The Scarlet Letter: How do we know what is right and what is wrong?

Congratulations on finishing Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter.  So far, we have explored religion, government, and the human psyche as creators and enforcers of ethical codes.  Today, let's re-examine society's reaction to Hester's sin: public shame.  When her "sin" became visible (or was conceived/born to extend that metaphor), the townspeople placed her in prison, forced her to stand on a scaffold in the town square to be publicly mocked, and required that she wear a Scarlet "A."  In this WebQuest, you will consider whether or not you believe shame is a good punishment for any crime.