How is Hester Prynne's situation still plausible today? What makes her a relevant character?
Moreover, after being an audience member and taking on the role of giving a Puritan sermon, how do you think Hester and the townspeople would have felt at the time? Would the Puritan mindset have stymied you in your thoughts and actions?
Going back to our original moral dilemma, knowing what you know now, do you think Hester was right to stay in Boston, or should she have fled? What were the ramifications of her choice?
Please post your thoughts in a well-developed paragraph or two or three.
I belief that at the time the townspeople would have been outraged at her staying. They would have wouldn't have wanted to have anything to do with her and she still stays and lives in the city. The sermons that we read yesterday also contributed to what i just said because of the way it showed how they thought of things, and how they thought what they thought was right. I think her staying showed that she was a strong women. It also showed the townspeople that she will stand up for herself and because the town started to warm up to her.
ReplyDelete-Garrett Wilson
Times have greatly changed in America. Everything is not as strict as it was back in the Puritan times. Hester's situation is still plausible today because people still get persecuted for things that are wrong. However, her crime would not have been punished by law because people do not take adultery as seriously as they should.
ReplyDeleteAfter sitting through a group of sermons, I bet people back in those times hated listening to them. The tone was so angry and serious that I would have felt like the speaker was talking directly at me. The Puritan mindset probably would have given me a different opinion of God. In Edwards' sermon he talked about all the terrible things God can do, instead of the positives that he brings to us.
Hester was right to stay in Boston. Running away is not a solution to your problems. Also, one reason I believe she stayed was that the man she loved lived there. Her sin would have stayed with her no matter where she went, so just picking up everything and moving would not be worth it.
-Aaron Love
Hester Prynne’s situation in The Scarlet Letter is still very plausible today. It is extremely possible that someone in our society would commit adultery and be persecuted for it. However, I do not think that in our day and age, one would be forced to wear a red A on their chest, despite the movie Easy A. If the Puritans were given a sermon such as Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, I believe that they would have felt somewhat convicted after the speech. I do not think that they would have stopped persecuting Hester though. I believe that they got too much satisfaction by putter her down instead of focusing on their own faults. Because of the persecution against her, I believe that Hester should have fled Boston and moved to a whole new colony. She and Pearl will be continually abused by the townspeople’s words. I don’t think it was in Pearl’s best interests to stay in Boston.
ReplyDeleteIn America times have changed a lot. Hester's situation is still plausible in today's society because any woman can cheat on a man with another man, or it could be the other way around. Hester is a relevant character because others can feel connected to her if they did something similar to the situation Hester was in. During this time Hester and the townspeople would have felt different in my opinion. I feel that way because people would still be judging, but they wouldn't be as harsh. Hester would still probably feel guilty, but not as guilty as she felt back in the day. I think the Puritan mindset has stymied me in my thoughts and actions because everyone is judging. I think Hester made the right decision in staying in Boston because it shows that she is strong and she isn't going to let people get to her. Pearl can look at her mother and be proud for her because she didn't run away from her problems. Because Hester stayed in Boston she still got judged and had to wear her "A" on her outfits.
ReplyDeleteI believe that times have changed and lots of people have progressive minds, but there are some that still think like Puritans. I know of pastors who convict their congregation for some of the same things they do, or the Christians that criticize young girls for having a child young instead of helping them along the way. Yes America has come a long way, but there is still a lot of progress to be mad.
ReplyDeleteAs an audience member I didn't enjoy the experience. Sure my peers sermons were wonderful, but I felt like it was just a blame game in a way. I think that you should learn something during a sermon and take it with you throughout life and not feel bad about what you have done in the past.
I stick by my decision i believe that she should have left. Sure life is seeming to get better now, but it could have happened a long time ago. Most situation she face could been avoided. In this situation she should have thought of the welfare of her child and not making a statement or displaying how strong of a woman she is.
What makes Hester Prynn a plausible and relevant character today is that she is independent and strong which is a good example of the people tdn today. Through thick and thin Hester decided to stay in Boston and face her problems. However, i would of left Boston in regards of having my child raised in a new enviroment. But since the towns people have all of a sudden believed that Hester is a good person thent thats the only reason why it was good to stay. But from the begining you would of never known the outcome.
ReplyDeleteIf i was to give a Sermon in front of a Puritan community i believe that they would shoot me down before i could get my point across. Many Puritans were strong minded on their beliefs and did not leave room for opinions.
