Quote Response #4-The Scarlet Letter

     In chapter thirteen of, The Scarlet Letter, I found a quote which really caused me to stop and think. The quote is found on page 134 and reads, “It is remarkable, that persons who speculate the most boldly often conform with the most perfect quietude to the external regulations of society.” I believe this quote means that many people who feel strongly about something decide it is best not to speak up about it because many others will basically shun them for it. This can easily be applied to many characters in this story. For starters, although Hester Prynne knows who the father of her child is, she chooses not to tell the public because she knows that it will hurt not only her reputation further, but also the father’s. Along with Hester, Arthur Dimmesdale, is guilty of doing this. He is viewed as a holy person in their community and he knows that if he speaks up about his sin, then he will no longer be considered this.

    Along with relating the quote to a few characters, I believe that this quote can also be related to people in our world today. Some people are more concerned with their reputations rather than expressing their true opinions. Many people choose to just follow the crowds and do what everyone else is doing because they believe it will be easier. While this is a horrible thing to do, I can totally see why somebody would do such a thing. Our world is full of judgmental people who will essentially turn on others for not seeing things the same way in which they do. I believe that people are scared of this happening to them, so they simply keep their mouths closed.
    This quote is very significant because it is so true to our society today. Although I consider myself a rather opinionated person who does not have a problem expressing ideas, I know that there are people who are not secure enough to do the same. Their insecurities have probably been caused by situations where they felt judged for actually expressing their opinions and this is just ridiculous. It is unrealistic to say that the world will ever change and people will stop judging others, but it is realistic to say that if we all choose to be more confident in our own beliefs, then the world will be a more diverse place.