I was reading the book "The Scarlet Letter" today. In it, the female protagonist is made to put the "A" sign on her dress and is "displayed" to the public because she she had committed adultry.
Now, I was wondering, did the author make this up or did people actually do this at that time?? (Some time in the 17th century).
I am not American, so I don't know anything about it.
2006-12-29 00:19:52 · 14 answers · asked by Sunrise 5 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Polls & Surveys
Bumbles, if you read the book, you should know it says Massachusettes, Boston. It also talks about people coming to the US and people in US having different characteristics from those in England. lol.
2006-12-29 00:25:06 · update #1
To some extent .....yes......it depended on the community one lived in. This link http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A62581-2004Sep4.html
I hope, spreads some knowledge. It was not uncommon to mark adulterers either by thier clothing or by physically branding them with a hot iron "A"....thieves or "cut purses" were marked also by having thier thieving hands cut off....puritan times were rough. It was the mentality of conform or die.
2006-12-29 00:27:01 · answer #1 · answered by PrincessPlum 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had to read that book too. I think it was made up but it was shameful back in those days to commit adultery. The scarlet A was a symbolic thing.
2006-12-29 00:22:23 · answer #2 · answered by K-E-G 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes if you committed adultery and were a woman you were marked for life on the other hand if you were a man nothing happened. Go figure the same still happens today.
2006-12-29 00:29:55 · answer #3 · answered by d3midway semi-retired 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes even though the discipline varied back in those days your penalty for breaking laws really relfected the crimes...not so much as today where you pay a fine or serve jail time
2006-12-29 00:22:45 · answer #4 · answered by Alien Samurai 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I believe it happened wholeheartedly and often. Women were so demeaned back in those days; they had no power and no respect from anyone. It was a sad time, I'm sure.
2006-12-29 00:28:49 · answer #5 · answered by Rachel 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i believe they actually did that and I think they did even worse then that ..by scaring the person for life I know some American Indian tribes did
2006-12-29 00:24:16 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it was a common practice but the practice started in Europe not in the US.
2006-12-29 00:23:42 · answer #7 · answered by RayCATNG 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, in some cases branding was used.
2006-12-29 00:21:28 · answer #8 · answered by Beau R 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I remember readint that book when i was in High School. It is supposed to be a treu story. Wasnt this story in England? I dont think it was in the states.
2006-12-29 00:22:29 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
I'm not American either but judging from the ethics of that period it's possible they did so indeed..
2006-12-29 00:22:06 · answer #10 · answered by Kicky 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