Paper
Trials of Her Sins
Hester Prynne, Nathanial Hawthorne’s character from his novel, The
Scarlet Letter, and Abigail Williams, from “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller,
have both committed a crime and they are both hated by their societies.
However, there are also differences between the two characters. Hester
Prynne is the more respectable Puritan woman of the two because she did
not commit as many sins as Abigail did, she was not as secretive about it,
and her actions only affected herself and her child.
Hester did sin horribly but it was not comparable to Abigail’s many
sins. The sins that Abigail were guilty of were wrath, avarice, lust, and envy,
while Hester only committed lust. Hester’s adulterous behavior was
considered one of the worst sins of the Puritan women. Although that was an
awful sin to have committed, Abigail committed a sin of the same kind and
more. Abigail and Hester both knew that what they did was wrong. Hester
took the blame and did not lie about what happened. Abigail lied and made
her friends lie just so she would not get in trouble for her sin. Abigail’s
behavior and involvement of others created a more complex reason to judge
her as less respectable of the two.
Hester was not secretive about committing her crime as Abigail was.
Abigail is even described as “an orphan with an endless capacity for
dissembling” (page 9). This proves that she tried to cover up her actions.
Hester did not try to hide the fact from the townspeople that she was
pregnant; she only tried to conceal the identity of the father of her baby.
Abigail, on the other hand, made sure that the citizens of Salem did not find
out that she and her friends had been lying when they accused many
innocent people of witchcraft. She even went as far as to threaten John
Proctor by telling him that if he told, she would have him and his wife
hanged. She also threatened her friends many times throughout the novel.
At one point, she said “Let any of you breathe a word about the other things,
and I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a
pointy reckoning that will shudder you” (page 20). If Abigail’s friends told
the truth, she would carry out her threats.
Most importantly, Hester’s actions only hurt herself, her child, and their
reputations. When Hester committed adultery, the people in town were not
affected by it, and she was the only one punished. However, Abigail’s fault
punished many people including herself, her friends, John and Elizabeth
Proctor, and the innocent people who were hanged. These townspeople
were hanged unjustly because Abigail was a lying and deceitful person.
Because Hester’s actions hurt fewer people, Abigail has less respectability.
Admittedly, both women committed crimes, Hester would be the better of the
two Puritan women.
Neither Hester Prynne nor Abigail Williams were respectable Puritan
woman because of their sins, but of the two, Hester should be considered
more honorable. If these women acted today as they did 300 years ago, they
would be judged much differently. No one would be hanged, no one would
have to suffer public humiliation, and it probably would not matter if the
whole town knew about it. Regardless of the time era, the trial of Hester’s
sins compared to Abigail’s made her more respectable.
Другие работы по теме:
The Court Ststem And It
’s Capability To Put Innocent People Into Jail Or To Death As Seen In The Book A Tale Of Two Cities Essay, Research Paper English Paper Topic: The court system, and it’s capability to put innocent people into jail or to death.
Crucible Essay Research Paper The CrucibleIn Salem
Crucible Essay, Research Paper The CrucibleIn Salem during the time of the witch trials everyone is eitherpolitically motivated to believe the girls wild antics are the work of thedevil, or they are so gullible that they think no child could ever impishlyscorn the holiness of the church. Those are the two main reasons the girlsget away with accusing people of witchcraft at first, later new reasons areintroduced.
A Major Theme Of The Crucible Essay
, Research Paper A Major Theme of The Crucible The theme of the story was rising over adversity, and standing for the truth even to the death. The Crucible explores the depths of honor and truth. John sacrifices his own life in order to die with goodness. He would rather die by his own honesty than live by a lie.
Capital Punishment Is Murder Essay Research Paper
All throughout the media, one hears of murders and homicides. It is a crime to kill someone, but the government “murders” people all the time without thinking twice. There is a risk when pulling the trigger that this horrible fate will happen. If it is not right to kill someone, why does the government kill people all the time?
Innocently Executed Essay Research Paper Innicent men
Innocently Executed Essay, Research Paper Innicent men have been executed in the United States. According to a report published by the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, or the NCADP, 23 innocent men have been executed in the U.S. this century. About 4.5 people are wrongly convicted of capital crimes each year.
