Puritans began as a taunt from Anglican Church members. They believed in predestination and god is alone in control of salvation. Although they believed that God could save you from the fiery pits of hell, nothing could save you from Puritan punishment for sins. Adulterers who wore the scarlet letter were considered lucky because they could be alternately publicly whipped or executed. Since religion was a keystone aspect of society, there was a harsh punishment for not believing in God. Most other Puritan punishments were harsh as well and puritans did not feel remorse for it. Church attendance was required in Puritan society. Another important tenant of Puritan society was education. Most Puritans had a high literacy rates for the primary purpose of reading the bible. Women did not participate in town meetings and were excluded in decisions in the church. Male supremacy can be seen frequently in their writings and sermons.
Hawthorne was born on July 4, 1804. When he was four, his father died of yellow fever, which left his mother to care for him. Hawthorne got his college education at Bowdoin College. After graduation, he spent a great deal of time reading and writing. Hawthorne published his first novel Fanshawe in 1828. Hawthorne had become a writer. In his novel The Scarlet Letter, puritan influences are present. Puritan lifestyle could have influenced Hawthorne because of their religious and conservative ways. The fact that the puritans punished adulterers with the letter A gave a good background for the story. Hawthorne also used Puritanism to convey his viewpoint on Puritanism. Hawthorne was a descendent of puritans and was from the town of Salem. Hawthorne’s dislike for Puritanism is obvious in The Scarlet Letter. You could tell he did not support Puritanism. It is said that women did not participate in town meetings, yet there were women in the crowd when Hester was on the scaffold. There is also a bit of male supremacy in the novel, showing the puritan times. Hawthorne is influenced by puritan lifestyle in his writings.
Below is a link to a primary source document written by John Winthrop in 1630
http://www.animatedatlas.com/ecolonies/winthrop-charity.html
Hawthorne was born on July 4, 1804. When he was four, his father died of yellow fever, which left his mother to care for him. Hawthorne got his college education at Bowdoin College. After graduation, he spent a great deal of time reading and writing. Hawthorne published his first novel Fanshawe in 1828. Hawthorne had become a writer. In his novel The Scarlet Letter, puritan influences are present. Puritan lifestyle could have influenced Hawthorne because of their religious and conservative ways. The fact that the puritans punished adulterers with the letter A gave a good background for the story. Hawthorne also used Puritanism to convey his viewpoint on Puritanism. Hawthorne was a descendent of puritans and was from the town of Salem. Hawthorne’s dislike for Puritanism is obvious in The Scarlet Letter. You could tell he did not support Puritanism. It is said that women did not participate in town meetings, yet there were women in the crowd when Hester was on the scaffold. There is also a bit of male supremacy in the novel, showing the puritan times. Hawthorne is influenced by puritan lifestyle in his writings.
Below is a link to a primary source document written by John Winthrop in 1630
http://www.animatedatlas.com/ecolonies/winthrop-charity.html