Harambe. Cecil. Kaepernick. It seems after every controversial event, an angry mob of pitchfork-wielding critics clambers over one another to spout their opinions to anyone willing to listen. Despite this, many like to think that as a society today, much progress has been made since times of slavery and discrimination. Upon closer examination, however, modern American society has not changed from the rigid and judgmental ways of the Puritans in the 1600s.
Colonizing the New World in the 1600s, the Puritan society was harsh, unyielding, and hypercritical. They believed that people are born into sin and those not redeemed through faith are condemned to hell. Puritans were known for punishing and driving out non believers and transgressors. Punishments ranged
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For example, it can be argued that punishments are no longer blown out of proportion to the severity of the crime committed. No longer are children or workers whipped for disobedience or laziness, as is portrayed in Hawthorne’s novel, The Scarlet Letter. When considered closely however, it is clear that American society still doles out unfitting and unjust punishments - though now not through the legal system. Similar to the ostracization of adulterers, heretics and transgressors in the Puritan society, the members of the affair website Ashley Madison fell under barrages of threats and ridicule after the website was hacked and its members’ information was released. The tragic story of Justine Sacco, who was fired from her job and ridiculed by the public after posting a racist joke online, demonstrates the disparity between crime and resulting punishment. Similar to Puritan punishments, public ignominy as a consequence for failings of the character is too severe a punishment. These events demonstrate that, as a modern society, America has still not evolved from appointing vigilante-like retribution upon those who seem worthy of such