Throughout time, the power of the people and their laws have differed in many ways. The Puritans are one example. Many people in this time period died because of their "branded sin." In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The scarlet Letter, the character Hester Prynne and her child Peral deal with this sin by wearing a Scarlet A.
"when the young woman stood fully revealed before the crowd, it seemed to be her first impulse to clasp the infant closely to her bosom..." For nine mothes Hester sat behind a wooden, iron-spiked door. Now she has been brought fourth foreveryone to see her in "misery". Because of the sin committed by Hester Prynne, she had to wear a Scarlet A so that the townspeople could see who the sinner was. "...that scarlet letter, so fantastically embroiled and illuminated upon her bosom, had the effect of a spell, taking her out of the ordinary relations with humanity, and enclosing her in a sphere by herself."
The Scarlet Letter (1860) by T. H. Matteson. Oil o...
English: Hester Prynne & Pearl before the stocks
This is the title page for the first edition of Th...Hester did have have the opportunity of removing the scarlet letter only ifd she revealed the father of her child. For example, 'Woman, transgress not not beyond limits of heaven's mercy! hat little babe hath been gifted with a voice, to second and confirm the councel which thou hast heard. Speak out the name" cries Mr. Wilson" 'Never!' replies Hester. "It is too deeply branded. Ye cannot take it off. And would that I might endure his agony as wellas mine!" So as you can see she leaves the A on her bosom.
Hester was not the only one mistreated by the Puritans. Her child, Pearl, also was a sinner because she had been convinced by her mother (a sinner). She was also called an elf-child. This was a name used by Mr. Wilson. "What' little bird of scarlet plumage may this be? Art thou a Christian child, -ha? or art thou one of those naughty elf or fairies, whom we thought to have left behind us a merry old England?" They also used Pearl to tell them who had made her (who her father was) - '...plucked by mother off the bush of wild roses that grew by the prison-door', replies the naughty littlegirl" Throughout this whole scandal, Hester can teach her little pearl what she has learned from this.
Hester Prynne had the option of revealing the father's name, but she insisted on living with the sin that was committed. I think she had a point about not removing the A, but at one part of the story when she takes the letter off and throws it in the river, I think she should have left it there. She could have been free from her "branded sin" and be reintroduced into society. However it was her decision, and she felt that in order to end her struggle with sin, and guilt, she must wear it till death do her part. Hester, as one human being, handled this conflict in an orderly fashion.
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