Lyall Rogers

         Punishment always has had a negative connotation, but when punishment helps lead to self reflection and even self betterment, it doesn't seem that bad. In Puritan society, punishments and laws were strongly based off of the bible. Adultery, the main sin addressed in Hawthorne's novel, has punishments that vary in different ways. For puritans, the punishment could come in many forms. As seen in the Scarlet Letter a person could be given a scarlet letter 'A' which socially secluded a person from the rest of society. For an example, Hester Prynne (whose last name rhymes with sin) had to wear a scarlet letter and raise Pearl on her own (since she declined to name Pearl's father). While Hester was excluded from the society, raising Pearl in her personal seclusion allowed her to learn from her mistakes. Not only that, but it prevented her from doing something worse than adultery. Hester also learned from her punishment and was able to offer counsel to others who really needed it.  This is simply one example of seclusion as a punishment. Her punishment might've been her seclusion, but it was insightful.
        While seclusion is a punishment currently (in the forms of isolation and solitary confinement), it still had a lot of negative connotations so let me give you an example (this example is completely made up). Little Mary/Mark took a cookie from the cookie jar after her/his mother told him not to. She/he was sent to her/his room for ten whole minutes for a time out; which of course was torture since Mary/Mark was only five years old. Those ten minutes of time out is a very mild for of seclusion as a punishment. Little Mary/Mark thought about what she/he did and came out of her/his room and apologized after reflecting on what she/he did. Mary/Mark never took a cookie from the cookie jar again.
         While that example is really simplistic, its not entirely wrong. Solitary confinement give people a chance to think about  what they did. It allows for personal reflection and time to consider what all they did. It can also protect people from themselves and from others. Yes, it is extreme, and yes it could be considered a torture method; but some people would dangerous to themselves and to society if they were out with the rest of society(1).
         Seclusion is often considered a punishment. However, it can help aid in creativity(2). I often enjoy spending hours by myself with no interruptions and therefore don't view it as a punishment. When I really want to spend a lot of time thinking, working on homework, reading, or creative writing I tend to remove myself from others. Not because i don't like being around people; it simply doesn't help me write. Many authors had secluded themselves for long periods of time so they could be creative and write.
        Historically seclusion was designed to help correct behavior. "An important step toward the development of the modern prison was the Hospice of San Michele, a reformatory for boys established in Rome by Pope Clement XI in 1703. Its primary aim was moral regeneration. Offenders were classified according to their ages and the severity of their crimes, religious instruction was provided, and each prisoner was put to work in the daytime and given his own cell at night, to furnish him seclusion for reflection and penitence. In 1735, Clement XII added a similar institution for women" (3). This was not only an important step, but also a way to show that seclusion was meant to better a person's life. Its sole purpose was to make that person better.
(4)vs(5) The cells themselves have change dramatically as the two images demonstrate. In puritan society, they didn't really have anything. No light or very little. Now, in prison, you would get bed, blanket, a little desk, toilet and running water, three meals a day.
          So seclusion as a punishment isn't necessarily the worst thing for individuals. And while no one truly wants to be secluded from society, it can often be beneficial for creativity, self reflection, and self betterment.


1)ABC News. "Solitary Confinement: A Controversial Punishment." ABC News. ABC News Network, 20 Sept. 2012. Web. 23 Sept. 2015. 
2)Hardin, Brett. "Constantly Learning." : Use Seclusion To Optimize Creativity and Productivity. N.p., 8 Sept. 2012. Web. 23 Sept. 2015.
3) Wright, Roberts J. "Prison." Encyclopedia Americana. Grolier Online, 2015. Web. 23 Sept. 2015.
4) "The Brimstone Butterfly." The Brimstone Butterfly's Open House London 2011:Lambeth Palace. N.p., 25 Sept. 2011. Web. 23 Sept. 2015. 
5) Pettigrew, Ryan. "Effects Of Solitary Confinement, By: Ryan Pettigrew." Supermax. N.p., 7 July 2014. Web. 23 Sept. 2015. <http://supermax.be/effects-of-solitary-confinement-by-ryan-pettigrew/>.