Codes Of Law Essay Research Paper Of
Codes Of Law Essay, Research Paper Of the three Codes of law we have studied, we think the Old Testament is the fairest. The Code of Hammurbi was much too violent. Hammurabi’s solution to just about anything was to kill people. Too many innocent people died in Hammurabi’s code. Fore example, ” if an architect’s work falls in and kills the son of the owner of the house, then the architect’s son dies.” The architects son did nothing wrong but was put to death.
3 Soverigns For Sara Essay Research Paper
Sarah Osburn wanted to clear her sisters? names of being accused of witch craft. So she went to a group of Judges, She gave them all kinds of different pieces of evidence Some of the evidece was that all of the accused
Mask Of Innocence Essay Research Paper The
Mask Of Innocence Essay, Research Paper The Mask of Innocence Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, produces a ‘new’ Macbeth toward the middle of the book. Macbeth, in his violent and bloody killing spree, ends up killing people ranging from the king, Duncan to his best friend, Banquo, and many others. While doing so, Macbeth, in order not to be suspicious must wear a ‘mask.’ To hid the real, guilty Macbeth and show an innocent, grieving man, who luckily becomes king through all the blood shed of good people. “There is nothing that gives more assurance than a mask.” Collette said this in 1966.
The Cost Of Human Life Is Too
High A Price To Pay For Technological Advance Essay, Research Paper The cost of human life is too high a price to pay for advances in technology. This statement is true for many reasons. For example,innocent people are dying which isn t fair, the habitats of many wild species are being destroyed and technological advances can be achieved without the destruction of nature and life.
Owlcreek Bridge Essay Research Paper The Occurrence
Owlcreek Bridge Essay, Research Paper The Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge was a great story. The way the author made you feel like you were actually Peyton Farquhar. I felt like I was about to be hanged myself, the story was extremely clever. You think that he actually frees himself from the rope right after the sergeant steps to the side to actually let him hang.
The Apology Essay Research Paper The ApologyIn
The Apology Essay, Research Paper The Apology In The Apology by Plato, Socrates was giving his testimony before he was forced to commit suicide. He was trying to prove that death is better than living without one?s beliefs. He believed that he was innocent, going to a better place, and he was going to die anyway.
Behind Bars Essay Research Paper I agree
Behind Bars Essay, Research Paper I agree with the law that people who commit crimes need to be punished for their wrong doings. However, I do not agree with the way that the law thinks that problem should be handled through the death penalty. The bad part about the death penalty is that innocent people are executed, the mentally retarded are executed, and the death penalty is costly.
The Catcher In The Rye An Innocence
Lost Essay, Research Paper The Catcher in the Rye is a book by J. D. Salinger and the story of a boy named Holden Caufield. He is no longer innocent, but exposed to the world. Phoebe, Holden’s sister, is the opposite she is quite the innocent, never really being exposed to the world outside her protective bubble.
Death Penalty Essay Research Paper Is the
Death Penalty Essay, Research Paper Is the Death Penalty Right or Wrong? Should we be able to execute people that have been convicted of murder or should we give them a chance to break out of jail and maybe kill other people. Well the Death Penalty has been around for a while ever since the Old West use to hang people for punishment.
Mom Essay Research Paper Death of an
Mom Essay, Research Paper Death of an Innocent I went to a party mom, I remembered what you said. You told me not to drink, Mom, so I drank soda instead. I really felt proud inside, Mom, the way you said I would.
Frankenstien Essay Research Paper Frankenstein EssayUnjust PunishmentMany
Frankenstien Essay, Research Paper Frankenstein Essay: Unjust Punishment Many punishments for crimes are often given to innocent people. In the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelly, there are several instances in which the punishment is given to an innocent person. Justine, a maid at the Frankenstein residence, was killed for a crime she did not commit.
The Crucible Essay Essay Research Paper It
The Crucible Essay Essay, Research Paper It is a play with tremendous feelings with many inside twists hidden in the archives of the true story. It is a play with emotional feelings, feelings of anger, hate, evil, manipulation, good, and pureness. It is the The Crucible. In the play, Arthur Miller develops the idea that powerfully held beliefs direct people?s behaviour, Abigail Williams who accuses others to escape from punishment, Mary Warren who chooses to lie to keep herself out of trouble, and John Proctor who chooses to sacrifice his life to save the lives of other innocent people.
