It’s not uncommon these days to hear of summer flings, secret love affairs, and extra-marital affairs. In fact, I would be
very much surprised – albeit, pleased – if I would know of one couple who have yet to experience issues like these. Such occurrences are so common that people merely react with a shrug of the shoulders and a casual “Oh well, that’s life!”
But, is it the same decades ago? Could people – particularly women – endure the consequences of their sinful, lustful acts as easily as they could in this day and age?
Of course not! The conservativeness and somberness of days past will not permit offenders to carry on with their lives without the appropriate punishment for their wayward deeds. In fact, in the setting of The Scarlet Letter – in the era of the early Puritan settlers in
New England – such was the case that the punishment for sins such as adultery is death. Death meted out in front of the public eye, no less. As if the public trial and public issuance of the verdict is not embarrassing enough for the poor culprit!
Very fortunate was
Hester Prynne, indeed, when she was sentenced to a much less severe punishment as death. The Puritan authorities surmised that, since her husband’s existence is questionable due to his being unheard of for years yet, her adultery should be reasonably penalized by her wearing a scarlet A on her bosom for the rest of her days. The penalty may seem quite bearable, yet we should remember the severity and propensity for condemnation of the Puritan character. Wearing that ubiquitous scarlet letter on her bosom will make her and Pearl, her daughter – the product of her immoral, adulterous act with an unnamed man – eternally vulnerable to their neighbors’ jests and judgmental stares. To further add insult to injury, her estranged husband finally makes his appearance, with perfect timing, while she stands on the pillory, infant Pearl in her arms, to withstand three hours of shame in front of the whole community.
Forever vowed to keep secret the identities of both her husband and her lover, Hester is condemned to a life of seclusion and incessant enmity from her contemptuous neighbors, with feisty, little Pearl as her sole companion. However, owing tribute to her own strength and willpower, Hester’s spirit as a woman emerges remarkably above those of whom she has shielded from shame and guilt, drawing to a vexing conclusion, her own daunting misery.