Crime and Punishment During the Puritan Era.
) The action of The Scarlet Letter takes place in 1645. Investigate the puritan age to discover how the Puritans viewed the world.
Puritans thought the world was nothing but a place where God has sent you to worship him. They believed that life on Earth was only a test made by God to see if you get into heaven, or not. The puritans were a very strict race. They were isolated from other races to form a sort of utopia of purity.
2.) How did the Puritans define and view the following: guilt, sin, crime, adultery?.
The Puritans were very strict with their punishments. They saw all sins as a crime. Guilt, sin, crime, and adultery were all basically viewed the same. Today, a sin is not considered a crime. You cannot be legally punished for committing adultery. The puritans condemned those who committed adultery. The sinners would be harshly punished. .
3.) How did Puritans punish those who sinned/ and or those who committed crime?.
Most punishments were made to embarrass the sinners. Wearing a punishment was popular. This meant that the sinner would wear a giant symbol on their clothes defining the sin they committed. For instance, if someone committed adultery, the adulterer would wear a giant "A" on their clothes. Being hung was also a popular punishment. .
4.) Were men and woman punished equally for adultery/and or premarital sex? .
Women were often punished more severe than a man would. A woman was expected to hold a great reputation. For example, if a man and a woman committed adultery, the woman might get a harsher punishment for tempting the male. However, both were severely punished.
5.) Did punishments vary from community to community? Pastor to Pastor? Decade to decade?.
Every puritan community had its own laws, and consequences. Many of these laws were the same. However, some communities along with pastors may have different opinions on the degree of punishment a person might have to serve for a certain crime, or sin.
Passionate Puritan laymen received savage punishments. ... The Puritans were "non-separating Congregationalists." ... Their religious principles set them apart as Puritans. ... The Puritans were not a small group of people. ... Most of the Puritans settled in the New England area. ...
The Puritans home was centered on God. ... The early Puritans were tested many times in their faith. ... It was through these dreadful times that strengthen the core of the Christianity. ... Norton 127) To remain umble and pure of heart in times of turmoil was an important trait in Puritanism. Trying times was welcomed as a test of ones character and devotion to God. ...
In "The Puritans and Sex" Edmund S. ... Sexual intercourse was a human exigency and according to the Puritans religion, marriage was the only proper supply for it. ... Even though adultery cases occurred every year, the death penalty was not known to have been utilized more than three times. ... Although the Puritan men might have left their wives they did not leave their sexual "appetites" with them. ... Also if a husband deserted his wife and remained under the Puritan government, they would be forced back together by law. ...
People have long forgot Puritans and Puritanism in this age. ... Although Puritan actions and beliefs might contradict each other at times, Puritans and Puritanism provided many exclusive and fascinating rules and covenants in their society that people can now learn more about. ... Back in those times the notion of hierarchy in their society already existed. ... Many writers in those times wrote some passages to inform parents about their children and how they are the roots of sin (Morgan 93). ... Puritans were kept to simple styles of clothing. ...
The article Were the Puritans Puritanical? ... The puritans, were "moral athletes." ... This is how all of puritan society worked. ... Since the puritans were pious in their beliefs, they wanted every puritan to be able to read the Bible. ... Dengler will definitely change the way the reader thinks about the lives of puritans in colonial times. ...
Nathaniel Hawthorne was raised in Salem, Massachusetts, and was of Puritan descent. ... One of the strong Puritan beliefs was that of weaned affection. ... The brilliancy might have befitted Aladdin's palace, rather than the mansion of a grave old Puritan ruler." (71) Here the reader is shown the insincerity of the ruler of the Puritans. ... The hypocrisy of the Puritans is another theme Hawthorne uses to enlighten the reader pertaining to the uselessness of Puritan Society. ... By cleverly inserting examples of the Puritan times, his opinions permeate throughout the novel....
There were two distinct types of Puritans: the "Separating" Puritans and the "Non-Separating" Puritans. ... The "Non-Separating" Puritans believed in reforming the Church of England. ... For the Puritans, total depravity was a hallmark of their religion. ... The majority of "Separating" Puritans settled in Plymouth, while "Non-Separating" Puritans primarily occupied the Massachusetts Bay area. ... Events such as the death of a child, the loss of a harvest, or a natural disaster, were seen as punishment from God, and as a common and accepted occ...
Women's role in Puritan society differed socially, politically, and economically numerous ways. ... The Puritans" theory of civil government was based upon their congregationalist theory of church government. ... Her poetry also gave light to another important position women had in Puritan society, childbearing. ... The visible restraints placed on women of Puritan times were firmly ingrained throughout the development of the colonies. ... Puritan women's position in society was that of a lower class held dependent upon their male counterparts....
Women's role in Puritan society differed socially, politically, and economically numerous ways. ... The Puritans" theory of civil government was based upon their congregationalist theory of church government. ... Her poetry also gave light to another important position women had in Puritan society, childbearing. ... The visible restraints placed on women of Puritan times were firmly ingrained throughout the development of the colonies. ... Puritan women's position in society was that of a lower class held dependent upon their male counterparts....
