"What do we talk of marks and brands, whether on the bodice of her gown, or the flesh of her forehead? This woman has brought shame upon us all, and ought to die. Is there not law for it? Truly there is, both in the Scripture and the statute-book. Then let the magistrates, who have made it of no effect, thank themselves if their own wives and daughters go astray!" ((Chapter 2/PAGE 49))
The group of women are truly disgusted with the awful sin committed by Hester Prynne. Some of the women who speak before this one (this line taken from the last woman to talk before Hester emerges out of the building.) suggest that she should brand Hester in the forehead with a hot iron. Such a mark would surely be a cruel and just punishment to what she has done, no matter what it is, she sinned. But this is no matter to this last lady, who firmly states that nothing can be done so that she can live the rest of her life in shame and misery and therefore can only be put to death. Such harsh words seem to show that the Puritan way of life can be more aggressive than most would assume. The struggle between man's intolerance of sin/misbehaviour and the true forgiveness of nature I feel are going to a huge theme.
The culture being so zealous and religiously-driven is also reinforced in this excerpt where the fact that Hester's death must be enforced due to her breaking of civil statute as well as going against the Scripture. (Since they are practically the same thing, what she says is almost redundant.)
Also note that these women are worse than the men (there's an irony in the "Goodwife" use here).
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