In Christianity, grace and forgiveness are frequently contrasted with the law. A legalistic faith (such as the Puritan one) suggests that conformity to a strict set of rules is the most important religious practice you can perform, in this world and in the afterworld. The more good you do and the fewer sins you commit, the more likely you are to go to heaven. Grace (or forgiveness), alternatively, is the concept that you are forgiven for your sins through faith.
The Puritan society in The Scarlet Letter exhibits a mixture of both legalism and grace. The narrator presents the society as essentially legalist, with its inhabitants adhering to strict moral codes and societal values. Hester’s punishment is a form of legalism. She has sinned and must be isolated from the rest of the group to keep her from contaminating them. The narrator, however, consistently offers the opinion that society, especially a religious society like this one, should be ruled by grace. The narrator’s family history suggests at least one reason why he might emphasize the difference between legalism and grace. What is it and why is it important? How does knowledge of the narrator’s own history inform how we read the book?
The Puritan society in The Scarlet Letter exhibits a mixture of both legalism and grace. The narrator presents the society as essentially legalist, with its inhabitants adhering to strict moral codes and societal values. Hester’s punishment is a form of legalism. She has sinned and must be isolated from the rest of the group to keep her from contaminating them. The narrator, however, consistently offers the opinion that society, especially a religious society like this one, should be ruled by grace. The narrator’s family history suggests at least one reason why he might emphasize the difference between legalism and grace. What is it and why is it important? How does knowledge of the narrator’s own history inform how we read the book?
The narrator's purpose of showing the contrast in legalism and grace, is because he is of puritain desent, but disagrees with them. His family had been pretty much persecutors of "invisible crimes." To me, the history of Hawthorne has little signifigance, because even today, the christian religion is bashed and battered. Someone could have written the same story, with different vocabulary, about christians and it would do the same number of things. Anger true christians, and give them a bad name. Knowing the history of the author though, brings out the truth in the story, and the hipocricy of puritian beliefs.
ReplyDelete-Ann H period one
This shows how the narrator disagrees with puritan beliefs. The narrators time is totally different from the setting in the Scarlett Letter, therefore certain views showed and expressed in the book will differ from Hawthornes
ReplyDeleteDavid L1
Nathaniel Hawthorne (the narrator) felt extremely guilty and humiliated due to his family’s participation in the Salem Witch Hunts along with their involvement in the persecution of Quakers. Hawthorne's humility is vital knowledge to take into account while reading this book because the book is mostly focused around Hawthorne’s beliefs of Puritan hypocrisy. However, at the same time, Hawthorne does mention traditional Puritan beliefs due to his desire to make the book seem more accurate.
ReplyDeleteJennifer B Period 7
Hawthornes past has a great influence on how he writes this book. He was ashamed of how he is a descendant of the salem witch trial judge. For this reason he felt it necessary to point out the puritan hipocracy. TylerW7
ReplyDeleteHawthorne was of puritan decent, but in the book disagrees with the way Hester Prynne is treated with in her society. He felt that way because of his families’ involvement in the Salem witch trials. I think it is import, because you are getting his opinion on what he thinks of the way the puritans handled things. The knowledge we have of Hawthorne’s own history really doesn’t influence the way we read the book. But it does till us that what he thinks the Puritans did was wrong. It really does not make me look at the book a different way, because there could have been other people who wrote the book and thought the puritan were doing the right thing, and instead of bashing them they praised them.
ReplyDeleteHawthorne was related to Judge Hathorne from the Salem Witch Trials and he disagrees with what they did in the past. It's important because it shows his view and opinions of the ways the Puritans are handling different situations. The knowledge of Hawthorne's history is different then what we see in the book, even though the way the Puritans are handling things are wrong. I don't think it changes things on how I read the book because we know Puritans had strong beliefs in everything.
ReplyDeleteHawthorne was born and raised as a Puritan even though he realizes what they do and believe in is wrong. He thinks Hester's punishment for her sins were utterly ruthless and a disgrace to the Puritan views. When we read the book we can see how Hawthorne feels towards Puritan society and how he wants to separate himself from what they believe. I wouldn't really say I read the book differently from knowing this but I do know that he is ashamed of his family's name due to his relation with Judge Hawthorne from the Salem Witch Trials and he proves this by what he writes in the book.
ReplyDelete-Dylan M P7
Hawthorne's purpose of depicting the contrast in legalism and grace, was because he was of puritain desent. Although he disagrees with them due to the fact that his family participated in the Salem witch trials. At the same time, Hawthorne mentions traditional Puritan beliefs because he wants to make "the scalet lettter" more accurate. The knowledge of Hawthorne in my opinion does not effect how we read the novel.
