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The Scarlet Letter

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The Scarlet Letter , novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne , published in 1850. It is considered a masterpiece of American literature and a classic moral study.

The novel is set in a village in Puritan New England . The main character is Hester Prynne , a young woman who has borne a child out of wedlock. Hester believes herself a widow, but her husband, Roger Chillingworth, arrives in New England very much alive and conceals his identity. He finds his wife forced to wear the scarlet letter A on her dress as punishment for her adultery . After Hester refuses to name her lover, Chillingworth becomes obsessed with finding his identity. When he learns that the man in question is Arthur Dimmesdale , a saintly young minister who is the leader of those exhorting her to name the child’s father, Chillingworth proceeds to torment him. Stricken by guilt, Dimmesdale becomes increasingly ill. Hester herself is revealed to be a self-reliant heroine who is never truly repentant for committing adultery with the minister; she feels that their act was consecrated by their deep love for each other. Although she is initially scorned, over time her compassion and dignity silence many of her critics.

In the end, Chillingworth is morally degraded by his monomaniacal pursuit of revenge. Dimmesdale is broken by his own sense of guilt, and he publicly confesses his adultery before dying in Hester’s arms. Only Hester can face the future bravely, as she prepares to begin a new life with her daughter, Pearl , in Europe. Years later Hester returns to New England, where she continues to wear the scarlet letter. After her death she is buried next to Dimmesdale, and their joint tombstone is inscribed with “ON A FIELD, SABLE, THE LETTER A, GULES.”

The scarlet letter A that Hester is forced to wear is finely embroidered with gold-coloured thread. As both a badge of shame and a beautifully wrought human artifact , it reflects the many oppositions in the novel, such as those between order and transgression, civilization and wilderness, and adulthood and childhood. The more society strives to keep out wayward passion, the more it reinforces the split between appearance and reality. The members of the community who are ostensibly the most respectable are often the most depraved, while the apparent sinners are often the most virtuous.

The novel also crafts intriguing symmetries between social oppression and psychological repression. Dimmesdale’s sense of torment at his guilty secret and the physical and mental manifestations of his malaise reflect the pathology of a society that needs to scapegoat and alienate its so-called sinners. Eventually, personal integrity is able to break free from social control. Perhaps more than any other novel, The Scarlet Letter effectively encapsulates the emergence of individualism and self-reliance from America’s Puritan and conformist roots.

• The Scarlet Letter

Nathaniel Hawthorne

• Literature Notes
• Book Summary
• The Scarlet Letter at a Glance
• About The Scarlet Letter
• Character List
• Summary and Analysis
• The Custom-House
• Character Analysis
• Hester Prynne
• Arthur Dimmesdale
• Roger Chillingworth
• Character Map
• Nathaniel Hawthorne Biography
• Critical Essays
• Symbolism in The Scarlet Letter
• The Puritan Setting of The Scarlet Letter
• The Scarlet Letter as a Gothic Romance
• The Structure of The Scarlet Letter
• Famous Quotes from The Scarlet Letter
• Film Versions of The Scarlet Letter
• Full Glossary for The Scarlet Letter
• Essay Questions
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In June 1642, in the Puritan town of Boston, a crowd gathers to witness an official punishment. A young woman, Hester Prynne, has been found guilty of adultery and must wear a scarlet A on her dress as a sign of shame. Furthermore, she must stand on the scaffold for three hours, exposed to public humiliation. As Hester approaches the scaffold, many of the women in the crowd are angered by her beauty and quiet dignity. When demanded and cajoled to name the father of her child, Hester refuses.

As Hester looks out over the crowd, she notices a small, misshapen man and recognizes him as her long-lost husband, who has been presumed lost at sea. When the husband sees Hester's shame, he asks a man in the crowd about her and is told the story of his wife's adultery. He angrily exclaims that the child's father, the partner in the adulterous act, should also be punished and vows to find the man. He chooses a new name — Roger Chillingworth — to aid him in his plan.

Reverend John Wilson and the minister of her church, Arthur Dimmesdale, question Hester, but she refuses to name her lover. After she returns to her prison cell, the jailer brings in Roger Chillingworth, a physician, to calm Hester and her child with his roots and herbs. Dismissing the jailer, Chillingworth first treats Pearl, Hester's baby, and then demands to know the name of the child's father. When Hester refuses, he insists that she never reveal that he is her husband. If she ever does so, he warns her, he will destroy the child's father. Hester agrees to Chillingworth's terms even though she suspects she will regret it.