Defense Statement Essay Research Paper Defense Statement
Defense Statement Essay, Research Paper Defense Statement Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, we, the defense, have shown you that there is no reason that George did not do the right and humane thing by shooting Lenny and that he is innocent of all charges against him.
Tragedy Of The Common Man Essay Research
Paper In, The Crucible, several girls were found dancing, playing games and making a couple acts that could have been considered as witchcraft. Instead of these girls admitting to these acts and getting into a little bit of trouble, they start accusing other people of witchcraft just to get out of the trouble that they were in.
And Then There Were None By Agatha
Christie Essay, Research Paper I recently read a mystery book by the name of “And Then There Were None” by Agatha Christie. I read this book because I have read other books by Agatha Christie that were pretty well written. Ten people are invited to an island, called “Indian Island”,by letters that were signed by people they had met before.
The Cost Of Change Essay Research Paper
What is change? Defined in the Webster Dictionary as a Shift from one to another , change seems for the better. But is it? What is the cost of change? What must go wrong, for something to go right? How many people must die for a certain cause or change in history? It seems that the cost of change is always greater than the change itself.
Stereotyped Essay Research Paper Two years ago
Stereotyped Essay, Research Paper Two years ago, I was 5 feet 3 inches in height. I had long, black hair. And I was very skinny. Upon seeing me, people assumed that I was na ve, innocent, shy and quiet Filipino girl. They were right!However, these all changed last year. Being the timid, non- outgoing person that I was, I wanted to try new and different things.
Trial By Ordeal Essay Research Paper Trial
Trial By Ordeal Essay, Research Paper Trial by Ordeal I personally feel that trial by ordeal was a rather, how should I put this, “unjustified” way of determining guilt. Trial by ordeal was a type of “trial” that was used
Scrooge Essay Research Paper Ignorance
Scrooge Essay, Research Paper Ignorance & Want In the famous story A Christmas Carol, the Ghost said to Scrooge “”These are your children Ignorance and Want.” as he opened his robe to reveal two small unfortunate poverty stricken children. By this, the ghost meant that because of the cruelty of the world and irresponsibility, these innocent children must suffer.
Death Penalty Essay Research Paper The risk
Death Penalty Essay, Research Paper The risk of executing the innocent precludes the use of the death penalty. The death penalty alone imposes an irrevocable sentence. Once an inmate is executed, nothing can be done to make amends if a mistake has been made. There is considerable evidence that many mistakes have been made in sentencing people to death.
Convicting Innocent People Essay Research Paper On
Convicting Innocent People Essay, Research Paper On Jan. 31, 2000, citing a “shameful record of convicting innocent people and putting them on death row,” Gov. George Ryan of Illinois made headline news by imposing a moratorium on executions in the state. While Gov. Ryan’s willingness to step outside his political box to call for a careful examination of our system of capital punishment so far is unique, the underlying problems that produced such staggeringly unfair results are not.
Crucible 11 Essay Research Paper The Crucible
Crucible 11 Essay, Research Paper The Crucible is a great play about the Salem Witch trials which history has never forgotten. What is a crucible? The dictionary has defined it as a severely difficult test or experience, and indeed the play does have a difficult test in the plot of its story. The author, Arthur Miller chose a great name for his play.
Salem Witch Trials Essay Research Paper Salem
Salem Witch Trials- Essay, Research Paper Salem Witch Trials- Superstition and witchcraft resulted in many being hanged or in prison. In the seventeenth century, a belief in witches and
Death Of The Innocent Essay Research Paper
Death of the Innocent In Arthur Miller s The Crucible, the shear madness of the Salem witch trials is explored in great detail. Historically, there are many theories on how the accusations were started such as moldy flower, resulting in the accidental taking of narcotics, or a simple break down in society.
Crucible Essay Essay Research Paper The Crucible
Crucible Essay Essay, Research Paper The Crucible Essay The story The Crucible takes place during the times of the Salem witch trials in Massachusetts. This was a time of much hypocrisy in the people of the town of Salem. Many people believed anything they heard or saw. Although The Crucible is fictitious, the story depicts the historical information of the Salem witch trials, and blends them with fictitious characters with minds of their own to create a very realistic plot and conflict in this story.
The Crucible Reasons Innocent People Confessed To
Witchcraft Essay, Research Paper Living in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692 during the Witchcraft Trials must had been an uncanny event to experience. The entire witchcraft hysteria started because people were