-AJ Giles
Although the government has gotten less involved with people’s lives over time, society still loves to judge individuals. Hester would not be placed in jail for her sins today, but she would definitely be talked about and looked down on. Hester is relevant because she is not a horrible person, she just made a mistake. She is treated with harsh punishment and shame. I think Puritans are very serious and proper. They like to see themselves as better Christians than other people. Hester probably felt alone because her community was not forgiving and acceptant of her. I’m sure I would have been very careful with what I did so that I was not given extra attention. I think Hester should have left Boston and started a new life. She would not have had to live in solitude in another town and she also wouldn’t have been faced with the possibility of losing Pearl.
ReplyDelete-Madison Carter
If the sistuation Hester was in happened today people wouldn't care as much, they would move on with their lives. At the time Hester felt shameful, and was shunned for what she did but she sucked it up at pushed through it. The Puritans at first thought of Hester as an outcast for what she did, but overtime the towns people admired her confidence, and how she was strong to stay in the town.
ReplyDeleteTo me she should have left Boston. If even she did act out in what she believe what is right and stood her ground, people are still going to judge you no matter what you do. If you do one bad thing then people will continue talk and you will be referred to as the person who did that. For the rest of her life she will be known as the slut or whore of the town because of what she done. If she would have left the town and live in a another small town people will judge her of who she is not of what happened because they will never know what she did unless she would have told the. My option for her is that she she should have left and move on with her life with people that will love who she really is, no what she done or did. Her actions of staying did prove her being strong and maybe the townspeople will warm up to her and realize that their view of things are wrong. People argue in what they belive in but if she proves to them on how she really feels then they might change their opinions and beleifs. Nowadays people will move on from the fact of someone’s wrong doings. It is called forgiveness. Life back down was so strict and you must follow the rules of beliefs.Now you can do what you want and do what you believe in now matter what.
ReplyDelete-Tyler Farley
I think Hester Prynne situation is still plausible today because some people still have a judging mindset. Maybe it is not as bad as the Puritans, but still today we label people for what they have done, where they grew up, the way they look and many other factors that sometimes they have no control over. I feel Hester is a relevant character because at some point in our lives we have been in a situation similar to Hester Prynne's where we do not feel accepted.
ReplyDeleteI generally feel bad for Hester. Yes she did commit a sin and a crime, but she is having to suffer the consequences for something she could not have possibly done on her own. Living as a town person though I can see how they would basically want to exile her because it does give the Puritan group a bad name. Their beliefs are set up on strict interpretations of the Bible and very pure beliefs. I believe that if I was in the Puritan community I would be judged as Hester was not because I have a lot of hidden sin, but because my views and opinion might not necessarily match theirs.
I still stand by my first belief that Hester should have stayed in Boston. She stood up for herself and she made herself stronger. Pearl, being the daughter of an adulterer, has not suffered a lot despite the fact of the governor wanting her taken away from her mother. Also as of now no Dimmesdale has not confessed or tried to make this situation any better, but I believe if he truly cares about Hester then he will help her even if it is only in small ways. Lastly I think the decision of staying was better because she could either suffer at her home with her daughter, husband, and lover or she can suffer far away from home without her husband or lover. We will never know how the new city she would move to would treat her so I think staying was the best decision for Hester.
Yes, Hester's situation is still plausible today. Women who have affairs are ostracized by other women more often than not. They are considered whores. Her character is relevant because it symbolizes the unnecessary judgement, hate, and cruelty towards people in these situations. The psychological results of such experiences are critical.
ReplyDeleteAfter being a member of an audience and taking the role of a Puritan giving a sermon, I felt I could relate to the Puritan people and Hester more. Both sides, I feel, are difficult position. For the audience listening to the sermon I feel there is a certain level of conviction, earned or not. As for the person giving the sermon, in that time, it would have been hard to keep a monotone throughout the whole sermon. Especially if particular topics required more emphasizing.
I still think she should have fled Boston. Where there is a will, there is a way. Despite her funds, or selfish beliefs, she should have left. There were no serious negative consequences for her choice, but she cannot be with who she is in love with publicaly and deal with Chillingsworth.
The times have certainly changed, a full four hundred years to be exact, however, the evolution of the mindset...not so much.
ReplyDeleteWith Puritans being the bulk of the American colonists, their beliefs and ideas warped and changed somewhat to form the basis of what is now. "Notions of freedom, liberty, and the role of religion within the state have long since been at the forefront of national debates. When the Puritans considered such ideas, their thoughts and writings on the matter were never quite forgotten, only shifted and modified to suit the taste of contemporary concerns," (Smith). As ideas evolve, freedom as an example, their interpretation is really what changes. With freedom, perhaps the change goes from all white men, to all men, to all people.
