Question

by nathaniel hawthorne
chapter 2 – “the market-place”
the grass - plot before the jail, in prison lane, on a certain summer
morning, not less than two centuries ago, was occupied by a pretty
large number of the inhabitants of boston, all with their eyes intently
fastened on the iron - clamped oaken door. amongst any other
population, or at a later period in the history of new england, the grim
rigidity that petrified the bearded physiognomies of these good people
would have augured some awful business in hand. it could have
betokened nothing short of the anticipated execution of some noted
culprit, on whom the sentence of a legal tribunal had but confirmed the
verdict of public sentiment. but, in that early severity of the puritan
character, an inference of this kind could not so indubitably be drawn. it
might be that a sluggish bond - servant, or an undutiful child, whom his
parents had given over to the civil authority, was to be corrected at the
whipping - post. it might be, that an antinomian, a quaker, or other
heterodox religionist, was to be scourged out of the town, or an idle and
vagrant indian, whom the white man’s fire - water had made riotous
about the streets, was to be driven with stripes into the shadow of the
read this excerpt from chapter 2 of the scarlet letter using
comprehension strategies.
a blessing on the righteous colony of the massachusetts, where
iniquity is dragged out into the sunshine!
what is the meaning of the word “iniquity”?
mistakes, errors
belongings, possessions
solitude, loneliness
wickedness, sin

Explanation:

To determine the meaning of "iniquity", we analyze the context. The excerpt refers to the "righteous Colony" and "iniquity" being "dragged out into the sunshine". The Puritan setting and the contrast with "righteous" suggest a negative, immoral act. Among the options, "wickedness, sin" aligns with the idea of immoral behavior, while the other options (mistakes/errors, belongings, solitude) do not fit the context of moral transgression.

Answer:

wickedness, sin