ReplyDelete-Odelkys M 7
The narrator Hawthorne, is related to Judge Hathorne who was part of the Salem Witch Trials. He was embarrassed of having the same name of someone that gave such harsh punishments to people. Although he does not believe in punishing the sinners so harshly, he still adds them to his book to make it more realistic. Knowing Hawthorne's history allows the reader to pick up the Puritan's fraud that he believes in.
ReplyDeleteThe author’s purpose for writing about legalism and grace is because of Puritanism. He shows that he does not agree with them even though his family history shows they were part of the Salem Witch trials. Hawthorne wants to make “the scarlet letter” better, and my knowledge of him does not change how I read the book.
ReplyDeleteHawthorne is pretty much guilty that he is a desendent of Puritans, he even changed his name. Our knowlegde of the authors history provides us with the understanding that he is going to put down Puritans every chance he gets and that is exactly what he did. Sometimes we should understand his anger in the punishiment his ancestors gave and look past it, on some occasions.
ReplyDeleteHawthorne feels the need that in his life, he needs to get forgiveness do to his relatives during the Salem Witch trials.It's important to him and the readers because it shows us his views on the Puritan society. Since we know what the Hathorne judge did to the Salem villagers, it makes us have a negative attitude toward the Puritan society.
ReplyDeleteThe author’s writes about Grace because he doesn't agree with them in the way they punish sins. However his family history tells they were part of the Salem Witch trials which i believe is why he writes about Leaglism. He wants to make “The Scarlet Letter” more realistic and better, but my knowledge of him or his family history doesn't change how I read his book.
ReplyDeleteSheila B period 3
Nathaniel Hawthorne thought that what his ancestor did during the salem witch trials was wrong, he disagreed with the punishments that they did. He felt embarrassed and ashamed. I dont think it'll affect us while we read.
ReplyDeleteAdrian G p7
The author, Hawthorne, comes from a long line of Puritans. His ancestors were involved in the Salem Witch trials and also the persecution of the quakers. This part of his history is important to know while reading the book because it explains his resentment for Puritan practices. His restating of the unfair laegalistic jud against judgements Hester is expressed through out the novel in a feeling of guilt. This guilt is due to his family's earlier lifestyle.
ReplyDeleteKnowing that Nathaniel Hawthorne comes from the descendant of the Salem Witch Trials' Judge Hawthorne lets us know that Nathaniel strongly disagrees with the Puritan beliefs and actions. In his writing, Hawthorne portrays his hatred towards the Puritan society and makes us view only the negatives on the Puritans and have a hatred towards them too.
ReplyDeleteHawthorne has, as he thinks, a faulty family history. We know that he is the descendant of Judge Hathorne, and Hawthorne isn’t very fond of this fact. Actually, Hawthorne gives emphasize between legalism and grace in an attempt to correct the errors that follow him. This is important because it shows how his past affects him and how he feels the need to correct and criticize this. While reading the book, the narrator’s history influences in his tone towards the puritan community and the way it is projected towards the reader.
ReplyDeleteThe author is descendant of Judge Hathorne from the Salem Witch Trials. He is ashamed that his father was one of the heartless officials that doomed so many people on faulty evidence. Knowing this helps us to see the message that Nathaniel Hawthorne is trying to make about the importance of governing by Grace.
ReplyDeleteAdam V 4
The narrater is influenced by his family history. He emphasizes that legalism and grace are separate to show the readers that puritan people are people who had too much legalism and no grace. I think that it would give us a different perspective reading it from his point of view.
ReplyDeleteHawthorne emphasizes the difference between legalism and grace because his family is of Puritan decent and he doesn't agree with those views. He's embarrassed of his family's involvement with the Salem Witchcraft trials. I feel it might have an effect on anyone who reads the Scarlet Letter with this knowledge because knowing his history will gives us a reason as to why Hawthorne dislikes the Puritans so much.
ReplyDeleteHawthorne's family history lets us know that he looks down upon the puritains because of the shame his fanily gave to them. He narrorates this with almost apposing the theocracy and we should read the bookin such a way. Griffin R 7
ReplyDeleteNathaniel Hawthorne was family with people like John Hathorne, one of the judges in the Salem Witch Trials, and others who wrongfully persecuted people and even sentenced some people to death. He was embarrassed by his families past history, even changing the spelling of his last name to try to erase his connections with them. He did not like the way the Puritans ran society and we see this through out the book in the ways that he describes the Puritans. Knowing Hawthorne's past history helps us better understand the message he is trying to convey in his book The Scarlet Letter.