I believe Hester Prynne's situation -- how she's treated in The Scarlet Letter -- is absolutely possible. The Puritans', as well as peoples' today, opinions on things were as fickle as a child's. People nowadays are easily swayed by the action of one, or by a lie of another. I could easily see one such as Hester's fall and rise in society occur. In all honestly, I belief it may have already occurred numerous times.
Her, Hester Prynne, motives are believable enough, and with a near-"Romeo and Juliet" motif: after leaving England, Hester manages to get away from a husband she truly doesn't love and meets a new character whom she ends up falling for and, as much love goes, has a child. The only difference from this and Romeo and Juliet is that the characters are older and there's a lot less dead people.
Guilt, of course, would be felt by Hester, and sermons, as it would seem, would quite often feel directed towards her (perhaps in some cases it would be). Townspeople are much like those of modern time gossipers, even for such people as Puritans. There is no doubt in my mind that discussions and rumors would spread about Hester much like a high-school relationship.
All in all, I believe Hester was right to stay in Boston. It is even shown that the situation becomes better for her, even if not perfect. Running from your problems usually just intensifies them, perhaps to magnitudes far worse than what they were in the beginning of the story.
Smith, Nicole Puritan Influences on Modern America Culture Thought, 12/7/2011
http://www.articlemyriad.com/puritan-influences-modern-american-culture-thought/
DeleteSorry, the URL wasn't posted along with my comment.
Hester Prynne’s situation is still plausible today because she was a living example of sin. She signified that one can overcome their sin no matter what it is. They must just repent of their wrong doings and change for good. She shows that no matter what the world may do to her she will continue to keep her head high. As everyone is a sinner, Hester Prynne represents the hope of changing. She shows it throughout the example of having to stand on the scaffold with little Pearl.
ReplyDeleteAfter being an audience member and taking the role of giving a Puritan sermon, I think Hester and the townspeople would have had different reactions. I believe that some of the townspeople would have disagreed and rather got offended by the sermon. Although, I believe that Hester would have agreed with it because the sermon was on her defense.
The Puritan mindset would have definitely stymied me in my thoughts and actions. I would have not been open-minded. I would really just be living in a routine type of life causing me to be a hypocrite. I would have lived just like everyone else and be another person in society.
I believe Hester was correct for staying in Boston instead of fleeing. The ramifications of her choice caused her to be shunned. She was looked down upon consistently by all the townspeople. She is also now opening the townspeople’s eyes. They see her “A” as representing able and not adulterer. She had to pay her consequence and that is what she chose to do instead of running away from her sins.
-Ellizon Torres
In this particular scenario times have not changed in America since the setting of The Scarlet Letter. The situation Hester Prynne is in is still commonly found in our society today, over 200 years later. Her character is still relevant today because people are still labeled by society for committing adultery and other sins. Hester and the other townspeople would have felt targetted as though the Puritan sermons were directed towards them. This would have personally made me feel less open-minded about things since their society was so judgemental. Now that it has been seven years since the birth of Pearl, I feel as though it were the right choice for Hester to stay in Boston. She has changed others views of her by showing the person she really is, which is charitable and caring. The consequences of her decision would be having to endure the shame and scorn from people who knew your sins, where as leaving would have been a new start for her and Pearl.
ReplyDelete-Ana Mitchell Block 2
Times have changed tremendously in America. I feel that people are sinning more and caring less about it. America continues to get more corrupt. yes, Hester is a relevant character. People are still judged today for situations like Hesters. These sermons would have hurt some Puritan feelings. I don't think they would have been self inflicted, but would have looked at others. I agree with her staying I think it was a good choice. If she would have left she would have left the father of pearl. She sinned in Boston so I think she should repent there. Hester staying has showed the Puritans who she really is. -Cullen Boyette
ReplyDeleteHester Prynne’s situation is very relatable to today’s society because of the fact that people still look down upon you if you commit adultery. Today people still look at it as a sin to cheat on a lover. Except it depends on who cheats on who they way people look at it. If the guy cheats on the girl then all his friends praise him and they all laugh about it but when a girl cheats on a man, they are seen as a whore and a slut and they are shunned just as Hester was in The Scarlet Letter. Puritans are so strict in believing that when you are with a man, the woman was considered the man property. Hester felt like the whole town hated her and they did. I believe Hester should have left town and start a new life with her child. Pearl is not old enough to remember they everyone hated her. You can argue that she would want to stay with the one she loves but Dimmesdale is never going to give up his power and lose his respect that he has gained and throw it out the window for Hester. If she would have left she would have done what was best for her child.