Following her release from prison, Hester settles in a cottage at the edge of town and earns a meager living with her needlework. She lives a quiet, somber life with her daughter, Pearl. She is troubled by her daughter's unusual character. As an infant, Pearl is fascinated by the scarlet A . As she grows older, Pearl becomes capricious and unruly. Her conduct starts rumors, and, not surprisingly, the church members suggest Pearl be taken away from Hester.

Hester, hearing the rumors that she may lose Pearl, goes to speak to Governor Bellingham. With him are Reverends Wilson and Dimmesdale. When Wilson questions Pearl about her catechism, she refuses to answer, even though she knows the correct response, thus jeopardizing her guardianship. Hester appeals to Reverend Dimmesdale in desperation, and the minister persuades the governor to let Pearl remain in Hester's care.

Because Reverend Dimmesdale's health has begun to fail, the townspeople are happy to have Chillingworth, a newly arrived physician, take up lodgings with their beloved minister. Being in such close contact with Dimmesdale, Chillingworth begins to suspect that the minister's illness is the result of some unconfessed guilt. He applies psychological pressure to the minister because he suspects Dimmesdale to be Pearl's father. One evening, pulling the sleeping Dimmesdale's vestment aside, Chillingworth sees something startling on the sleeping minister's pale chest: a scarlet A .

Tormented by his guilty conscience, Dimmesdale goes to the square where Hester was punished years earlier. Climbing the scaffold, he sees Hester and Pearl and calls to them to join him. He admits his guilt to them but cannot find the courage to do so publicly. Suddenly Dimmesdale sees a meteor forming what appears to be a gigantic A in the sky; simultaneously, Pearl points toward the shadowy figure of Roger Chillingworth. Hester, shocked by Dimmesdale's deterioration, decides to obtain a release from her vow of silence to her husband. In her discussion of this with Chillingworth, she tells him his obsession with revenge must be stopped in order to save his own soul.

Several days later, Hester meets Dimmesdale in the forest, where she removes the scarlet letter from her dress and identifies her husband and his desire for revenge. In this conversation, she convinces Dimmesdale to leave Boston in secret on a ship to Europe where they can start life anew. Renewed by this plan, the minister seems to gain new energy. Pearl, however, refuses to acknowledge either of them until Hester replaces her symbol of shame on her dress.

Returning to town, Dimmesdale loses heart in their plan: He has become a changed man and knows he is dying. Meanwhile, Hester is informed by the captain of the ship on which she arranged passage that Roger Chillingworth will also be a passenger.

On Election Day, Dimmesdale gives what is declared to be one of his most inspired sermons. But as the procession leaves the church, Dimmesdale stumbles and almost falls. Seeing Hester and Pearl in the crowd watching the parade, he climbs upon the scaffold and confesses his sin, dying in Hester's arms. Later, witnesses swear that they saw a stigmata in the form of a scarlet A upon his chest. Chillingworth, losing his revenge, dies shortly thereafter and leaves Pearl a great deal of money, enabling her to go to Europe with her mother and make a wealthy marriage.

Several years later, Hester returns to Boston, resumes wearing the scarlet letter, and becomes a person to whom other women turn for solace. When she dies, she is buried near the grave of Dimmesdale, and they share a simple slate tombstone with the inscription "On a field, sable, the letter A gules."

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The Scarlet Letter Summary and Analysis

Home » Literature Explained – Literary Synopses and Book Summaries » The Scarlet Letter » The Scarlet Letter Summary and Analysis

Scarlet Letter Summary and Synopsis

Short Summary: The Scarlet Letter is a novel providing a view of Puritan society in the 17th century.

The story takes place in Boston, following young Hester Prynne and her life as an outcast having been caught committing adultery when she gives birth to a daughter. Her husband had sent her to Boston from Europe, planning to follow her. When he never arrived, many people assumed he’d been lost at sea.

Still, Hester is punished for her adultery and is forced to wear a scarlet letter “A” on her chest for the rest of her life. When her husband returns under a false identity, Hester and her young daughter must navigate the fallout of sin, betrayal, and revenge.

