Main | The Scarlett Letter entry #2 »
10, 2005
The Scarlet Letter
"The scene was not without a mixture of awe, such as must always invest the spectacle of guilt and shame in a fellow-creature, before society shall have grown corrupt enough to smile, instead of shuddering, at it."
Without suffering there would be no compassion. But where does enjoyment in others' suffering come into that thought process?
Posted by LeahDavis at 10, 2005 02:38
Comments
Leah, take a closer look at that quote...you'll find the answer right in there. There are equal parts of guilt and shame, but the society is now so corrupt that it smirks on other's mistakes yet turns a blind eye to its own. Hypocritical, don't you think?
By the way, could you cite the page number of that quote? Thanks.
Posted by: Neha at 11, 2005 09:28
The only compassion that the people seem to have here is compassion for themselves. They enjoy that she is the one being taunted because it is not them who is being taunted. As long as it is not them they are happy.
Posted by: Meredith Benson at 15, 2005 01:25