Guilt In The Scarlett Letter, By Nathaniel Hawthorne

Nobody is perfect. Every action has a consequence. Whether that consequence is good or bad, that is based on the action. Typically, we correlate bad actions with bad consequences. However, sometimes society gives a bad consequence for a not-so-bad action. In America, the 8th amendment to the constitution is supposed to protect that, prohibiting “cruel and unusual punishment”. This amendment allows humans to make mistakes, for nobody is perfect, but those mistakes shall be consequenced appropriately and fairly. In the Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Hester Prynn does make a bad decision, and commits a sin of adultery. She betrayed her husband, Roger Chillingworth, and had a child with Arthur Dimmesdale. As a result, Hester was thrown

Today, this action is not solved with physical punishment, but rather with the pressure of guilt and shame. So when can guilt and shame be substituted for physical punishment? When can we just allow society, and karma, to take over the situation and deal with the wrongdoer accordingly? We see this much more today, especially in our social media-based society. “Cancel Culture” takes people’s wrongdoings and projects them out so the whole world can see. Then, the guilt and shame humiliates the offender, which allows for them to feel the punishment, understand and recognize their wrongdoing, and apologize and move on accordingly. I think this form of punishment has similarities to the Scarlet Letter, and it is fairly effective by itself, without other types of punishment. “‘Let her cover the mark as she will, the pang of it will be always in her heart.’” (Hawthorne 45). Hester’s sin will always be with her, and that’s what matters, not the physical

Too much punishment might make people think that the perpetrator will never act out again, however I see it as the opposite. Kids with strict parents live under heavy rulesets. But when they are left alone in the world, out with friends, or in college, they go off and do bad things, such as drugs, crime, and more. For me, I have a very open relationship with my mother, which doesn’t tempt me to act out when she’s not looking.
Can a society implement both kinds of punishment? As seen in The Scarlet Letter, Hester receives both physical punishment and psychological punishment. To the readers, this seems too brutal for the committed sin, however in other circumstances, this could work as a double punishment, for the worst-of-the-worst crimes.
In the Scarlet Letter, the punishment for adultery was prison, public shame, and a physical emblem forced on against Hester’s will. This is both physical and psychological punishment. However, it feels like this is too harsh and this should not have been the consequence for such a sin, as it is unreasonable and cruel. Instead, a form of forgiveness should have been addressed, especially for a first time offender, and a genuine person like