Reflect and Respond Comparison to Today Consider the barbaric punishment that Hester Prynne faces for her sin. By today’s standa
rds, this punishment seems fairly harsh. However, there are places in this world that still practice much harsher punishments than this. Read the article “Pakistan: Pregnant woman killed by disapproving family, police say” from CNN about honor killings in the Middle East. Do you think the concepts behind both Hester Prynne’s punishment and the concept of honor killings are the same? How are both punishments unfair? Explain in 3–5 sentences.
I wonder if you could disagree. Say the punishment of wearing the scarlet letter is much less barbaric than the stoning that she might have suffered under mosaic law.
Explanation: Adultery destroys the love and trust that form the basis for a happy marriage. It causes the breakdown of families. In previous centuries, stable marriages and families were the basis for communities and civil society. Anyone who caused disruption undermined the common good. The punishment served as a deterrent.
In today's culture of pleasure-seeking and lack of commitment to long-term marriage, it may seem harsh to punish someone for "doing what comes naturally." But look at the consequences. Single parents who can hardly support themselves and their kids. Kids constantly in visitation switches between parents. Unplanned pregnancies and abortions. If adultry were less tolerated, family and community life would be more stable.
