the ever-optimistic founders still have to know the need for a prison and a cemetery, this kind of connects the political leaders to the religious acts of death and the prison for culturally and religiously negative persons.
ReplyDelete2) Protecting the men is a very strong thing of her to do. For her to go through whatever hardships she has to because she will not tell who they are really shows her determination to be the better person even if others are falling to distasteful levels. I think it could be sign of penance for her because she knows she did something wrong and may be trying to atone for that by protecting the men despite what it may cost. I think she is protecting her husband out of penance, not loyalty. And she is protecting her lover because she does not want him to go through any of the things she has, which is some loyalty. However, I would say she is truly loyal to her child. She wants to raise her child well without a bad father figure. She works to provide for her child and that is great loyalty.
1. Seeing how the Puritans act in these five chapters show home much they want a perfect society, as in no sin, no evil, no anything. This is shown by the punishment the Hester received. It was not hidden or secretive, but it was shown to everyone in the town and was to serve as a example, the scarlet letter on her chest is also an example of her sin, almost like branding someone. They Puritans are also shown to be ready for crimes and death, to two things you don't want in a Utopia. They have a prison and cemetery built, showing they can purge this evil from their society.
ReplyDelete2. I see Hester, in my own mind, as a quite person, with a set ground of ideas that she follows. She is very mentally strong, shwoing that she isn't broken by the Puritans acts and ways towards her. If you were Hester, do you think you could hold their names from the church? I myself, feel like I would cave after awhile. She is very strong in this fact, and is even stronger that she lives with it. She is also strong that she is rasing a child by herself, without a father. That is extremely tough, and since they will be basically outlawed, she has even more of a challenge. So in these cases, she is very, very strong. She definitely has loyalty to both those people she's protecting. If she didn't, why would she be protecing their names? That doesn't make sense if she doesn't have loyalty, to keep both their names hidden. I do feel like that the man that she had the child with might be an important character in the Puritans society also, which is why she hiding his name. She is protecting her husband out of loyalty, yet also out of humilty towards her husband.
I agree with both of your points. I like how you mention that they are ready for crime due to having a prison and things like that. I agree that these are things that I would not expect or want in a utopia society. I would expect everyone to follow the laws and not need a prison.
DeleteThroughout the first five chapters of the book, it is noted that the society has certain political, cultural, and religious beliefs. In this society, a Puritanical ambience is given on all aspects, such as the strict code of laws and beliefs that are in place. In the story, committing sin results in harsh punishment. So, the public ridiculing and embarrassment evolved from Hester’s act against Puritan beliefs. Also, the community sees perfection as a must, or else consequences will arise. Any sign of abnormal conditions in the society will have been banished or dismissed accordingly. At one point, Hester contemplates to herself if she could have been the only one to have committed such a horrific crime—or so it appeared to be. The people of the community who gathered to ridicule her, almost neglect their own failures as if their hands are perfectly clean. In my opinion, the society appears to have extremely high standards, morals, and expectations. If a person strays away from these expectations, then it results in terrible punishment.
ReplyDeleteSince Hester is protecting both men, I believe that makes her a strong person. By her own choice, she is protecting the identities of the men that got her involved in the mess she is dealing with. Neither one of the men will own up to their faults, instead they stay unknown to the public. She is loyal to both of the men, since one is the father of the child and the other is her legal partner. The two men show no sign of loyalty back to her. Instead, they decline their mistakes and refuse to take up their punishment. Hester knows that there will be a final day of judgment for the men, not from the public, but rather from God.
I am glad that you mentioned the Final Judgement of man by God. That is important because not everyone will experience the same trials on earth. Hester had to face public shaming while her partner in sin simply watched. He will be repayed when he meets God on the Day of Judgement.
DeleteWithin the first five chapters of this novel, the political, cultural, and religious conditions of seventeenth century Boston, Massachusetts are presented and easily understood. At that time, Boston was a largely Protestant society. Because religion was so closely linked to the city, religious laws and city laws were nearly identical. This was why Hester Prynne had to face legal punishment after committing the offense of adultery, which was a crime according to Scripture and city law. Her punishment, like many others at the time, was done in the way of public shaming. When a person had to go through a situation like a public shaming, it stole much dignity and morale. Hester often felt as if she was the loneliest and most unimportant being. Boston, during the seventeenth century, was distinguished by its puritanical people who had little regard for the “outcasts” of society. This could also be the reasoning for their belief that a prison and cemetery marked the beginning of a civilization. The political, cultural, and religious aspects of the newly created Boston were evident in the first few chapters of this book.
