Monday 11 July 2016

What are the consequences of Hester's sin?

One consequence of Hester's sin is that she had to spend at least several months in prison.  We might assume that she was imprisoned once her pregnancy became too obvious to hide. However, she is released shortly after Pearl is born.  Another consequence of Hester's sin is that she is made to stand upon the scaffold, a place of public punishment, in the town square so that all can look upon her and know her...

One consequence of Hester's sin is that she had to spend at least several months in prison.  We might assume that she was imprisoned once her pregnancy became too obvious to hide. However, she is released shortly after Pearl is born.  Another consequence of Hester's sin is that she is made to stand upon the scaffold, a place of public punishment, in the town square so that all can look upon her and know her sin.  She is questioned publicly about the identity of her fellow sinner, and she is judged harshly by most of the other women in the town: one felt she should have the letter branded on her skin with a hot iron, another felt that she should have been executed for her sin.  The judgment of the townspeople is a third consequence.  Finally, a fourth consequence of Hester's sin is that she is forced to wear the scarlet "A," a symbol of her sin and a constant reminder of it to her and everyone else.

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