The Relationship between Crime and Punishment in 19th Century American Writing

Nonfiction, Entertainment, Drama, Anthologies
Cover of the book The Relationship between Crime and Punishment in 19th Century American Writing by Jan H. Hauptmann, GRIN Verlag
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Jan H. Hauptmann ISBN: 9783640215089
Publisher: GRIN Verlag Publication: November 19, 2008
Imprint: GRIN Verlag Language: English
Author: Jan H. Hauptmann
ISBN: 9783640215089
Publisher: GRIN Verlag
Publication: November 19, 2008
Imprint: GRIN Verlag
Language: English

Essay from the year 2007 in the subject American Studies - Literature, grade: 1,7, Queen's University Belfast, 9 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: This essay focuses on three American literary works of the 19th century: Nathaniel HAWTHORNE's famous novel The Scarlet Letter was published in 1850, Herman MELVILLE's short story Benito Cereno in 1855, and Mark TWAIN's Pudd'nhead Wilson between 1893 and 1894. While the younger works Benito Cereno and Pudd'nhead Wilson are obviously concerned with the interrelation of blacks and whites, as well as with slavery and its effects on the American society, The Scarlet Letter primarily deals with the Puritan way of life and the law system in New England. Although a direct comparison of the three works seems to be problematical due to their different subject matters, the essay will figure out how crime and punishment is depicted in their broader frame. HAWTHORNE's Scarlet Letter is set in the 17th century in Salem, Massachusetts - the stronghold of New England's Puritanism. The main character of the novel, Hester Prynne, is mother of an illegitimate child (Pearl) and thus a sinner that, according to the strict Puritan laws, has to be ostracised and punished. Her actual punishment is determined by the town's magistracy and consists in the duty to carry a scarlet letter A on her clothes. The adulteress is also presented to an assembly of townspeople on the scaffold of the pillory. Midst of the crowd that is mocking the sinner is Hester's missed husband - Roger Prynne - as well as the person whom she committed adultery with - the Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale. Ironically enough, Dimmesdale is regarded as an extraordinary exemplary Puritan priest by both, the townspeople and the town's magistracy . His guilt remains undiscovered until the end of the novel. Roger Prynne is a stranger at the beginning, who unexpectedly appears at the market-place out of the wilderness . When Hester spots him on the scaffold, he signalises her not to reveal his identity as her husband and starts an indirect inquiry about her, trying to figure out why she is set up to public shame. A townsman congratulates the newcomer to be back in civilisation after being 'a wanderer sorely against [his] own will' and explains what had happened in town and why Hester Prynne is punished on the scaffold.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Essay from the year 2007 in the subject American Studies - Literature, grade: 1,7, Queen's University Belfast, 9 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: This essay focuses on three American literary works of the 19th century: Nathaniel HAWTHORNE's famous novel The Scarlet Letter was published in 1850, Herman MELVILLE's short story Benito Cereno in 1855, and Mark TWAIN's Pudd'nhead Wilson between 1893 and 1894. While the younger works Benito Cereno and Pudd'nhead Wilson are obviously concerned with the interrelation of blacks and whites, as well as with slavery and its effects on the American society, The Scarlet Letter primarily deals with the Puritan way of life and the law system in New England. Although a direct comparison of the three works seems to be problematical due to their different subject matters, the essay will figure out how crime and punishment is depicted in their broader frame. HAWTHORNE's Scarlet Letter is set in the 17th century in Salem, Massachusetts - the stronghold of New England's Puritanism. The main character of the novel, Hester Prynne, is mother of an illegitimate child (Pearl) and thus a sinner that, according to the strict Puritan laws, has to be ostracised and punished. Her actual punishment is determined by the town's magistracy and consists in the duty to carry a scarlet letter A on her clothes. The adulteress is also presented to an assembly of townspeople on the scaffold of the pillory. Midst of the crowd that is mocking the sinner is Hester's missed husband - Roger Prynne - as well as the person whom she committed adultery with - the Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale. Ironically enough, Dimmesdale is regarded as an extraordinary exemplary Puritan priest by both, the townspeople and the town's magistracy . His guilt remains undiscovered until the end of the novel. Roger Prynne is a stranger at the beginning, who unexpectedly appears at the market-place out of the wilderness . When Hester spots him on the scaffold, he signalises her not to reveal his identity as her husband and starts an indirect inquiry about her, trying to figure out why she is set up to public shame. A townsman congratulates the newcomer to be back in civilisation after being 'a wanderer sorely against [his] own will' and explains what had happened in town and why Hester Prynne is punished on the scaffold.

More books from GRIN Verlag

Cover of the book Mediation und Unternehmensethik - Eine Integration des Mediationsverfahrens in die Unternehmensethik by Jan H. Hauptmann
Cover of the book Unterrichtseinheit: 'Spürnasen müssen mehr wissen' - Erarbeitung der Verwendung und Identifizierung von Adverbialien innerhalb eines Textes by Jan H. Hauptmann
Cover of the book Das Joelbuch. Eine Auseinandersetzung mit der Person des Joel by Jan H. Hauptmann
Cover of the book Reformation und kulturelle Dekonstruktion by Jan H. Hauptmann
Cover of the book Forschendes Lehren - eine Praktikumsreflexion unter Analyse der Lehrerfrage by Jan H. Hauptmann
Cover of the book Post Soviet Union Period. Exogenous Growth Theory in RUSSIA 1990-2013 by Jan H. Hauptmann
Cover of the book Wasser des Lebens by Jan H. Hauptmann
Cover of the book Religion in Wittgenstein's 'On Certainty' by Jan H. Hauptmann
Cover of the book Die Situation und Empfindungen von Krankenschwestern in konföderierten Krankenhäusern by Jan H. Hauptmann
Cover of the book Unterschiedliche Einkommensverteilung in Deutschland und Schweden und ihre Entstehungszusammenhänge by Jan H. Hauptmann
Cover of the book Lohn und Gehaltsabrechnung by Jan H. Hauptmann
Cover of the book The dialectics of agency and structure in transitional democracy by Jan H. Hauptmann
Cover of the book Vokabelheft Immobilienkaufleute by Jan H. Hauptmann
Cover of the book Was ist die ICANN und von wem wird sie regiert ? by Jan H. Hauptmann
Cover of the book Polizeiliche und justizielle Ermittlungsarbeit in Strafsachen by Jan H. Hauptmann
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy