Shame In The Scarlet Letter

Author James Gilligan wrote “Shame” to show the relation of shame and violence. His motive is to achieve a better understanding of why people are violent. He creates an authoritative mood

Profoundly interpersonal, the experience of shame is also therefore social and cultural. Shame is the result of feeling deficient, whether in relation to a parent, an admired friend, or a more powerful social group (39).

Unacknowledged Shame Theory is seen in a perspective that shame can cause a destructive emotion and can promote crime instead of preventing it if it is not managed positively. By using apology in return for forgiveness symbolises that reparation can commence (Braithwaite, 2004).

Esperanza’s situation is a reminder that shame can have a positive effect on people’s lives by being a source of motivation and inspiration.

It’s common to argue that a perpetrator “deserves” to be shamed, but in fact human psychology doesn’t work this way. Many pedophiles, for instance, recognize that that they are inexorably—even biologically—bound to impulses that they themselves loathe. Does the shaming—through public registries for example—cause the pedophile to reform? Unlikely. Does it deter others from engaging in pedophilic acts, or does it drive them to darker corners and sneakier tactics?

Have you ever felt so ashamed that you have become ashamed of who you are becoming? Shame is always reminding people it is a soul eating disease. For instance, in the book The Kite Runner Baba and Amir are so caught up in their shame they can hardly stand each other. In the beginning of the novel Baba pays no attention to Amir and by the end of the novel Amir realizes why his father paid no attention to him. We can become a changed person by facing our shame and allowing it to remain in the past while we move on to our future.

Dr. Sandra D. Wilson (2001) asks, “Have you ever felt as if you were the only caterpillar in a butterfly world? Do you often feel as if you have to do twice as much to be half as good as other” (p. 16)? If you answered, yes, then that is what Wilson (2001) calls binding shame. “Shame is the soul-deep belief that something is horribly wrong with me that is not wrong with anyone else in the entire world. If I am bound by shame, I feel hopelessly, distinguishingly different and worthless (p. 16).

Shame can lead to protecting oneself through anger and control.  When these strategies do not work or are inappropriate one withdraws themselves and avoids.

Dan M. Kahan argues in his article “Shame Is Worth a Try” that people who understand the potential of shaming know that it is “cheap, efficient, and an appropriate alternative to short jail sentences” (571).

Shame punishment should not be encouraged in our society because it leads to poor self esteem in young people and overshadows true justice. Overshadowing justice: -doesn't teach discipline with laws -isn't always severe enough -doesn't always work with everyone, as some people don't care what others think Poor self esteem: makes young people feel humiliated and angry Psychologists say it isn't beneficial to self esteem of kids Creates opportunity for bullying TASK 3 Nathaniel Hawthorne About Hawthorne: 1. Where was Hawthorne born?

"One token of her shame would but poorly serve to hide another." (Hawthorne, 2) Guilt and shame are two of the most devastating feelings that can haunt and eat people alive for the rest of their lives. Everyone has experienced either guilt or shame in their lifetime, especially the two main characters in this book called The Scarlet Letter. Although Arthur Dimmesdale is not married, he still commits a sin with Hester Prynne, which is fornication and separating Hester and her husband, Roger Chillingworth. Hester, on the other hand, only commits adultery because she is married to Chillingworth and is sleeping with Dimmesdale who is not her husband. In The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, both Arthur Dimmesdale and Hester Prynne commit

In The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses the symbol of the scarlet letter A to show that shame punishment doesn’t always have the effect intended. Although the letter is originally supposed to represent Hester’s adultery and have more of a negative impact, it more so shows her strength whenever she accepts the A and eventually people begin to interpret it as meaning able once she does accept it and begins to become more active in society. While it may come to show more of Hester’s strength, it does begin to also show weakness for both Dimmesdale and Roger Chillingworth when Dimmesdale’s strong guilt begins to consume him and eventually ends up completely destroying him, and, once Chillingworth discovers what is believed to possibly be

Interesting things in this section is the appearance of physical reactions which is why shame it was perceived at the time as doing something, such as feeling nervous, feeling grogi, felt the cold sweat, especially when doing something that doesn 't want to be known by

Public shame was pervasive through its public executions and social upheaval during the French Revolution. The French Revolution resulted in over 40,000 deaths, many by the guillotine where citizens would gather around to savor or loathe the decapitation of an accused person. No one could escape ignominy caused by the malfunctions of the four anarchies. Nevertheless, people were publicly executed or tortured for many false accusations that ended in complete violence and disruption. The cost of public shame was futile and if it was not so eminent in the French Revolution, then possibly there could have been better results. In like manner, the price of public shame is a detrimental thing that can cause someone to feel so desperate that their only option is to take their life. Over numerous centuries, there are various forms of public shame that adulterate the confidence of people who are the victims. Public shame may not include scaffold or guillotine gatherings as it did in earlier eras, but can be illustrated in social media posts, news, or articles that excessively humiliate a person. The impacts of public shame are countlessly horrific that they eliminate any possible benefits. Hester Pryne in The Scarlet Letter was publicly shamed and forced to wear an immense “A” on her bosom for her sin of adultery which of course led to people labeling her as the biggest sinner in the world. Rude comments similarly flowed into a modern day case of adultery with Monica Lewinsky. Her

First, public shame affects people socially. Source A claims that: "What do we talk of marks and brands, whether on the bodice of her gown, or the flesh of her forehead?" (Source A 36). This quote was said at the beginning of The Scarlet Letter by one of the women outside the prison when Hester was released from prison. The quote shows that the townspeople have branded Hester for committing the sin of adultery and are shoving her away from society. This isolation from society is also shown in a quote from "Is the Internet a Mob without Consequences?" (by Nick Bilton). Source B notes that: