Faulkner addresses the issue of religion through the characters of Cora and Whitfield, and their hypocritical characteristics give a representation of Faulkner's views on Religion. To iterate, Cora frequently spouts ridiculous religious axiom's that often times contradict her actual way of life as in her first chapter when she states "the lord can see into the heart. It is his will that some folks has different ideas of honesty,"(Faulkner 9.) Following this exclamation she criticizes Addie and her raising of a "tom-boy girl", contradicting her own statement of tolerance and demonstrating the notion that religious people are infatuated with hypocrisy (Faulkner 9.) In addition to Cora's hypocrisy, Faulkner's decision to make the religious figure Whitfield a conniving adulterous further displays the idea that religion, especially organized religion, is filled with ignorant hypocrites.
From Shame to Strength: The Scarlet Letter’s Various Meanings Can one’s own sin make them a stronger person? In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne commits adultery with Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, while being married to Roger Chillingworth, and is forced to wear a scarlet letter “A” as punishment. The “A” causes the public to shun Hester because of her sin, while Dimmesdale remains an icon. The scarlet letter that Hester wears is supposed to represent adultery so the town recognizes her sin and affiliates her with shame. Throughout the novel, the Scarlet letter bequeaths new meanings.
He would look at all the funny looking people in church and concentrate on them instead of what he was supposed to hear. Lewis writes, “Provided that any of those neighbors sing out of tune, or have boots that squeak, or double chins, or odd clothes, the patient will quite easily believe that their religion must therefore be somehow ridiculous”. I think that this book teaches how Satan can use things that were meant for good, like the church, to attack us spiritually. Prayer is another thing that Screwtape says is a means of attack. A person may perceive a certain image of what God is, like a trinket or something they have seen that reminds them of God.
Delaram Yazdani American Literature 1 Final Exam 21 February 2013 Pearl, From Elf to Treasure The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a story of puritanical society, a kind of society which confronted Hester for having committed the sin of adultery, and expelled her from the community by making her to wear the Scarlet Letter “A”. Pearl is the outcome of the sin. She represents the Scarlet Letter, or better to say, she is the living symbol of the Scarlet letter. However, she meant treasure to her mother, a gift from the Almighty God, and brought liveliness and happiness to her life. ““God gave me the child?” cried she.
English III, Period 1 11/7/2012 Innocent or Guilty Puritans lived their lives under the word and command of God. They had punishments for every kind of sin expressed in their holy book. So if this is the case what should have happened to baby Pearl? She was born into the Puritan world from a sin. In Nathaniel Hawthorn's, The Scarlet Letter, Pearl is the symbol of sin and adultery as portrayed by society.
But if you think about love is the most controlling power of all Kipnis even says this in her reader advisory page. One part of her essay that I thought really showed some potential was her idea that love causes adultery, and that adultery is deception to your partner. Not only are you deceiving your partner but you’re also deceiving yourself. “Adulterers behave badly. Deception rules the land, self-deception included.
Research on the symbolism of the “A” in The Scarlet Letter Steven Bolzenius Senior Composition, seventh Hour 14 October 2013 The Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, the scarlet letter “A” that Hester Prynne is forced to wear is a sign of her sin and charity. Nathaniel Hawthorne used this letter to represent the good and evil that every human posses. The Scarlet Letter was interpreted differently for each character. Hester chose to wear the scarlet letter with dignity and grace despite the shame and disgrace that surround her wearing the letter. Hester Prynne used the letter as an example of hypocrisy that made up the puritan church at the time.
During the period of the Protestant Reformation man were allowed to have a direct relationship with God and women could not. So, when women as Hutchinson said she too had access to God she was found guilty for creating anarchy and mischief in the community. The author described the intoloeration that men during this period could not allow women to be equal to
This power structure is kept strong by making failures out of oneself and taking away any independence the women may have including the wives. The handmaids are raped and forced into childbirth and the wives are equally imprisoned because they are married to the masterminds of such a hideous society. I cannot imagine living is a society where my choice to have a child is stolen from me. Society that will punish with death or torture if I decide to rebel against child birth. Birth is a gift given to a woman’s body from GOD.
This female genderization of God is the primary reason their books were excluded from the New Testament. Those who were in power during this time wanted to ensure that the word of God matched the social values that they believed in. Ever since the story of Adam and Eve women have taken on somewhat of an untrustworthy reputation. Early Jewish texts describe women as the deceiver of man,