The Scarlet Letter vs. The Great Gatsby

            
             The Scarlet Letter and The Great Gatsby are two prestigious novels that have made a tremendous impact on the literary world. Each novel possesses certain ideas that touch peoples'lives and spark their interest. These novels are able to be comparatively contrasted by pointing out specific differences and similarities between the two. One such difference is the time setting in which the two books are set. A similarity is found in the lies and deceit that both books portray. In addition, the two books are written from different points of view. Despite their contrasting presentations The Scarlet Letter and The Great Gatsby are both important literary works.
             Several differences can be found when comparing The Great Gatsby and The Scarlet Letter, such as the difference in time. For example, the time setting between the novels is spread apart, The Scarlet Letter is set in the 1800's, while The Great Gatsby is set in the 1920's, known as the Jazz age. The different time periods mandate that the punishment for committing adultery, as is done in each story, is drastically different. The different time periods also allow time for the world to advance socially as more social events are taking place, later in history. Furthermore, the difference in time seems to suggest that as the world moves forth, things that would be considered extremely wrong are approved by the public. In Hester's case she was severely punished for her wrong doings. Hester and her child were hidden from the public because of the disgusting, shameful things she did. On the other hand, Myrtle's iniquities were generally accepted by the pubic and her friends. When people found out about her affair with Tom, she wasn't punished at all. The only thing that might have been considered a punishment would be the deaths that occurred at the end of the novel. The different time spans between these two novels prove that as time changes, so do the moral standards of the world and expectations of the people.