Consequences in Nathaniel Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter :: Scarlet Letter essays

Consequences in The Scarlet Letter      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There are two sides of consequences for almost everything that happens in life, directly or indirectly.   In life, we could learn mostly from the consequences, rather than from the punishments of our actions.   If the consequences are good, we know that the action should be repeated, sometimes.   If bad consequences outweigh the good, we know repeating would not be wise.   Hester Prynne of Nataniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, learns from punishment and the consequences of adultery, but from which does she learn more from?      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Punishment from the magistrates was usually strict and severe. Hester's punishment was to stand on the wooden platform, in the town square, for three hours.   She could not speak to any to the numerous eyes that stared at, through her until dark. Hester also had to wear an embroidered A of scarlet cloth upon her chest.   The A symbolized that she was an adulteress, and should not be associated with.   Hester had also been banished from town, and branded an outcast.   Even though she did not name her lover, so that he could be punished, he did not go unpunished. Reverend Dimmesdale had taken it upon him to stand on the same platform that Hester had, and he also whipped himself.   The whipping did not serve its purpose, he was laughing all the while that he lashed himself.   Neither means of punishment had taught him anything, as well as Hester.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   To fill in for what punishment had not taught, consequence brought forth the lessons of life.   The consequences that Hester found were bad and good.   There is usually two sides of consequences.   The scarlet letter showed everyone she was a sinner, an adulteress, making the people sick of her, and did not acknowledge her.   Yet as time went on, people noticed that Hester had embroidered the scarlet letter so beautifully, that she had offers to have embroidery done for others.  Ã‚  Ã‚   As the course of the story the A had changed its meaning.   People saw how strong Hester was and refused to interpret the A as it was meant, the A became to mean both ABLE, and ANGEL.   For her good deeds done unto the community.   She gave clothing to the poor and helped out wherever possible.