The Puritan Community in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 2 Words: 715 Downloads: 1 Date added: 2019/05/08 Category Literature Essay Level High school Topics: The Scarlet Letter Essay Did you like this example? The author of The Scarlet letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne, introduces the readers to a Puritan Community. The narrator generates a society where the people of the Puritan community hide behind what their religion says they should do in order to keep their emotions undercover. The narrator expresses his attitude toward the Puritans throughout the story by how he portrays the characters, the type of language used, and the themes presented in the story. In the beginning of this story the author acts as if he respects the Puritan community in Boston, but he then becomes satiric and his criticism begins to show. The author begins with saying that the puritans are good people when just before he was recounting how grim rigidity they were. When the author says this about the people it begins to show his attitude towards them, which is they are not as good as they may seem to the outside world. Also, when the narrator says these things he is trying to prove that the Puritans are actually very cold and ruthless. In the beginning of this story the author also how judgmental the Puritans are to anyone who is not like them. In the quote, On the other hand, a penalty which, in our days, would infer a degree of mocking or ridicule, might then be invested with almost as stern dignity as the punishment of death itself(Hawthorne). In this quote the narrator is describing how one of the characters wrongdoings, Hester, was not that catastrophic, bu t the Puritan community thought that Hesters sin was very momentous that they even considered death. In this case the Puritans seem to have jumped to a settlement to punish Hester without even thinking of all of her emotions she was going through. They also did not see if anyone else could have contributed to her sin. The narrator clearly conveys to the reader that the Puritans are always quick to place blame on others. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "The Puritan Community in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne" essay for you Create order Later into the story the author also decides to criticize the Puritans because they are bigoted to anyone who does not have the same religion as them. In the story the author describes how this Puritan community has a very strong belief that anyone who is not part of their religion will burn in the pits of hell. Hawthorne describes this in the quote disporting themselves in such grim fashion as the Puritan Nature would permit, playing at going to church, perchance, or at scourging Quakers, or taking scalps in a sham-fight with the Indians (Hawthorne). This quote also reveals that the children of the Puritan community are also ill-mannered to anyone outside of their religion. These children believe if you do not follow the bibles way then you will be following a sinful pathway. The author also criticizes the communities flaws through the reverend of the Puritans. In the story the author decides to use the reverend to point out the flaws of this religious community because the revere nd presents Hesters sin when he should have guided her in the correct pathway. The author is also mocking the community when he describes how weak and bleak the male religious figure is. Throughout the whole story the author criticized the Puritan leaders the most. The narrator mocks the leaders because the the ministers are actually the worst sinners than anyone else. This is seen through his choice of language because he describes Dimmesdale as an expressive and respected person, but he commited a sin with Hester and proceeded to not confess. When Dimmesdale admits his sin everyone is in incredulity because they believe he is perfect. The author states The minister well knew- subtle, but remorseful hypocrite that he was!, this quote shows that it is not that he did not want to own up to his in, it is impossible for him to own up to his sin because everyone in the church doesnt not believe he could do anything sinful. Overall, thought this story the reader can get the idea that the authors attitude towards the puritans is very pessimistic. The reader is able to figure this out due to the author portrays certain characters like the reverend. Also, the reader can get this attitude from the author through his choice of diction presented throughout the story.

Self Destructive Deviance Suicide - 2575 Words

Self-Destructive Deviance: Suicide (Final Semester Paper) Depression is the cause of suicide. This is researched and known to be a myth that everyone believes about suicide. In reality the book or chapter on suicide states depression is a risk factor for suicide as it is often found in people who kill themselves, however this does not mean that depression is the cause of suicide. It goes on to say that there are plenty and other risk factors and depression is not the main cause or actual case for suicide, for example teenagers who have a higher incidence of depression than the elderly, are less likely to kill themselves than are the elderly (p. 144). So if depression is not the cause of suicide, what is? Research states though†¦show more content†¦People are ending their lives every day whether we as a society are aware of it or not. The situation or problem may be temporary but the solution and outcome is always permanent. This affects our society because when hearing about a suicidal incident or if it is someone that was known, it brings curiosity on one to want to know what they could have done to prevent it, or what options are there out there to help and decrease certain deviance behaviors such as this. This self-destruction deviance should not be happening, however it is. Emile Durkheim’s Anomie theory explains it is a condition in which the society provides little moral guidance to individuals; it is basically the analysis of social bonds between an individual and the community. Therefore, suicide relates and affects the society individually and collectively. It’s amazing how in the most prosperous nation on earth, America; research states almost five million of its inhabitants at some time in their lives attempt suicide. Though this is only attempting, every twenty minutes someone is the United States commits suicide. Another interesting fact that astound me was knowing the rates and who were more likely committing and attempting suicide in our society, and it st ated that it is mostly attempted by people in their â€Å"prime of life† which are between the ages of 24 and 44, however suicide is also rising in â€Å"prime of the youth† ages also 15 to 24 years of age.

How did the “Doctrine of Empiricism” change the way artists created art Free Essays

The term â€Å"empiricism† has a dual etymology, stemming both from the Greek word for â€Å"experience†. (http://www. philosophybasics. We will write a custom essay sample on How did the â€Å"Doctrine of Empiricism† change the way artists created art? or any similar topic only for you Order Now com/branch_empiricism. html) The â€Å"Doctrine of Empiricism† changed the way artists created art. They went from an open-minded outlook on the way to express art to a more structured view. It vanished the idea of metaphysical, tradition, and myth and replaced it with critical thought, and the scientific method of experimentation and the knowledge through empirical data. (The Enlightenment) A philosopher that well represents empiricism was John Locke. Portrait of John Locke, by Sir Godfrey Kneller. Oil on canvas. 76Ãâ€"64 cm. Britain, 1697. Source of Entry: Collection of Sir Robert Walpole, Houghton Hall, 1779 Locke believed that everyone was born with a â€Å"blank slate† and knowledge was obtained from experience. ( Theory of Knowledge, Empiricism) That changed the way artists created art because it gave them a more realistic view on how to express themselves. They took what they already knew and have experienced and started a whole new perception. Although this whole concept was new to everyone, not everyone agreed. Jean-Jacques Rousseau argued the idea of perfection in progress and knowledge, but he still presented acceptable ideas because the philosophers of this period argued for the perfection of the natural. (The Enlightenment) Leonardo Da Vinci was an advocate for careful empirical observation and an early version of the scientific method, making him important to the development of both science and skepticism. Leonardo’s emphasis on observation and empirical science was not separate from his art. ( Leonardo Da Vinci ; Science, Observation, Empiricism, and Mathematics) Vitruvius: Vitruvian Man, by Leonardo Da Vinci, 1490 The Vitruvian Man was created using contour lines. The detail and shading is limited but portrays his interest in proportion and science. Da Vinci put a visual emphasis on the body itself using shapes to create what acts as a border. Empiricism was a breakthrough in the late 17th century and during the 18th. It took the endless possibilities of art and gave everything a new perspective. It is the theory in which everything comes from experience and evidence. It changed the way artists created art by giving them some insight and background before they ventured off into the divine world of art. Works Cited http://www.theoryofknowledge.info/sources-of-knowledge/empiricism/ The Neoclassical (The Enlightenment) http://myeclassonline.com http://www.philosophybasics.com/branch_empiricism.html http://atheism.about.com/od/imagegalleries/ig/Leonardo-Da-Vinci/Virtuvius–Leonardo-Da-Vinci.htm How to cite How did the â€Å"Doctrine of Empiricism† change the way artists created art?, Papers