Essay Comparing The Crucible And The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne

Many people view fiction as completely fake; however, historical fiction bases a story on what has happened. Such as, in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible and Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter. The storylines are based on the 17th century when people were drastically punished for their “sins”. During that period, in New England and around the world witchcraft trials and public condemnations of sin were occurring. The Puritans were so focused on keeping sin out of the colonies they began to be suspicious of everyone. Personal vendettas were the source of many false accusations, which led to unjust deaths. The Crucible and The Scarlet Letter have vast similarities with the Puritan community of the 17th century. The similarities lie within the

The Puritans based their lives on the covenants they made when they came to New England. The covenant was agreeing to base their life around God or face the consequences. When the Puritans broke the covenants they were punished by public humiliation, exile from the community, and even death ("Puritans (1600-1754)."). The Puritans were hellbent on keeping sin out of the colonies because many people watched their loved ones die on the journey to New England. They also suffered through a harsh winter and battled starvation so they took it upon themselves to do anything to “purify” the colonies ("Puritans (1600-1754)."). In this sense, the Puritans took this as part of their identity. They were proving to the colonists that they endured for what they had accomplished and they weren't backing down or letting evil in. The family was also a part of identity in the Puritan community ("Puritans (1600-1754)."). Anyone who wasn't part of a family was put into one to have instruction and guidance from all colonists. The men in the family were the head of the house and provided continuous religious instruction ("Puritans (1600-1754)."). The woman's role was to take care of the duties inside the