ReplyDeleteHester is an incredibly strong woman for protecting the identities of the two men in her life. She must of had an inconceivable supply of mental toughness to make it through the public shaming without giving up the name of her secret lover who had committed the act of adultery with her. She suffered through the shaming alone in order for her lover to continue his life without problems. Reverend Dimmesdale, her lover, mentioned Hester’s strength when he said, “Wondrous strength and generosity of a woman’s heart!” Hester protected more than just Dimmesdale. She also kept her husband’s identity secretive. Now known as Roger Chillingworth, Hester’s husband found himself present before Hester during her shaming and with her in a state of shock after her humiliation. Although she kept his identity a secret because she was scared, I do not think anything less of her strength as a woman.
In all honesty, I do not believe Hester has to be loyal to either of those men. Neither of them stepped up to protect her in her time of need. Although she did not have to be loyal, I am personally pleased with her choice of taking responsibility upon herself and not giving up their identities.
Very strong points Regis and I agree with mostly all of them. I thought it was a great point to say that she had to be very strong mentally through the public humiliation. It is a great aspect that shows her strength as a character.
Delete1. I found it very interesting that within the very beginning chapters the reader is able to grasp a firm understanding of the politics, culture, and religion of the particular era and region. It is easily noticeable that the punishment for criminals or sinners for them to be humiliated. This was how the “politicians” made their citizens obey laws and maintain similar morals. The society had become so accustomed to this life style that it nearly became part of their culture. Also, Hester is so accustomed to living this way and she forgets that everyone judging her is a sinner as well. She forgets the basic teachings of God.
ReplyDelete2. I understand how many people can think that her protection of the two men makes her a strong character but I completely disagree. In my opinion, I think that putting your trust completely into two people without hesitation is foolish. Hester’s ignorance simply portrays her as a weak character. However, since she is protecting both men in order to protect her daughter and herself, I think that makes Hester compassionate. Deep down Hester knows that someday the men may feel the same pain that she has felt but she does not wish to inflict it upon them. In conclusion, although Hester proves to be both compassionate and loving to others, I do not think that protecting both men simply makes her a “strong” character.
After reading the first five chapters, the reader deveLopes a good understanding of the religious, political, and cultural aspects of life in Boston in the seventeenth century. During this time, man made laws had merged with the laws of God. Many punishments passed on by the city officials were for sins that people in our current society do not think of as terrible sins anymore. Many times in today’s society we try to hide the sinners but back in those days most punishments were done through public humiliation. The pubic humiliation would tear down the self esteem of the sinners, much like it did to Hester, causing them to start to feel low and unimportant to society.
ReplyDeleteI feel that protecting the two men presented evidence that Hester is a strong character. She had to be so strong not to give away the names of the men while being humiliated. People might say she was stupid to protect them but many times in our Iives we find ourselves “ratting out” others to make it feel like there is less blame coming at us. The way she kept her composure and did not tell the names takes a strong woman. She was loyal to the two men because of her feelings for them. She was willing to sacrifice herself to protect them as well as her child. The maternal instinct to protect your children is so powerful. This helped her find the strength to undergo personal suffering in order to offer her child protection as well as the men she had relationships with. The mental toughness to be able endure such public humiliation is what I thinks makes her so strong.
1. The society present throughout the beginning of the story reveals certain characteristics of its own working. To start, the community is Puritcanical in practice and in law, this is shown through the punishments of crime. Also, the law of the Church and the state are uniform. The public shaming of Hester ties directly into a Church law and shows little to no separation between the church and state. Another small detail concerning the culture is how simple these people lived. When the garments of Hester were being described it was said they were “greatly beyond what was allowed by the sumptuary regulations of the colony.” These first five chapters show the community to be a group of Puritans living a simple and humble life while following strict scriptural laws.
ReplyDelete2. For protecting the two men in her life, I believe Hester to be a very strong character. This is shown during her endurance of public humiliation, and her refusal of disclosing her secret lover’s name. Both men in Hester’s ordeal have given her nothing, nor any bit of remorse. But still she refuses to speak her lover’s name which shows her strong love as exemplified within her daughter. Hester is a strong character mentally and physically, which she shows during her humiliation and time spent in prison.
The first five chapters provide a strong understanding of the role political, cultural, and religious conditions. During this time period you were expected to follow exactly the rules and guidelines that were presented to all citizens. When these expectations were not upheld, severe punishment was put in place. You became an outcast to all of society, as what happened to Hester. She was branded with a scarlet letter so every person became aware that she had committed a sin enabling them to ridicule her. Leaders used the method of humiliation to make the citizens obey the laws they put in place.