Literary Elements of The Scarlet Letter

Type of Work: Novel

Genres: Historical; romance  

Published Date: 1850  

Setting: Boston, MA during the 17th century

Main Characters: Hester Prynne  

Protagonist: Hester Prynne

Antagonist: Roger Chillingworth

Major Thematic Elements: The human experience of sin; society and personal identity; the presentation of evil  

Motifs: Civilization and wilderness; night and day; names

Exposition: A preamble relayed by a nameless narrator recounts the discovery of a manuscript found in a customhouse in Salem, Massachusetts of which he was the surveyor. The manuscript was written by a past surveyor telling events that happened two hundred years prior to the narrator’s time. The Scarlet Letter , as a result, is a fictional retelling of the manuscript.

Conflict: When Hester Prynne’s husband mysteriously fails to meet her in Boston after their emigration from Europe, she has an affair and gives birth to a child. Enraged, the community forces her to wear the letter “A” on her clothes, standing for “adulterer.”  

Plot: Past-tense chronological told by an unnamed narrator.  

Major Symbols: The letter; the town scaffold; the meteor; Pearl; the rosebush  

Climax: A meteor traces an “A” in the sky and Dimmesdale confronts his role in the sin Hester is being punished for.  

Literary Significance of the Scarlet Letter

In this novel, Hawthorne has used Puritan culture as a symbol for humankind in general when under extreme pressure. The way people react to change, fear, distress, etc. can all be examined in this tale. The problems that these individuals face are problems that humankind in general repeatedly faces—betrayal, revenge, jealousy, fear, sadness, etc. are all emotions that are born of great pressure. The novel begs the question—is how we react to these issues ever really different, even after all these years of human development? At our core, have we really changed? This timeless exploration of the human condition earned The Scarlet Letter an unmoving place in the English literary canon, and the novel continues to be studied to this day.  

The Scarlet Letter Book Summary, Plot Outline

The novel’s action opens in 17th century Boston as a young woman emerges from a prison building holding an infant and wearing a scarlet “A” on her chest. She is being punished for adultery by having to stand on scaffolding to be mocked by the townspeople for three hours and continuing to wear the “A” on her clothes from then on. Hester arrived in Boston ahead of her husband, who was supposed to follow her there but never arrived. People assumed he was lost at sea on the journey. In chapter three, Hester is standing before the town on the scaffold and is confronted by the town fathers, who demand that she reveal the name of her child’s father. She refuses.

An elderly onlooker in the crowd is later called to visit Hester in prison in chapter four. He is a doctor named Roger Chillingworth. However, Hester has already recognized him in her time on the scaffold as her husband in disguise. He tells Hester that he plans to get revenge on her and the partner to her affair. He swears her to secrecy not to reveal his true identity and she wonders aloud whether he might be a devil sent to torment her.

Several years pass after Hester is released from a few months’ prison sentence. Although Hester can leave Boston, she stays and lives on as an example of a disgraced woman. Hester is able to support herself by working as a seamstress, and her daughter, Pearl, grows into a willful, inquisitive, and rebellious young girl. The two live on the outskirts of town, shunned by the community. In chapter eight, the question of whether or not Hester and Pearl should stay together is brought up by town officials. They believe that either Pearl is a demon-child and should be taken away for Hester’s sake or that Pearl is a normal girl and should be removed from Hester for Pearl’s healthy development. The young minister, Arthur Dimmesdale, interrupts and says that Pearl was sent by God and should stay with her mother.

In chapter nine, Chillingworth is described as having become the town doctor. When Arthur Dimmesdale begins showing signs of severe health problems, Chillingworth petitions the town officials to assign him to live with Dimmesdale so that he can work to cure him. Chillingworth suspects that there is a connection between Hester and Pearl and Dimmesdale’s failing health—that there is a secret there worth uncovering. After spending some time with Dimmesdale, Chillingworth becomes convinced that he is who Hester had her affair with.

As time goes on, Dimmesdale’s health continues to worsen and his psychological condition declines. Chillingworth adds to this by playing mind games with his patience, thereby enacting his revenge. Dimmesdale starts to whip himself and deprive himself of sleep to meditate on his sin. In chapter twelve, Dimmesdale stands on the scaffold at night. Hester and Pearl walk by and join him on the scaffold, forming an “electric chain” which causes Dimmesdale to feel soothed. Pearl asks Dimmesdale to join them again on the scaffold the following day at noon, but Dimmesdale refuses. A bright meteor flashes through the sky, and the trio notice Chillingworth watching them.

