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Social Norms In The Scarlet Letter

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Throughout human history social norms have been an immense controversy starter against others. However now that time has passed there has been a shift of what is socially normal from times prior to today. The social norms impressed upon Hester conflict with those of today because of the decrease of morals and the society of today has become more accepting of taboo actions. Overtime the amount of morals society has held in the past has decreased. During chapter thirteen of The Scarlet Letter it is explained that the townspeople have grown to respect Hester even though she had committed such a sin that caused an outrage amongst the town. They are going as far as to changing the meaning of the letter A that rests upon her chest. “...many people …show more content…

During chapter three of The Scarlet Letter the town had gathered to witness the public punishment of Hester Prynne. Before she is led out of the prison a group of women are discussing the situation amongst themselves. The ugliest of them all believes that Hester should die for bringing shame to all of them, yet a young mother gives some sympathy towards Hester "...let her cover the mark as she will, the pang of it will be always in her heart." The young mother is being sympathetic towards Hester because she may believe that Hester herself is the most judgemental of her actions. However in our society of today there wouldn’t even be required punishment if a woman had gotten pregnant from someone who was not her husband. Sympathy and understanding can lead the acts that were once considered taboo in the past to be normal now. The social norms impressed upon Hester conflict with those of today because of the decrease of morals and the society of today has become more accepting of taboo actions. Throughout human history social norms have been an immense controversy starter against others. However with the need of understanding there has been a shift of what is socially normal from times prior to

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