ReplyDeleteHester Prynne’s situation is plausible today because often when teens get pregnant, they are looked down upon. Some may be even shunned. People look at you differently when you’re 16 and pregnant. Hester is relevant because people in today’s society are still judgemental and tend to blame an affair only on one person.
ReplyDeleteBeing a Puritan limts your mindset. They follow all the rules and don’t stray away from what the church says. They are blind to anything different and change. The Puritans would not have stymied my thoughts and actions because I don’t want anyone to influence me. I would have stuck to what I believed in and stayed strong in my opinions.
I think Hester should’ve defenitely stayed in Boston because she doesn’t need people to force her away. She needed to stay strong for herself and Pearl.
Hester Prynne’s situation is still plausible today to an extent. Women in society today can still commit adultery and it is still wrong. However, American’s have changed a lot and they tend to accept adultery as not a big deal. They would not make anyone wear an “A” on their chest today. Hester Prynne is a relevant character because of her genuine kindness. Hester Prynne sets an example for people to get back up and keep pushing forward even when they fall down. Everyone can recover from mistakes. The sermons that were given were so negative and it made me feel like I was doing everything wrong. The tone was very angry and it made me feel bad about myself. I think Puritans hated going and listening to those. I think Hester Prynne made the right choice staying in Boston. She is now gaining back her reputation and people are starting to respect her more. Hester has proved herself and Pearl is being raised well and is becoming a special young lady.
ReplyDeleteReferring to the Scarlet Letter, times have somewhat changed. Hester Prynne committed adultery and was punished by wearing the scarlet letter A, on her bosom. Now, you do not see women who have committed adultery wearing what Hester wore. Judging others still has not changed in today's society. When people commit something sinful, it usually spreads like a virus. The story gets told so many times that it turns out differently then what it truly is, at the end. Hester Prynne's situation is still plausible today, because the some marriages are not so good. Now a day people seem to have fallen in love to quick and get married to live the moment. A few years later, they find out that they are not happy and go out and find ways to satisfy that emptiness in their hearts that are missing.
ReplyDeleteI think that some of the Puritans wanted a more severe punishment for Hester, because of the horrible action she did. They were very hypocritical, and were not true to the scripture. I think the ones that were true believers had sympathy for her and her child. Putting themselves in her shoes would be terrible, and I believe some would not be able to handle it. I would imagine them to look up to what a brave and courage woman and mother she was. I think that if all the Puritans had a voice in the decision making, Hester would not have suffered so much. I agree that she deserved a punishment but not the attempt of the lost of her dignity.
Yes, I still do believe that Hester did right in staying, because she was being heard and seen. Another woman would have probably fled to care for herself and the child, but Hester did not. The ramifications of her choice were to continue to be judged, and to be strictly watched. Every step she took in public, was like hitting a button for people to mummer behind her back. Few did have the courage to tell her what they thought right in front of her. Even though it hurt Hester very much to hear all the mean stuff that the rest had to say, she stayed strong in everyone's eyes. She stayed for love and to stand up for the women who were mistreated and underestimated.
-Jennifer Orellana
Hester Prynne situation is still plausable. Even though in todays society it wouldn't be taken to the same extreme. If someone cheated on there spouse and had a child they would still be reducled, but people would not publicly shame them and separate them from society.
ReplyDeleteWe would have a different mindset. We would shun her and not see her in the grace of god. I still believe she should have fled. By living there people will always think of her as the whore even if they don't say it. The child will grow up to be shamed.
-Nicholas McCullen
I believe that time in America have changed alittle. In today socitey if somone commits adultry we don't shame them in public or cast the out, but we do talk about them or put them down. Hester Prynne is a relevant character because her situation still exist today. People still do judge people like Hester on what they did and tend them talk about them and children. I still believe that Hester made the right choice to stay because she showed the Puritans that she was strong and they couldn't run her out of town. She also taught her daughter a lesson not give up and let the others win. As we move farther along in the book we find out that it was good idea for today because some of them are now starting to except her. If she would have left they never would have known who the true Hester Prynne was.
ReplyDelete