As time goes on, Hester commits herself to volunteering and being a source of aid to people in need. Although she’s still an object of scorn and torment, she begins to win back the favor of her community. She even asks Chillingworth to stop tormenting Dimmesdale. Aware of how wretched he has become, Chillingworth places all blame on Hester for what has happened. In chapter fifteen, Hester talks to Pearl about the meaning of the scarlet “A” that she wears and Pearl is able to put two-and-two together about their situation and Dimmesdale’s bad health.

In the next chapter, Hester arranges to meet Dimmesdale in the forest to tell him about Chillingworth’s real identity. When they meet, they decide to flee to Europe where they can live as a family with young Pearl. They agree to depart in four days. Hester removes the scarlet letter from her chest and lets her hair down, feeling a sense of relief. Chillingworth, however, has discovered their plan and books travel on the same ship.

In chapter twenty-three, after delivering an election sermon, Dimmesdale calls for Hester and Pearl to join him on the scaffold. When they do, he confesses publicly to his sins and to being Pearl’s father. He removes his garments and reveals a letter “A” emblazoned into his chest. He falls down atop the scaffold and Pearl kisses him. After this, he dies.

Having been foiled on his revenge, Chillingworth dies a year later. Hester and Pearl leave Boston without keeping anyone there updated on their lives. Several years later, Hester returns to Boston alone, taking up home in the cottage where she and Pearl used to live and continues to do charity work. She receives letters from Pearl from time to time, updating her mother on her new life having married a European aristocrat and started a family of her own. When Hester dies, she is buried next to Dimmesdale, sharing his tomb, which shows a scarlet “A” on it.

The Scarlet Letter

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Before You Read

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Introduction

Chapters 1-4

Chapters 5-8

Chapters 9-12

Chapters 13-16

Chapters 17-20

Chapters 21-24

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

Summary and Study Guide

The Scarlet Letter is an 1850 novel by writer Nathaniel Hawthorne. The work, Hawthorne’s first full-length novel, is a classic of the American Romantic era. More specifically, its treatment of topics like sin, insanity, and the occult make it a work of Dark Romanticism—a movement related to the Gothic genre that includes works by Edgar Allan Poe and Herman Melville. The Scarlet Letter is also a piece of historical fiction; it is set in the early days of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and refers to real historical figures like Governor Richard Bellingham and Reverend John Wilson . This study guide references the 2003 Penguin Classics edition of the work.

Plot Summary

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In the Introduction, Hawthorne describes how he came to write The Scarlet Letter . While working at the Salem Custom House—a job he found unbearably dull—he claims to have found some old papers about a woman named Hester Prynne , along with an embroidered letter A. This captured Hawthorne’s imagination and, after losing his job at the Custom House, he set out to write a novel based on his discovery.

The narrative proper opens outside a prison in mid-17th-century Salem, Massachusetts. A young woman named Hester emerges from the town jail carrying her infant daughter, then passes through the assembled crowd to a scaffold. She wears a red letter A that marks her as an adulteress, which she will be required to wear for the rest of her life.

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While atop the scaffold , Hester is alarmed to notice her husband in the crowd. The man, who now calls himself Roger Chillingworth , spent the last year as the prisoner of a Native American tribe and is familiar with both Western and indigenous medicine. Under the guise of tending to Hester and the baby, he visits her in her prison cell the same evening, assuring her of his forgiveness but asking that she keep his identity a secret. Hester agrees.

For the next couple of years Hester makes her living as a seamstress while raising her daughter Pearl. Pearl is a flighty, intelligent, and mischievous child, and Hester at one point must beg Governor Bellingham not to place her in another family’s care. Hester successfully retains custody of Pearl and over time begins to win a more favorable reputation for herself because of her various charitable works.

Meanwhile, Chillingworth has befriended and moved in with a young but sickly minister named Arthur Dimmesdale . He does so ostensibly to treat Dimmesdale’s illness, but as time goes by Chillingworth becomes increasingly convinced that Dimmesdale’s suffering stems from an undisclosed dark secret. One day while Dimmesdale is sleeping, Chillingworth glimpses something—later revealed to be a branded letter A—on the minister’s chest. Now certain that Dimmesdale was Hester’s lover, Chillingworth uses his knowledge to covertly torment the minister.