ReplyDeleteThe narrator disagrees with the puritan views and believes the society should have been built upon principles of forgiveness and understanding. The narrator is ashamed of his history and ancestors (eg; Judge Hathorne), and is defying their beliefs and replacing them with his own, and what he thinks would have made the Puritan settlement a more utopian society.
ReplyDeleteThe narrator was a puritan descent and did have different views on how they acted. The narrator dislikes his history and how he was raised, and lets that show through throughout the book. He thinks the beliefs of the puritans (legalism) should be differnt and more like grace which he talks about. Also, he is very ashamed of his father, Judge Hathrone, who was a major part of the Salem Witch Trials.
ReplyDeleteHawthorne was ashamed of the participation his family had in the Salem Witch trials. It's important to remember this while reading the book because it shows how the book is focused around Hawthorne's beliefs of Puritan hypocrisy.
ReplyDeleteHawthorne is disgraced by what his family had done, persecuting many innocent people for crimes that they had not committed and how government officials truly did not look into these cases. Hawthorne writes about the ways of harsh legalism and how it's wrong even during the Puritan time because he believes that Christians are to be gracious and should forgive and forget certain things instead of being banned from society and scorned upon by the people. So he writes about his moral disbelief of the legalism and how the Christian society should not act.
ReplyDeleteThe author is very critical of the legalistic characteristics of puritans society because of his family history. He is ashamed of his family connection to the salem witch trials and attempts to seperate him self from those values. Having an understanding how the authors backround betters your understanding of his viewpoints
ReplyDeleteHawthorne's past had a big influence on how this book was written. Hawthorne wrote about the hipocracy in the puritan society because of his guilt and shame of having family relations to the Salem with trials.
ReplyDeleteHawthorne's opinions are shown throughout the book on how much he disagrees with the Puritan's way of punishing sins. He is ashamed of his ancestors & especially the way judge Hathorne dealt with the Salem Witch Trials.
ReplyDeleteTyler Grai Shaw
Period Four
Hawthorne dispised the way his family acted during the Salem Witch Trials so much that he even changed the spelling of his name to hide the shame of being related to the Hathorn family. He keeps hinting the fact that society should be ruled by grace because he didn't appreciate the fact that his ancestors believed it should be ruled by legalism. Knowing this makes us lean more towards the author's opinion, too.
ReplyDeleteNathaniel Hawthorne believes in grace more than he does with the Puritan way and that is shown throughout his book. This is ironic because he is related to Judge Hathorne, who was a judge during the Salem Witch Trials. He doesn't believe that if someone sins that they should be punished all their lives, but he does believe that people should be forgiven for their sins through faith, which he makes apparent in The Scarlet Letter.
ReplyDeleteHawthorne writes the Scarlett letter using legalism and grace. His past also has a big influence on his writing. Hawthorne is a decendent of the puritan Judge Hathorne from the Salem Witch Trials. He doesn't like the way the puritans handled things back then and the way they punished people so harshly for there wrong doing. Hawthorne even changed the spelling his name because he was so ashamed and embarassed.
ReplyDeleteNathaniel Hawthorne was a descendant of the Judge Hathorne who was a prominent figure during the Salem Witch Trials. Knowing this allows the reader to understand Hawthorne's emphasis of the difference between legalism and grace.
ReplyDeleteThe narrator emphasizes the difference between legalism and grace because of his family ancestry. Hawthorne is completely mortified of his family past, for example, his ancestor Judge Hawthorne participated in the Salem Witch Trials and he is ashamed of how Puritanism corrupted that society. I think the knowledge of the narrators past will make certain parts clearer and more comprehensive towards a re-occuring theme throughout the book.
ReplyDeleteHawthorne emphasizes the difference between legalism and grace to express his hatred toward the Puritan society because of their hypocrisy. Even though he is stil of Puritan decent he doesn't have the same views as them. And he shows this by constantly criticizing them of their actions throughout his book.
ReplyDeleteThe auther's family history is one of persecuting innocent people. His grandfather was one of the main judges in the Salem Witch Trials. This is important because it shapes the auther's belief on legalism and grace. The auther believes that grace is much more important than any set of laws. Knowing the family history helps you understand where the auther is coming from and where he gets his ideas and beliefs.
ReplyDeleteOne of Hawthorne's ancestors was a judge directly involved in the Salem Witch Trials. This affected his opinion of the puritans dramatically.
