Hester Prynne's Cruelty

679 Words3 Pages
Usually when one becomes a victim of mistreatment, he or she is most likely to remove his or herself from the severe situation. This would prevent any further issues and relieve all feelings of tension and distress. However, some may feel the need to not remove themselves from such a predicament; their morals are to show, and hopefully spread to others, the significance of “killing others with kindness.” Hester Prynne, the protagonist in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, demonstrates the moral of kindness within her community. Her patience withstands many years until the townspeople actually agree to her as being a legacy. According to the conclusion, Hester’s return to Boston recognizes her intention to act as an influential figure within the community.…show more content…
Although the magistrates punish Hester with the scarlet letter, Hester feels more sorry for them, than for herself. The town lacks the ability to react sensitively to Hester’s scarlet letter, for whenever she would enter the town, they would treat her like an outcast, or an inhumane monster. This is a sin—man’s inhumanity to man—and their inability to separate religion and law blinds them from their hypocrisies. It has become a hidden paradox that makes them believe they are doing what is right by the law—punishing and scolding Hester for her action—but is also against their religion. If religion and law combined is what makes the townspeople act in this nature, then what are they missing? They’re missing an important figure with morals of

More about Hester Prynne's Cruelty

Open Document