shaping consequences
Shaping consequences in the Scarlet LetterScarlet Letter is a book about Hester Prynne, whom is the subject of guilt and humiliation in the entire book. Her simple fault causes a whole array of consequences that define her future and makes her repay for it. It all brings up a dilemma on whether or not she really deserves all this punishment, or if she deserves more.For all that she took in, the rather abstract punishments Hester accepted ultimately changed her way of life and shaped her in a way that was very positive. Any harsher physical punishment definitely would not have been necessary and may have even had a negative effect if used on her... here are some examples of the necessary consequences that made her almost a whole new person.In chapters one and two the author introduces a woman in the middle of a crowd of watching people. Hester Prynne, the "sinner," comes out from a prison door to the scaffold, who is then ridiculed in front of everyone, especially for the ornate scarlet letter (the printed A on her
Hester actually wonders if Pearl might not be the "demon child" that many of the town citizens believe her to be. Looking into the personality of Hester, we see that she is an independent, rather rash woman. On the other hand she has a compassionate nature, perhaps as a result of her experiences. Indeed, it is what happened after Hester's affair that made her into a shamed and alienated woman from the rest of the community. This illustrates the effect of guilt and the consequences that followed that has made Hester a different woman. Hester showed maternity with her respect on society: she helped out the poor and brought in food and clothing. In the book, Pearl is described as "her mother's only treasure. When she was free to flee from Boston, she chose not to. As the story progresses she tries to be less rash and more compassionate, for any such dire behavior could cause the fragility of her daughter's bond to be broken. She was outright humiliated and pointed at from the very beginning. In the book, we can definitely see signs of guilt in Hester. Instead, she chooses to stay, and take in more isolation from the community. Isolation and aloneness can lead to depression, and thus give her the time to reflect on and regret her sin. Although still an outcast, we can see here she still tries to help out and make up for her guilt at the same time.
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Acceptance Essays
