How Public Shame Can Affect a Person Physically and Mentally

In 'The Price of Shame,' Monica Lewinsky states, "In 1998, I lost my reputation and my dignity. I lost almost everything. And I almost lost my life." Speaking from the perspective of the present generation of children who will one day be the leaders of this world, we have been exposed to social media, with some having been connected to it their entire lives. This internet connection represents a new level of communication where information can spread like wildfire. Given this reality, social media can wreak havoc on one's career, shatter lives, and affect how individuals live and feel. This phenomenon is not only demonstrated in 'The Price of Shame,' a talk by Monica Lewinsky, who was involved in scandalous activities with her boss, Bill Clinton, but also in Nathaniel Hawthorne's 'The Scarlet Letter' and the news article 'The Danger of Public Shaming in the Internet Age.' In these sources, the public shame received can terminate careers, shatter lives, and transform how individuals live and feel.

The Physical and Mental Impact of Public Humiliation

Primarily, both 'The Scarlet Letter' and 'The Price of Shame' depict lives ruined by an affair with a man of higher standing. This dramatically alters how individuals are perceived in public and what they do for a living. In both sources, it is evident how public shame destroyed their careers and public personas. In 'The Scarlet Letter,' Hawthorne writes, "The men of a higher power will no longer receive their clothes from Hester." This quote highlights the impact of public shame on an individual's life. Despite the Puritan culture of the 1690s, which granted some benefit of the doubt due to Hester's husband's absence, her life is still harmed. Without the ability to make clothes, how is she supposed to make a living? This is compounded by the shame symbolized by the scarlet letter on her chest. Similarly, in 'The Price of Shame,' Lewinsky writes, "Overnight, I went from being a completely private figure to a publicly humiliated one, worldwide. I was patient zero of losing a personal reputation on a global scale almost instantaneously." This demonstrates how public shame devastated her life and career, leading to a loss of respect. Both sources illustrate how one action leads to a chain reaction, destroying a person's image, career, and public perception. The public's immediate judgment and slut-shaming occur without understanding the individuals involved, ultimately costing them their jobs and personal dignity.

Secondly, 'The Scarlet Letter' and 'The Danger of Public Shaming in the Internet Age' highlight how public shame can ruin self-perception. Both sources show how an honest mistake or blunder can make someone feel like a failure. In 'The Scarlet Letter,' Hester Prynne experiences this transformation. Hawthorne writes, "Hester regains some of her former, passionate beauty, and she lets down her hair and smiles." This quote from chapter 18 symbolizes Hester's liberation from public shame when she removes the scarlet letter, metaphorically shedding the weight of shame. Similarly, in 'The Danger of Public Shaming in the Internet Age,' Mohammad writes, "Paul apologized multiple times, then finally withdrew from YouTube entirely, saying he was taking time to reflect." This illustrates how public shaming also destroyed Logan Paul's life, compelling him to leave the platform due to overwhelming pressure.

Conclusion

In both sources, public shaming is shown to affect individuals physically and mentally. In conclusion, public shaming not only impacts one's job or career but also affects personal life and mental health. All three sources—'The Scarlet Letter,' 'The Danger of Public Shaming in the Internet Age,' and 'The Price of Shame'—demonstrate the effects of public shame on a person and its impact on both business and personal life. Could public shaming be a benevolent act taken to an extreme by the accused, or is it intended to harm the individual? Is it necessary to castigate individuals for their actions through public shaming?

References

• Hawthorne, N. (1850). The Scarlet Letter. Ticknor, Reed & Fields.
• Lewinsky, M. (2015). The Price of Shame. TED Talks. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/monica_lewinsky_the_price_of_shame
• Mohammad, A. (2018). The Danger of Public Shaming in the Internet Age. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/03/opinion/logan-paul-youtube-suicide.html