ReplyDeleteHe truly believed that legalism and grace should separated, unlike the disaster of the Witch Trials. It also affects the way that we read the book. Our insight into his past allows us to see what messages he sought to promote in his writing. The hypocritical nature of the Puritans is just one of these messages. We can look for others as we read farther into the chapters.
Hawthorne is related to Judge Hathorne and he was a part of the Salem Witch Trials. He did not like being apart of someone that gave those punishments to the people in salem. Knowing Hawthorne's history reminds the readers of why he puts down the puritans in his writing constantly. It shows that his writing is based on the puritans hypocrisy.
ReplyDeleteThe author of this book was very ashamed about his past realtives involvement in the Salem witch trials. He was so ashamed he even changed his last name from Hathorne to Hawthorne. This is important to know because it helps us recognize why he portrays the Purtians as he does. Knowing the author's history is important because it can help you understand the theme fo the book better. Also, you can better understand how the author wants you to perceive things, which can help you understand certain things in the book better.
ReplyDeletehawthornes reason of contrasting legalism and grace is because his ancestors were puritans but he doesnt agree with their ways. also, knowing this information, i do not think it has any affect on how i read the book. with or without knowing that information i would read the book just the same.
ReplyDeleteHawthorne's relations with the Salem Witch Trials ashamed him of the system of legalism of which was present during the Trials. Puritanism corrupted the society and with a system of grace, gives the prosecuted a chance not given to them under legalist morals and codes. Since we know of his past and how Hawthorne is not pleased with it, we can understand better the ideas that he brings forth for a new system of grace.
ReplyDeleteHawthorne is greatly ashamed and humiliated by his descendents and the major roles they played in the Salem Trials. He tends to appeal more toward the grace approach then legalism because we can see that he greatly disagrees with the punishing in the Puritan society. Although he puts a form of Puritan punishment in his book, we can see that he greatly despises it and is a man full of mercy and forgiveness.
ReplyDeleteThe author is a descendent of the famous Judge Hawthorne who is known to have been a major character in the Salem Witch Trials. His family history influences him to emphasize on the difference between legalism and grace. Legalism being the mistake of putting strict rules and doctrines before a person’s actual relationship with God. Grace the idea that we our saved by Gods grace, not by our action, be they good or bad. I believe the author shows through his writing to be against the legalism that took place in that time and what his ancestors did. His family history influences his point of view and how we read the book.
ReplyDeleteWell Hawthorne is of Puritan descent, so while he may not agree with everything they do, and may even be ashamed of his ancestors, I'm sure there must have been at least something he agreed with. It is obvious, however, that he disagrees with the way Puritans punish people and that's why I think he leans more towards grace than legalism. It's obvious throughout several parts of the book that he would rather resolve issues through forgiving people rather than just sentencing them to death, which is clearly where he and the Puritans do not meet eye to eye. To me, though, it doesn't matter to know his personal perspective as I read. I would read it the same either way.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWe Know that Nathaniel Hawthorne is the descendent of the Salem Witch Trial Judge, Judge Hawthorne; and it is detected through this knowledge his views on grace over legalism due to his families past shame becuase of the ancestors legalistic views. It can therefore be determined that the book was written to explain the pitty he had for Hester and her family.
ReplyDelete-AlexP1
Nathaniel Hawthorne comes from the same family as Judge Hawthorne from the Salem Witch Trials. Due to his relationship with him, he stronly disagrees with the morals and codes they lived by in the Purtinaic society. He portrays his disapproval of these morals frequently in the Scarlet Letter and makes it clear that he doesn't have the same beliefs.
ReplyDeleteNathaniel Hawthorne's historical background does affect the way the reader interprets his story. Nathaniel Hawthorne grew up in the 1800's and the setting of the stroy took place in the 1600's. He was of puritan descent until he added a "w" to his name. People believed he did this to organize himself away from one of his puritan ancestors that was a judge in the Salem Witch Trials. This alone tells us how he feels about the puritan ways and also is evident in his writings, which then leads to how the reader interprets "The Scarlet Letter."
ReplyDeleteThe author is very critical of the puritans society because of his families involvement. He is ashamed of his families partition in the salem witch trials. He attempts to seperate him self from those values by changing his last name. Understanding the authors backround betters helps your understanding of his writings.
ReplyDeleteNovember 14, 2010 5:29 PM
Well the author really touched on the legalism part of society but I think he should of added more grace like his familys history said and not isolate Hester like she was.