ReplyDeleteI feel that Hester was put in a very difficult place. She was very vulnerable with all of the situations occurring in her life and she was not sure what to do. I believe Hester’s number one concern was protecting her child which showed a lot about her character. By not protecting these men she would have just been trying to take some of the strong heat and public eye off of her which would be cowardly. She showed signs of being incredibly strong and selfless. And in the end all the men did was watch her get ridiculed. She stayed loyal to these men although she could have very easily not which shows an incredibly strong character.
1. Punishment by public humiliation seems to be the Puritans favored punishment. Unlike today, the citizens of Boston had to rely on solely themselves due to how very little people have settled in the Americas yet. As a result, being publicly humiliated had to be the worst punishment because everybody in Boston would have turned their backs on Hester. This means that she would have to live isolated for the rest of her life and be labeled as a disgrace to society. Boston was primarily a Puritan society, so the whole town would function based off of their beliefs. This was how the politicians could control Boston without fear of revolt.
ReplyDelete2. I perceive Hester as a strong woman for protecting the two men. Being able to keep two major secrets from the public takes a lot of selflessness to do. Hester would rather have herself be shamed and hated rather than ratting out her husband’s name and her other partner’s. I feel that she is protecting them for the sake of her child. The daughter will always love her mother for caring for her, but she would grow up hating her father if his name was released and he were to go through public humiliation. Her selflessness is what classifies Hester as a strong, young mother.
After reading the first five chapters the Puritan religion is evident. With the public condemning of Hester as a punishment for a crime that she has committed. This act shows the strict laws that the Puritan religion upholds. The punishment is a cruel punishment and gets a message across to many people so they will not sin. Boston was mainly a Puritan based place. If you comitted a crime and were subject to this punishment the majority of the town would turn on you and would disregard you. This allowed the Puritan people to keep there people in check.
ReplyDeleteI believe Hester is a strong women for protecting these two men. It takes a lot of courage to take all of the heat, as well as selflessness. She wants to protect her child, as any good mother would want to do. Also by taking all the heat it shows to me, she is ashemed of what she has done, when she could easily share the blame with two other men. This makes her a strong women.
Dan, I very much enjoyed how you stated that the condemning of Hester sent a message to many people. This makes us realize that this moment in the story was a very crucial occurrence in this Puritan society.
Delete1.) Puritan society is as political as it is religious. They are a group that heavily believes in reform. They were also very harsh with their rules. Most citizens lived very limited lives in fear of the strict judgement they would face when they do wrong. In Puritan society the clergy was involved in the way society worked. They were quick to point out people’s flaws and therefore it was easy to make mistakes in Puritan society.
ReplyDelete2.) The fact that Hester is protecting two characters makes her an unbelievably strong character but at the same time could be seen as a flaw. One could say that she only has a loyalty to protect her husband, which is true but at the same time her lover is the father of her child which complicates things. I guess she has a loyalty to protect both men but she did make a promise to her husband when she married him.
It is very safe to say after reading the opening chapters of the story that Boston, a city that was constructed on Puritan values, was very forceful in an attempt to assert dominance and power in a conflicted time in the world. They had Puritan beliefs, which meant that they were seeking changes in the current faith. They were seeking a type of reformation. However, they also believed in having a “perfect” society in which there was no evil, only good. This idea would be very controversial because the leader of society also felt as if they needed to assert their dominance as a way of starting the reformation. An example of this controversy occurred when Hester was publicly embarrassed and called out for her act of adultery. Now, you would think a “perfect” society wouldn’t ever publicly embarrass someone for a wrongdoing. The best way to describe this society would be the fact that it is very conflicted.
ReplyDeleteAlthough you could say Hester is very weak-minded for committing this act of adultery, she is also remarkably strong for bearing the weight of two men’s livelihood on her shoulders. Most people in today’s world would get flustered and some would even throw another person under the bus when faced with the situation Hester is in. However, in the moment where the pressure is on her the most, she decides to take all of the embarrassment and humiliation given to her by the whole society. That act takes plenty of guts and strength. The only flaw in her brave decision is that she probably should show more loyalty if not all of it to her husband. The reason being because this is the man who she was loyal to all of her life until this act of adultery. The situation Hester was in is something that nobody would want to deal with, but she is forced to deal with it and is doing a very noble job of it.