Anyone familiar with the Scarlet Letter?

Question

I'm reading the Scarlet Letter and don't understand one of the quotes in chapter one. It says "The founders of the new colony...have invariably recognized it among their earliest practical necessities to allot a portion of the virgin soil as a cemetery, and another portion as the site of a prison."
Could someone tell me what this quote means and what the point of it is?

Answer 1

The Scarlet Letter is a book about a community at the very basic levels. People are born, people die, people are contributing citizens, people are criminals.

In this quote they are preparing for the inevitable. There will be death, there will be crime.

Answer 2

I note the ellipsis between the quote and wonder if you've left something out? If not, and since you haven't provided any broader context, I would read it just as it is.

I.E., one of the most practical things the colonists knew they needed to do was set aside space for criminals and corpses. When you think about it, both are public health issues. One, societal health and the other, the issue of contamination from diseases.

This is about as practical as it gets. And with everything the colonists had to face, they had to be a practical people!

Answer 3

They know they are going to need a prison and a cemetery so they allot land for them. Good planning.

Answer 4

well, offhand i'd say you are reading too much into it. it simply says that when they established their colony they made space for a cemetary and for a prison. perhaps it shows two of their high priorities--neither are very friendly. they were concerned with death and criminals---two things that could have some effect on the characters!

Answer 5

It is relating to the frailty and moral nature of mankind. We are all going to die, and unfortunately, allot commit crimes prior to dying.