Adultery In The Scarlet Letter

Madeline Medina

Mr. McHargue

English III H

1 Dec. 2015

Adultery Over The Years The definition of Adultery is, the violation of the marriage contract by either or both partners in the marriage through sexual activity with a third person (Rhodes). Adultery has changed over the years in a less positive way; people are beginning to think of adultery as a normal thing and are not considering the several consequences there are. The puritans had serious punishments for adultery and now there are practically none. Hester Prynne from the book The Scarlet Letter is an example of how puritan people dealt with adultery. Over the years, adultery has grown more and more. Reason being that the laws over adultery have became less strict. In the present

In most countries, adultery is no longer considered a criminal offense. In most countries, having sexual relations outside of their marriage would be considered normal. Up until the mid 20th century, most of the United States had laws that would go against adultery (Adultery). Now, in only 21 states, cheating, or adultery, in a marriage is against the law and it is punishable with the option of paying a fine or serving time in jail. Even though that there are still laws that go against adultery in 21 states, it does not mean that they even enforce them anymore. In Maryland, the penalty of adultery is only a $10 fine (Lee). A person who commits adultery in Maryland would only have to worry about paying $10, most people wouldn’t even mind paying the fine because it is so little. States that have anti-adultery laws are not even enforcing

Which makes them break the 1st commandment and 2nd commandment, which are, thou shalt have no other gods before me, and thou shalt not make unto thee any graven images, meaning that one should not put anyone before God. Marriage is one of the seven sacraments and committing adultery means that one is putting oneself before God by breaking the promise of marriage. Committing adultery does not only hurt the spouse but it also hurts children, if there are any. It also shows that one does not have respect towards parents or in laws. Which makes them break the 5th commandment which is, honor thy father and thy mother. Parents and in laws also suffer from their child committing adultery because they have to fix the broken pieces of their child. More than 50 percent of marriages that end are because of adultery (Hawes). By committing adultery, one is breaking the 7th and 8th commandment, which are, thou shalt not commit adultery, and thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house, wife or possessions. By the end of the time that one has committed adultery, they have broken half of Gods commandments. “Adultery is described as an abomination in Gods eyes” (Rhodes). Adultery is something that is not approved by God because it is violating one of the seven