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Post by alkapad38 on Nov 16, 2011 20:17:26 GMT -5
Along with his use of juxtaposition in the novel, Hawthorne accentuates the hypocrisy of the Puritans in order to expose them as the real sinners. For example, although the society condemns Hester Prynne for her sin, those who condemn her are not without sin themselves. Hester can tell when a fellow sinner caught sight of her letter because it gave her "a momentary relief, as if half her agony were shared" (Hawthorne 83). However, Hester is the only one who is punished because her sin came with visible evidence (the pregnancy). Hawthorne's statement that "the outward guise of purity was but a lie, and that, if truth were everywhere to be shown, a scarlet letter would blaze forth on many a bosom besides Hester Prynne's" is a perfect summary of the Puritan society. Hidden sins may continue, but visible sins are punished to the extreme (Hawthorne 80). The society shuns Hester and wants nothing to do with her. They will not allow themselves to associate with someone as sinful as Hester, on principle. However, they are able to disregard this principle when it comes in the way of their own greed and selfishness. The other Puritans rely on Hester's skill at sewing for their formal garments so they can appear impressive at public events. This goes against the ascetic Puritan teachings and is an example of avarice, which is a sin in itself. Similarly, when the Puritan women gossip about Hester as she is released from jail, they want to "put the brand of a hot iron on Hester Prynne's forehead" and say that she "ought to die" (Hawthorne 49). The women are portrayed as ugly on the outside as a physical reminder of the ugliness inside of them. They, who claim to be free of sin and perfect followers of God, have no mercy on a fellow human and are sinners themselves because of the ugly punishments they wish for Hester.
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Post by adlupic35 on Nov 17, 2011 21:26:38 GMT -5
It is very hypocritical of the Puritans when they are all wearing clothes with the Hester's needlework; the same needlework that adorns Hester's scarlet A (the passage is on page 80). This parallel between the sin and the Puritans is an attempt by Hawthorne to reveal the impurity of the Puritans.
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Post by dacui38 on Nov 17, 2011 22:35:12 GMT -5
The entire Puritan society that Hawthorne portrays is very hypocritical. First, like mentioned above they wear the clothes of Hester's needlework, the same needlework that made the infamous Scarlet Letter. They want to shun Hester from their society for sinning, yet they must embrace her because she does good embroidery and the Puritans want fancy garments.
Also, the Puritans are considered moral athletes and have a very strict opposition against sin. They criticize Hester for committing the sin of adultery, yet they are sinners themselves. Either from the wrath against Hester or other sinners or because there are sinners within the Puritans which Hester senses.
Most ironic is Governor Bellingham's estate. It is described by Hawthorne is something more befitting of a palace rather than the house of the leader of this Puritan society. This extravagance and focus on materialism is hypocritical to the plain and simple society Puritans are supposed to be. As Governor, Bellingham is supposed to be the representative selfhood of the community, which means that the entire Puritan community is in turn corrupt and materialistic.
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Post by natuppe35 on Nov 28, 2011 16:44:23 GMT -5
In addition, the other Puritans in Hester's town not only wear the clothes she makes but they began to accept her into society once again and recognize her charitable deeds. The Puritans demonstrate their own hypocrisy because the "Individuals in private life...had begun to look upon the scarlet letter as the token, not of that one sin, for which she had borne so long and dreary a penance, but of her many good deeds since" (159). The members of the Boston begin to revere Hester and think she is a strong woman because the A signifies "Able" instead of her sin.
The Puritans are supposed to expel those who sin from their society however, because Hester has taken measures to conform, she is once again accepted. The A on her bosom "had the effect of the cross on a nun's bosom" in which her sin is no longer evil and in fact something holy (159). It seems strange that the Puritans, such God loving people, are able to forget the horrible sin of Hester. The Puritans regard themselves as so concerned with morality and pleasing God but they now can change their views about Hester because she is helping the community.
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