Your status in the social hierarchy determines a lot about you: your wealth, character, and credibility. Most of us try everyday to keep our reputation and status high among society. Why do we give so much importance to this concept of status when it actually may be a disadvantage to you? A higher status means higher expectations from society. This means that if you are to do something wrong while having a reputable status, you will have a harsher aftermath compared to the same sin done by one who has a lower status.
In The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Hester has committed adultery with Dimmesdale, dooming her to wear a scarlet “A”—an indelible mark for her unforgivable sin in the intolerant Puritan society. She is forced upon the scaffold to bear the shame of her mistake and is ostracized from the Puritan people; however, she has confessed her sin. On the other hand, Dimmesdale has kept his identity as the adulterer of Hester a secret. As a priest, Dimmesdale has a very high social status among the Puritan people, and he is thought of as one who wouldn’t make mistakes. As a result, he has a lot of pressure to make the choice of whether or not to confess his sin. Later on, Dimmesdale suffers from an illness most likely caused by the severe inner turmoil he is going through. He knows that if he confesses, the Puritan people would leave no mercy for him. Dimmesdale’s reputable status gives him a disadvantage compared to Hester’s case.
This concept also applies in current events as well. When Bill Clinton was found guilty of having an affair with Monica Lewinsky, he was given all the spotlight of infamy, while Monica Lewinsky wasn’t as heavily accused. Clinton was removed from office and had an imaginary letter “A” to wear on his chest.
Status does play a huge role in our lives, but this doesn’t mean we should place huge significance on it. After all, it is a weakness.
I agree. Status does represent our position in society, but it isn't much more than that, and it shouldn't define who we are as are as individuals.
ReplyDeleteI like your allusion to modern-day politics! Status is really a more man-made concept than anything else, and I hate how people place so much importance on it. Status really should not play that large a role in our lives, even when many people attach a sort of personal goal to it. It's kind of like popularity; it does show our position in a circle of friends at school, but it really isn't that much of a good indicator, as Warren has stated previously.
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