Trial of Anne HutchinsonAccording to the Puritans, Anne Hutchinson was a threat to their government. Puritans believed that if a person knew of a crime being committed and did not inform the government, they would be as guilty as the person who committed the crime. Today we look at it as if they thought they had to be this “perfect” community, they wanted to be called a “city on a hill.” If people like Anne Hutchinson were not publicly punished and thought it was okay to associate with people who preach against the government's ideology, their society would fail. The deputy governor indicated that “[she] has so anticipated the minds of many by resorting to her meeting that she now has a powerful role in the country” (39). The government is worried that other people in civilization will follow in Hutchinson's footsteps to go against government leaders. They fear that if this event were to happen, the foundations of their community would fall, guilt by association. On page thirty-six, Hutchinson asked the governor what law he had broken. He explains that because he supported his brother-in-law's sermons, he was as guilty as he was. «If he finds him guilty and hides it, he is guilty of the same thing» (36). According to the Puritans, say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The government accused her of being a threat to the community pact. According to Puritan belief, the community covenant was a “contract made by God” (31) to ensure that “the entire community must follow the laws of God as interpreted by Puritan leaders” (31). Since Governor Winthrop accused her of breaking the fifth commandment, which is “honor thy father,” the community was now in danger of being punished by God. If Hutchinson had not been penalized for this wrongdoing, the governor might have endanger the entire community. Winthrop thought that Hutchinson was not honoring the people of the Puritan community. “Honor thy father” means that Puritans are expected to respect the noble people of their community. The Puritans wanted everyone in their community to model themselves after the noble people. Hutchinson was not following the laws of the community and if every single person does not follow the laws of the Puritans exactly, their entire civic will be put out of action. Even the Puritan government saw it as a threat to the way their society functions. Anne Hutchinson held meetings at her home where she taught several sermons that were not approved by the church or government. Winthrop states that her actions were “not tolerable nor pleasing in the sight of God nor becoming to her sex” (35). The government did not like that Hutchinson had established the balance of gender roles in their society. By doing what a man would normally do, Hutchinson was not following the laws of the Puritans. The Puritans thought that men and women could not share labor. Each of them had a job that the other couldn't do. In this case, Hutchinson could not teach the words of the Bible because it was a man's job. Winthrop also claimed that she would not be able to educate men. He then asks her if “a man should come and say, 'Mrs. Hutchinson, I hear that you are a woman to whom God has given His grace and that you know the word of God. Please educate me a little. Shouldn't you be teaching this man” (36)? Hutchinson responds that she could educate this man if this event were to occur, but also wonders if the court thinks it is unfair for her to teach women. Winthrop continues without directly answering his question. She wonders why it is not okay for her to teach men but it is okay to teach women. Hutchinson believes he didn't break it.