Puritan Society In Hesters Life :: essays research papers

The Godly beliefs and penalisations followed by the prudes stemmed from their English experience and complete involvement in religion. The puritan nightspot molded itself and created a government based upon the Bible and implemented it with force. Hesters act of adultery was welcomed with rage and was qualified for serious punishment. Boston became more than involved in Hesters life after her crime was announced than it had ever been beforethe religious based, justice system formally punished her and society collectively tortured her. Based upon the religious, governmental, and social design of the society, Hesters entire existence revolved around her sin and the Puritan perception thereof this intimacy breaks way to society significantly becoming involved in her life.The importance of a social framework for the new society, where the Church would be all encompassing, highly-developed from the teachings of such religious reformers as John Wycliffe and John Calvin. The Church wo uld be directly involved in the running of the community and its regime. Enforcing such laws established by scripture read from the Bible, the government disciplined Hester for her committed sin. The Puritans considered the Bible as the true law of God that provided guidelines for church and government. They wished to shape the Church of England to play their ideals, emphasizing Bible reading, prayer, and preaching in worship services. They simplified the ritual of the sacraments and also wanted more personal and fewer prescribed prayers. The Puritans stressed grace, devotion, prayer, and introspection to achieve religious virtue while including a basic knowledge of unacceptable actions of the time.Obtaining virtue was expected to secure order and peace within the Puritan community. The Church officials, who played a direct role in the government, calculated the penalties for various sins. When sins arose, the government took the role as chief executive of corrective punishment and instituted castigation. Hester found herself very much a part of the local Church and governments heavy hand. Everyone was aware of her sinful act, for she was placed on a scaffold amidst the entire people for a painful viewing. The religious morals instilled in the Puritan society caused her much pain long after the commonplace humiliation. Permanently symbolized as a sinner, Hester was branded for life with a cloth letter worn on her bosom.For years after the letter was beginning revealed on the scaffold, Hester was associated with the sin and the scarlet letter. Because the Puritans contoured religion, social life, and government together, each member of the society was involved in the religion, social life, and governmenteverybody in Boston power saw the A on Hesters chest in the same light.