Background Info. on the Scarlet Lily Work

Background Information on the Choice of "The Scarlet Lily" title:
A big reason I chose the title for this piece "The Scarlet Lily" is that it brings to mind Nathaniel Hawthorne's work, The Scarlet Letter. Although this work was written by the author in the 19th century, the setting for the story takes place in the 17th century and the place that the manuscript was actually written was in Salem Massachusetts (the very place that the notorious Salem Witch Trials took place!). Hester Prynne, the story's main character, is condemned by her Puritanical society for adultery, though her husband is presumed long lost at sea! The townspeople want to see her suffer and shame her in public by making her wear the Scarlet Letter A (the letter "A" is for adultery). Hester suffers alone for her sin, but later in the story, we find out that her guilty counterpart is the very prestigious, well thought of town minister! I chose this title, because Christians believe that Jesus came to save sinners, and that we are all sinners! Ironically, in Hawthorne's novel, from all outward appearances, the Puritans were pious and upright and Hester was a "condemned woman" because of her sin that was publically exposed! If you carefully read this novel, however, you come away with the understanding that perhaps, quite the opposite was true! Jesus did not condemn the adulterous woman we read about in one of the four gospels in the New Testament, only her sin! Likewise, we should not condemn others as well!