Scarlet Letter Essay

Throughout time people have always done bad things and have been caught; Although some of the choices people choose have not changed that much the punishments have changed alot. The Scarlet Letter is set in a very different time from the present, there is many differences in the way they handled issues back then. Punishment has changed, but not as much as one would think, punishment like the scarlet letter are still used today. Also the Church had a big role in governing the people, which has since died off and been the job of the government. I believe that the change in punishment has been better for the people in this country.
In the time of The Scarlet Letter the punishments varied from being sent to the gallows to being subject to public embarassment like Hester Prynne. In the book one of the goodwives said, "At the very least, they should have put the brand of a hot iron on Hester Prynne's Forehead."(5). This shows that back then they were very harsh on people that sinned, they were looked down on. The thought of branding a human as punishment today is unheard of, also the usual punishment is to go to the gallows for adulterers in that time. Hester was forced to stand on a scaffold in the middle of the town. The magistrates made it like a holiday, all the children were released from school to tease her. Adults did not have work and were all there to witness there "town fun" for the day. This is a sick way to punish somebody, the damage that could do to one's heart could drive one crazy. In the aftermath the punishment was even worse, for 7 years Hester was treated badly. She was automatically judged by everyone when the saw the scarlet letter on her chest so there was really no chance for her to make any new friends. This is almost like taking aways one life, if she did not have a child I don't believe she would've had anything to live for. Also the magistrates from the church were the ones who dealt out this punishment. In those modern times the Church dealt out most punishment, which I believe is not good because they really had all the power in the town and could do whatever they wanted. For these reasons I believe the system of punishment is faulty in The Scarlet Letter.
Today the government has changed for the better. The Church really doesn't have any control in punishing people for their sins. In this free country if the someone from the church attempts to punish one for sinning the government will butt in and will not allow it, unless it is considered illegal(such as stealing, or raping someone etc.) Being an adulterer nowadays is still considered a sin, but the government will not punish somebody for committing it. The punishments for other crimes are usually jail time, in rare cases of murder one can be sentenced for life in prison, or put to death. Most recently I've heard of a type of punishment similar to the scarlet letter, but not as harsh. The Wal-Mart corporation has given some captured thiefs a choice between jail time, or standing outside of their store for 8 hours holding up a sign that says, "I got caught stealing from this store." Even though this is an ambarrassing form of punishment it does not amount to the feeling one would bear having to wear that sign for the rest of their life. Most choose to take a few months in jail so they won't be recognized as a thief by the majority of the public. This shows that jail time is better choice than even a mild form of public embarassment. Sitting in a jail cell for long periods of time, in my eyes, is a lot better punishment compared to hanging or the scarlet letter. When being confined in a jail cell one must think about what they have done and have plenty of time to chew on it. In this way I think our forms of punishment are built more to help people who are in trouble, rather than in The Scarlet Letter they are very harsh with their punishments. I believe the way our government teaches it's culprits a lesson, rather than putting them to death, is a better choice for our society.
The punishment that is used in The Scarlet Letter is part of a horrible governing system. They were to harsh on the culprits and they shouldn't of let the church choose the punishment in the first place. The modern day system of punishment is alot more productive in todays society. The government, although sometimes is controversal, is for the good of this nation and its people. The differences between the justice system of 1642 and today are different, I believe through the oncoming years the punishment will only become better and never stoop down to what it used to be.