Wracked with guilt, Dimmesdale goes one night to the scaffold where Hester was punished. There he is joined by Hester and Pearl (now seven), who are returning home after keeping vigil in a sick house. As the three watch, a meteor lights the sky in a way reminiscent of a letter A. At almost the same moment they notice Chillingworth watching Dimmesdale with a vindictive expression. Noting Dimmesdale’s obvious terror, Hester later approaches Chillingworth on his behalf. She is unable to persuade Chillingworth to give up his vengeful schemes but warns him that she will tell Dimmesdale the truth about who he is.

Hester accordingly plans to meet Dimmesdale in the forest . Sending Pearl off to play, Hester tries to comfort and reassure Dimmesdale, eventually urging him to start a new life somewhere else. She promises to accompany him and tries to introduce him properly to Pearl, who rebuffs him.

Hester and Dimmesdale plan to sail for Bristol the day after Dimmesdale gives a sermon in honor of Election Day. While attending the festivities, however, Hester learns from the ship’s captain that Chillingworth has also booked passage. Before she can decide what to do, Dimmesdale emerges from the church. Seeing Hester, he asks her to help him up the scaffold, where he publicly proclaims his guilt and reveals the letter on his chest. He then dies in Hester and Pearl’s arms as Chillingworth watches furiously.

In an epilogue the narrator explains that Chillingworth himself died shortly after Dimmesdale, leaving his wealth to Pearl. She and Hester then traveled to Europe, where it’s assumed Pearl eventually married. Hester later returned to Salem, where she continued to wear the scarlet letter , and provided comfort and advice to those in need. She died as an old woman and was buried near Dimmesdale; they shared a headstone inscribed with the letter A.

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Book Report on The Scarlet Letter Essay (Book Review)

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Authored by Nathaniel Hawthorne in 1850, The Scarlet Letter is a fascinating masterpiece featuring Hester Prynne as the protagonist. Hester bears a child, Pearl, who is a byproduct of an adulterous affair. Amid facing imprisonment, the main character strives to leave a life of repentance struggling to restore her dignity.

The author sets the novel in the seventeenth century in a Puritan community within Boston, Massachusetts. In this city, Hester gets out of the prison. She is carrying “her daughter in her arms with her body covered with a gown referred to as a rag of scarlet cloth that takes the shape of letter A” (Hawthorne 10). It signifies adultery. In the end, Dimmesdale reveals letter “A” marked in his breasts where Pearl kisses him only to mark the death of Chillingworth.

To deliver his targeted lessons, Hawthorne revolves around the main character to present the theme of remorse, transgression and conformity. Though the development of these themes is also a subject of other characters such as Chillingworth and Dimmesdale, Hester is outstandingly the central character since she makes the latter two behave in the manner they do in the novel to the extent of contributing towards their demise.

Hester is aware of the identity of one of the elderly onlookers as being her past lover. However, she goes down with a crowd of fathers and never puts it in white her identity. Her capacity to maintain secrecy is astounding since, as the author informs in chapter two, “One token of her shame would but poorly serve to hide another” (Hawthorne 31). It also evident that the elderly man is not aware of the reason as to why Hester encounters the punishment.

However, one of the elderly onlookers informs Chillingworth the reason behind the punishment: her involvement in an adulterous affair. Despite the fact that the novel is all about Hester, the author explores nothing much about her personality. Rather, he focuses on the forces that shape her real being.

In the early chapters of the book, the reader becomes aware that Hester was a strong and a morally upright woman. She recalls her parents as being passionate and vital role models who more often attempted to curb the likelihood of the emergence of incautious behaviors in her. Since she involved herself in an affair that resulted to public shaming, it is also evident that she was passionate in nature. Though shamed publicly, she does not allow these acts to change her personality or feel sorry about her past.

This fact is somewhat evident when she proclaims that “But this had been a sin of passion, not of principle, nor even purpose” (Hawthorne 45). Furthermore, the reader meets her in the novel as a woman who worked to gain hefty communal acceptance through her charitable work: something that she does as the main chore of her life when her daughter marries a European upon the demise of Dimmesdale and Chillingworth a year later.