ReplyDeleteBecause, Nathaniel Hawthorne is of Puritan descent and he had a family member who was someone who helped with the executions of innocents. Its shows that Hawthorne doesn't believe the Puritan beliefs, somewhat ashamed. He wrote the Puritans to be cruel and uncaring. He writes that a religious society should all be grace, everyone should treat each other the same, no matter the difference. He wrote the book in his view of Puritans. It is his opinion, people may think differently, I may think differently, but It's a book and I'm just reading the story.
ReplyDeleteHawthrone's father was Judge Hothrone from the Salem Witch Trials. This is important because he changed his last name because of the embarrassment and humility of his family in the past on the way they handled certain situations. He disagreed with the Puritans and that is what we focus on while we read.
ReplyDeleteNathaniel Hawthorne was born into the same family of the people who murdered innocent people; so they didn't know witches were fake, it's bull. He was born with the same last name, which he changed because he was ashamed. The Puritans beliefs did not tickle his fancy with then rebelled against.
ReplyDeleteHawthorne is embarrassed by his family history. His ancestors ruled with legalism, which led them to kill thousands of innocent people out of hysteria. Because of this, Hawthorne promotes ruling in grace in The Scarlet Letter. Knowing this information makes me see the benefits of ruling mercifully in reading the book.
ReplyDeleteNathaniel Hawthorn has probably had an ancestor who has been punished like this unfairly. From this, he has seen the hypocracy that has been abundant in the puritan society ever since he was very young. Because of this, Hawthorn feels the need to promote grace while showing and condemning hypocracy in religious societies.
ReplyDeleteNathaniel Hawthorne's ancestors were involved with the Salem Witch Trials. Mainly his Great Grandfather who sentenced the men and women to death. When you are reading the book with this information it comes off as him trying to show that the people should have led their lives more with grace than legalism.
ReplyDeleteHawthorne comes from a family of puritan descent. He doesnt like the actions that his family members have made, making him change his last name to a different spelling,so he wouldn't be associated with them. He doesn't want people treated like others were back during the Salem Witch Trials, especially since the ones doing the ruling were his own family members. He is embarassed to be associated with those family members. That is why he is trying to promote grace.
ReplyDeleteThe author is of Puritan descent, and believes firmly against it. He is both humiliated and ashamed of his ansestors practices and actions. He thinks those ways are unfair and unfit, being more supportive of Grace than Legalism. Being aware of the authors knowledge and family history makes us read the book more leaning towards his opinion and looking at the stricter side of puritanism as bad, or negative.
ReplyDeleteHawthorne hated his familoy and the way they acted during the Salem Witch Trial incidents. he doesn't believe that all sinners deserve to live eternity by themselves. He believes that people should get a second chance to show that they are not bad people.
ReplyDeleteHawthorne was born into a Puritan family, and was raised with some of the customs and views that still existed. He saw what life was like, and how little forgiveness the Puritan society showed to one another. They were very critical of what and what not to do, and used harsh punishments by his days standards. He makes it evident throughout the book, that a Puritan society that believes in forgiveness from God, show very little forgiveness for their fellow members. Hawthorne believed that there needed to be forgiveness in society, because every needs a second chance at some point in their lives
ReplyDeleteHe disagrees with the morals and ways of being. He thinks people deserve second chances to fix mistakes.
ReplyDeleteHis purpose for writing about legalism and grace was because he was of puritan decent. His family was involved with the Salem Witch Trials. You can tell by his writing that he is against the Puritan beliefs and their actions. By reading that, it makes us want to go toward his opinion.
ReplyDeleteWhen Hawthorne wrote this, he knew his background with the puritans. He is related to Judge Hawthorne from the Salem Witch Trials. He is against the puritan way because he thinks they should have grace when they run society. And that is why he puts so much emphasis on the difference between them.
ReplyDeleteThe author was of puritan descent and he had different ways of thinking than his ancestors. The narrator disliked in history that there was no grace or forgiveness. He thinks the values or beliefs of the puritans should be different and have more grace than before. He is ashamed of what his father did for the Salem witch trials, and wants forgiveness in the future.
ReplyDeleteThe narrator of our story had definitive roots with the puritan people, but as he states (in a somewhat roundabout way) in the first chapter, that he really doesn't approve of their actions. This will affect our reading of this book because we are looking at the story through his lens, (as biased and truthful as it may be). My understanding is that he feels so embarrassed about what his ancestors did and he feels he needs to make it right by writing what should have happened, as this may partially excuse his guilt.
ReplyDelete