Megan's blog

Throughout history, there have many people that have been a scapegoat for their societies. People think that it is easier to punish one person instead of the whole society. Nobody wants to get blamed for what they have done wrong so they choose someone to pay for all of the things they have done wrong. The person who ends up being the scapegoat, is the person that everyone should thank. The Scarlet Letter shows a person who is willing to help and willing to compromise, it also everyone in today's society has a scapegoat.
Before all of us were born, there was one person willing to die to take the place for all of our sins. That person is Jesus Christ. He died so all of the people in the world could have forgiveness, and not have to worry about paying the price for their sins in a spiritual way. He did it without a complaint, he loved all of us so much that he was willing to pay the ultimate price. He was so willing to help everyone and try and lead people to do the right thing and think of others before yourself. Before he died everyone was so angry with him, but he still showed love to everyone. Jesus did not judge anyone, he wanted everyone to be the best that they can be and accepted people for who they are. "For God so love the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish but have everlasting life." ( John 3:16)
Like Jesus, Hester is a scapegoat in her society. She commits this horrible sin of adultery and now because of the laws, has to wear a big "A" on her at all times. And because she has done this, all of the bad things that happen to the society are blamed on her. The town probably think of it as a curse, because she committed adultery, bad things are going to happen. Every time she walked through town people looked at her and were very judgemental of her, they were so mean to her. Like Jesus she never said anything when these people were saying all those mean things to her. She never complained about having to wear that letter, she was ashamed of it but never complained. Hester wanted to help the people in her society. "The letter was a symbol of her calling. Such helpfulness was found in her- so much power to do and power to sympathize- that many people refused to interpret the scarlet A by its original signification. They said it meant Able; so strong was Hester Prynne, with a woman's strength. " ( 113) This means that even the people in her society were beginning to see that she wants to help and that she is a strong woman with love and compassion. Hester really loved her daughter that she was even willing to die for her. When Pearl was going to be taken away from her Hester said this, "Ye shall not take her, I will die first." (64) This shows such bravery and love. Hester is a strong woman and she should be looked up to. She didn't want anyone to go through what she had to go through and that is what makes her a scapegoat. Hawthorne chose her as a scapegoat just for the simple fact that she was the one in the society that had done something worse than the other people in the society. It was easier to choose her because she had already done something wrong.
Nobody really understands a scapegoat's life. They don't understand the things that they have to go through and the feeling that they have that everyone in the town that they live in is looking at them funny. People like Hester and Jesus deserve respect and sometimes they don't get it, but that doesn't stop them from wanting help all people and forgiving all people.