By refusing to accept the societal tagging of acts referred to as ‘sinful’ to afflict her, Hester emerges as an ample character that questions and speculates the organizations of the society, enormously placing the moral aspect of the society into interrogation. The strong belief on her autonomy to reason and take charge of her actions arguably is as an immense source of her motivation.

As previously mentioned, some of the universal ideas introspected in The Scarlet Letter include offense, culpability and legalism. Conceptualization of sin infers bringing forth knowledge about the existence of sin and the repercussions of involvements in sinful behaviors. As it is evident in the Judeo-Christian tradition, sin fosters the separation of evil from the good. The result is the ample laying forth of true human nature, which is a subject of exposure to challenges and the urge to sin.

The tale of Hester and Dimmesdale is perhaps reminiscent of the Judeo-Christian tradition tales of Adam and eve. The similarity in these tales lies on foundations of the repercussions of sin, suffering and pain. In the two accounts, knowledge results from sinning. “The scarlet letter was her passport into regions where other women dared not tread” (Hawthorne 67).

For Hester, the letter is a discriminating passport depictive of her landing into places that other women in the New England had not endeavored. This way, she can contemplate about herself and the surrounding society in a more bold way. The realization of the fact that “No man, for any considerable period, can wear one face to himself and another to the multitude without finally getting bewildered as to which may be the true” (Hawthorne 105) makes the theme of sin and knowledge even more conspicuous in the novel.

Though Hester does not plainly admit that she was involved in sinful acts, the repercussions of sin are imminent since “She had not known the weight until she felt the freedom” (Hawthorne 147). Even though Hester and Dimmesdale are empathetic, attempting to reconcile themselves on daily life experiences, sin has certain moral consequences, which need to be conspicuous before the eyes of the society.

This is perhaps true since the society elders put more emphasis on seeing Hester go through the experiences of her involvement in sin right here on earth. The Puritan elders view sin as something worthy punishing. Unfortunately, this experience is prejudiced since Dimmesdale does not go through such experience. Later, women come to realize this fact.

They strongly believe that Hester’s source of sin relates to sexism of the men in their town. They seek help from her when faced with similar sexism forces emanating from the men. Even though the Puritan village may remain stagnant about the perception of the true nature of one’s involvement in sin, Dimmesdale and Hester are perhaps real witnesses that sin may create better platforms of understanding others and making one become sympathetic.

More importantly, it leads to personal growth. “Shame, Despair, Solitude: These had been her teachers – stern and wild ones – and they had made her strong, but taught her much amiss” (Hawthorne 165). In fact, it is perhaps after going through extraordinary circumstances that makes her an imperative figure in the society.

There is always a reason behind the publishing of every literary work. One could interpret a scholarly work from the contexts of the implied or textual perspectives amongst other perspectives. From the textual perspective, The Scarlet Letter is entertaining. More often, the reader feels sympathetic to Hester. However, he/she still advocates for harsh punishment for deceit, infidelity and hypocrisy as some of the detriments of the basic unit of society. This is also perhaps more consistent to what the Puritan elders thought.

The author seems bothered by the manner in which the society takes issues of equality. Is adultery a question of only a single gender: women alone? Was there no man figure in the picture during the act? Were the two genders not supposed to get an equal punishment? Even though Hester never revealed the real father to Pearl, arguably, the author, Hawthorne intended to raise the question of male dominance during the seventieth century.

The author perhaps also intended to put the societal leaders, who should act as moral guiders, into perspectives based on their ability to involve themselves in conspiracies that are detrimental of the moral institutions they proclaim to defend. Dimmesdale, a minister, would be the last person Chillingworth would have anticipated being involved in a secret affair with Hester.

However, amid such leaders, the author provides some hope of the emergence of better males’ generation when he presents Chillingworth as a scholar who allowed Pearl to inherit his property despite her being not his real daughter. Here, education stands out as an essential catalyst for transformation of society.

As portrayed in the end of the novel, every vice has its end, whether maintained in secret or not. The reader finally realizes the identity of Pearl’s father. Her mother’s grave is next to Dimmesdale. They both share the letter “A” in their common tombstone just as the letter was evident on Dimmesdale’s breasts.

