Made an example
they might vivify and embody their images of woman’s frailty and sinful passion
Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote
“The Scarlet Letter!” In this book we realize that society can not set the norms. We also learn the dangers of seeking revenge. As a child I was told that his book was the first American classic.
She could no longer borrow from the future to help that through the present grief. Tomorrow would bring its own trial with it; so would the next day, and so would the next: each its own trial, and yet the very same that was now so unutterably grievous to be borne.
The days of the far-off future would toil onward, still with the same burden for her to take up, and bear along with her, but never to fling down; for the accumulating days and added years would pile up their misery upon the heap of shame.
Throughout them all, giving up her individuality, she would become the general symbol at which the preacher and moralist might point, and in which they might vivify and embody their images of woman’s frailty and sinful passion.
Thus the young and pure would be taught to look at her, with the scarlet letter flaming on her breast—at her, the child of honourable parents—at her, the mother of a babe that would hereafter be a woman—at her, who had once been innocent—as the figure, the body, the reality of sin. And over her grave, the infamy that she must carry thither would be her only monument.
Other interesting articles about judging
The Three Steps of Church Discipline
Sizing up everyone but themselves
WHEN BOB HAS A PROBLEM WITH EVERYONE, BOB IS USUALLY THE PROBLEM
What do you do with the accusation?
