The scapegoat in English literature and society

Scapegoat

In society today, the term "scapegoat" is used figuratively. It is used to denote a person or sector who is made to take the blame for wrongdoing or suffering of which they are often not the cause. This is generally done by the actual guilty parties in order to distract others from the true causes of the suffering or crimes. The term survives from ancient times, when it was literally used to refer to an actual goat.

In biblical history, the book of Leviticus describes the rite of the "scapegoat." The goat is chosen to symbolically bear the sins of the nation at the ceremonies of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. The goat is then chased into the wilderness to die, and the nation is exonerated from their sins. In Christian theology, this ritual is believed to symbolize the future sacrifice of Jesus.

Jesus, God's son, is innocent, but chose to take the sins of humanity upon himself. In dying, he exonerates humanity from its sinfulness and offers the opportunity for forgiveness without punishment. As the "scapegoat," Jesus is punished instead of the actual guilty parties.

Scape-goating is still very much part of humanity. It is a metaphorical term to denote that human beings are blamed for crimes, wrongdoing, or suffering of which they are in fact innocent. The most common manifestation of this in modern society is blaming specific group of persons for calamity. Minority groups are often victimized in this way, as they are vulnerable and generally do not have the means to defend themselves.