It was also the shape taken by the scarlet cloth won by Hester. This way, the author offers an indication of the likelihood of eradication of a generation characterized by sin, and ushering in of a new one free from sin. In fact, The Scarlet Letter stands out as an informative literary masterpiece.

Works Cited

Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. London: Ticknor, Reed and Fields, 1850. Print.

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The Scarlet Letter

Nathaniel hawthorne, ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.

Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter . Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides.

The Scarlet Letter: Introduction

The scarlet letter: plot summary, the scarlet letter: detailed summary & analysis, the scarlet letter: themes, the scarlet letter: quotes, the scarlet letter: characters, the scarlet letter: symbols, the scarlet letter: literary devices, the scarlet letter: quizzes, the scarlet letter: theme wheel, brief biography of nathaniel hawthorne.

Historical Context of The Scarlet Letter

Other books related to the scarlet letter.

• Full Title: The Scarlet Letter
• When Written: 1848-1850
• Where Written: Salem, Massachusetts
• When Published: 1850
• Literary Period: Transcendentalism
• Genre: Novel
• Setting: Boston, Massachusetts in the 1640s
• Climax: Dimmesdale's confession and death
• Antagonist: Roger Chillingworth; the Puritans
• Point of View: Third person omniscient

Extra Credit for The Scarlet Letter

Hawthorne and the Salem Witch Trials: Nathaniel Hawthorne was a direct descendent of John Hathorne, (1641-1717), a Puritan justice of the peace. Justice Hathorne is best known for his role as the lead judge in the Salem Witch Trials, in which he sentenced numerous innocent people to death for allegedly practicing witchcraft. Nathaniel added a "w" to his name to distance himself from his infamous ancestor.

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• About the Book

America’s first psychological novel, Nathaniel Hawthorne’s THE SCARLET LETTER is a dark tale of love, crime and revenge set in colonial New England. It revolves around a single, forbidden act of passion that forever alters the lives of three members of a small Puritan community: Hester Prynne, an ardent and fierce woman who bears the punishment of her sin in humble silence; the Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, a respected public figure who is inwardly tormented by long-hidden guilt; and the malevolent Roger Chillingworth, Hester’s husband --- a man who seethes with an Ahab-like lust for vengeance.

The landscape of this classic novel is uniquely American, but the themes it explores are universal --- the nature of sin, guilt, and penitence, the clash between our private and public selves, and the spiritual and psychological cost of living outside society. Constructed with the elegance of a Greek tragedy, The Scarlet Letter brilliantly illuminates the truth that lies deep within the human heart.

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

• Publication Date: April 1, 2003
• Genres: Fiction
• Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Barnes & Noble Classics
• ISBN-10: 1593080123
• ISBN-13: 9781593080129

The Scarlet Letter

By nathaniel hawthorne.

The Scarlet Letter , published in 1850, is set in Puritan New England in the 17th century. Exploring the issues of grace, legalism, and guilt, it tells the story of Hester Prynne, a Puritan woman who commits adultry then struggles to create a new life.

Source: Hawthorne, N. (1850). The Scarlet Letter. Boston, MA: Ticknor and Fields.

• Year Published: 1850
• Language: English
• Country of Origin: United States of America
• Flesch–Kincaid Level: 11.0
• Word Count: 88,296
• Genre: Romance
• Keywords: 19th century literature, american literature, nathaniel hawthorne
• ✎ Cite This
• Available on iTunes U

Hawthorne, N. (1850). The Scarlet Letter . (Lit2Go ed.). Retrieved June 08, 2024, from https://etc.usf.edu/lit2go/127/the-scarlet-letter/

Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter . Lit2Go Edition. 1850. Web. https://etc.usf.edu/lit2go/127/the-scarlet-letter/ >. June 08, 2024.

Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter , Li2Go edition, (1850), accessed June 08, 2024, https://etc.usf.edu/lit2go/127/the-scarlet-letter/ .

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The scarlet letter, common sense media reviewers.

Classic novel of American religion, morality, and hypocrisy.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

The Scarlet Letter is one of the most celebrated n

Differing views of morality and sin are what drive

Although she has committed an act that offends the

Illicit sex is, of course, at the center of The Sc

Parents need to know that The Scarlet Letter is a classic American novel that deals with adultery, sin, religion, and redemption. Hawthorne's prose is dense with irony and symbolism, but readers who persevere will be rewarded by his subtle humor and acute understanding of human foibles.

