Puritanism in The Scarlet Letter #2

I have suddenly realized from reading that this story takes place in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in New England, which was also where the Puritans had first settled. Furthermore, in chapter three, the narrator introduces the audience to Dimmesdale, a man who obtained much respect as a Puritan minister of the colony. This in turn provides him much of his authority in proclaiming her punishment to the entire town - declaring that instead of facing death, she must "wear a mark of shame upon her bosom" which is a scarlet letter for committing adultery, (72). This scene reflects the Puritan principles. Dimmesdale is regarded as a highly virtuous man only due to him being a minister, just like the rest of men with authority during this period. The scene also shows how vulnerable women were during the Puritan era, comparatively to men.

Another connection I have made pertains to the scarlet letter. The narrator explains that the symbol on Hester's chest "derives its scarlet hue from the flames of the internal pit, (79). As soon as I read this line, I immediately thought of Jonathan Edwards' A Model of Christian Charity, which uses robust imagery God's wrath in order to get more people to convert to Christianity, which also had taken place during the Puritan period. In chapter four, the letter also is described as scorching Hester's breast, "as if it had been red hot, (89.) I believe that the guilt from committing adultery will never be fully forgotten in Hester's daily life, especially since she lives in a society where every person alienates her, treating her as a pariah. The Puritan people truly felt the need to reprimand those who did not demonstrate a godly life, who, in this situation, is Hester Prynne.

Associations With Puritanism in The Scarlet Letter #1

The history of "The Scarlet Letter" displays Hawthorne's fascination with the Puritanism period, as his forefathers had been especially involved with the law courts as judges and speakers. Due to this, the book is set in the Puritan time period, although Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote it when he was living in the Romantic Period in American Literature. This is crucial to understand. No matter what period we are living, there are similar ethical issues that continue to be confronted, as well as the harsh criticism coming from society, particularly coming from the mass media in our generation.

From the introduction of The Scarlet Letter up to chapter two, I've found a variety of connections to Puritanism. The Puritans were intolerant of other types of religions. "It might be that an Antinomian, a Quaker, or other heterodox religionist was to be scourged out of the town, or an idle and vagrant Indian, whom the white man's firewater had made so riotous about the streets..." (57). Puritan society in Massachusetts believed, besides for Puritanism being the "purest"and the most supreme religion, that other types of people (in this case, Indians) were threatening simply because they practiced different religions and principles. They were either mandated to leave or forced to join the Puritan church. Puritans also had an incredibly strong work ethic;  a person who displayed idleness was believed to be "one of the damned" but a person who was hard-working showed evidence that he was one of God's chosen ones to acquire salvation. 

Among the Puritan society were conspiracies against witches. The Salem Witch Trials took place in 1692 during the Puritan era, which definitely caused much unrest and prejudice against witches, although there was no radical evidence of witches, but there were numerous severe accusations against them. Chapter two referred to Mistress Hibbins, "that a witch, like old Mistess Hibbins, the bitter-tempered widow of the magistrate, was to die upon the gallows," (58). At this point in history, Puritans believed widows and social outcasts were witches and alienated them from the rest of society. The controversy against witches were that they defied God with their supernatural powers. Hester Prynne, the shamed woman in this chapter, is ridiculed in front of the entire town. This shows the natural behavior of their society, purposefully mocking and degrading her just like our society does today.