In both the Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne and the Ted Talk by Monica Lewinsky, both authors highlight how the effects of humiliation by society towards an individual only have the desired negative impact for a short time. Even though the sin becomes part of the individual’s identity, the negative impacts of trying to reform the guilty wears off, and the character of the person is strengthened. However, the culture created by the genesis of humiliation is everlasting, and it creates a harmful society that condones humiliation and shaming, while lacking compassion. Humiliation and shaming does more harm to the society than to the individual.
In the Scarlet Letter, the main character Hester Prynne, is subjected to public humiliation by having to wear a scarlet “A” to show she has committed …show more content…
In addition to wearing the public reminder, Hester is subjected to open shaming by being forced to stand on a scaffold in front of the entire Puritan society. Initially, the punishment of public shaming worked. Hester felt deep ignominy because of the contumely she suffered from the Puritan society. She withdrew from society, living as an outcast in a cabin in the woods (great movie btw) (put quote here about her living in the cabin). Her only connection to the rest of the Puritans was her job, creating clothes. However, the humiliation persisted, as many people would stop and mock Hester when she would walk down the street, (put quote here). In many ways, Hester’s sin became who she was to the Puritans. Her everyday life was dominated by the reminders of the sin she had committed, such as the scarlet A and even her own daughter, Pearl (if you can find it, put quote about how Pearl is the embodiment of the sin). However, Hester’s resolve only strengthened. She had the chance to leave the settlement, but chose to stay (find quote). She did not let the humiliation of wearing the A