Educational Value

The Scarlet Letter is one of the most celebrated novels in early American literature and is probably the magnum opus of its author, Nathaniel Hawthorne. It vividly depicts Puritan life in Massachusetts during the mid-1600s and explores issues of American morality, religion, and hypocrisy. Its use of symbolism can't be missed. The novel is frequently used in high school and early college literature classes and is a favorite example for discussion on AP tests and the like.

Positive Messages

Differing views of morality and sin are what drive the narrative of The Scarlet Letter . Hester bears the public shame for her transgression, but there are others who suffer for it in secret. Hester's unwavering goodness ultimately restores some of her standing in the community. Redemption is available to those who work for it.

Positive Role Models

Although she has committed an act that offends the morals of all her neighbors, Hester remains resolute in her pledge not to reveal the father of her child or to disclose a secret concerning her long-absent husband. She is a tender and loving mother. She even does charitable work, which allows her eventually to return to the good graces of the townspeople.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Illicit sex is, of course, at the center of The Scarlet Letter 's premise and plot. Hester is ostracized because she dares to raise a child out of wedlock and refuses to name the father. She and others come to bear responsibility for their actions. But this being a 19th-century novel about 17th-century Puritans, Hester's affair is not described in any detail likely to offend modern sensibilities.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Where to read, community reviews.

• Parents say (3)
• Kids say (9)

Based on 3 parent reviews

Should not be required reading…..

What's the story.

Set in the mid-1600s in a Puritan village near Boston, MA, THE SCARLET LETTER chronicles the spiritual journey of Hester Prynne, a married woman who becomes a social outcast when she conceives a child out of wedlock during her husband's long absence. Forced by the outraged townspeople to wear a vivid letter \"A\" for adultery on the breast of her gown, Hester refuses to name her daughter's father and accepts a life set apart from nearly everyone she knows. Only the intervention of the Rev. Arthur Dimmesdale keeps Hester and her impish daughter Pearl together. When Hester's missing husband secretly returns, posing as a doctor and calling himself Roger Chillingworth, the stage is set for a tumultuous story of sin, tragedy, and redemption.

Is It Any Good?

Hawthorne's prose can seem complicated and stilted to modern ears, but a careful reading reveals his delicious use of irony and symbolism to make his points about American morality and hypocrisy. Written in the mid-1800s, The Scarlet Letter is one of the most acclaimed early America novels and is frequently assigned in upper-level high school and entry-level college English Literature classes. It examines issues of sin and redemption and paints a vivid portrait of Puritan life in the mid-1600s.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about how views about adultery and children born out of wedlock have changed over time.

What is it about Hester's attitude regarding her affair that so angers her fellow townspeople? Why doesn't the father of the child come forward?

Young Pearl is regarded by some of the villagers as a kind of demon-child. Does her behavior in the book strike you as normal for a child her age? Do you believe that the sins of a father or mother can be passed along to a child?

The Scarlet Letter is noted for Hawthorne's use of symbols. How is the letter "A" used as a symbol? What does it mean in different contexts?

This novel is considered a classic and is often required reading in school. Why do you think that is?

Book Details

• Author : Nathaniel Hawthorne
• Genre : Historical Fiction
• Topics : History
• Book type : Fiction
• Publisher : Simon & Brown
• Publication date : January 1, 1850
• Number of pages : 208
• Last updated : June 11, 2015

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The Scarlet Letter Summary

The Scarlet Letter Summary: A Tale of Sin, Repentance, and Redemption

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s timeless novel, The Scarlet Letter, published in 1850, explores the themes of sin, guilt, and redemption set in seventeenth-century Puritan New England. This captivating story follows the life of Hester Prynne, a young woman accused of adultery, as she navigates the harsh judgment and punishment of her community. The Scarlet Letter has not only become a classic work of literature but has also inspired various adaptations in film and television. In this article, we delve into a summary of the novel, uncover seven unique facts related to the book, movie, or show, answer twelve frequently asked questions, share intriguing insights from professionals in the field of cinema and literature, and conclude with some final thoughts.

Summary of The Scarlet Letter:

Set in the Puritan society of Boston in the mid-1600s, The Scarlet Letter tells the story of Hester Prynne, a woman who is condemned for committing adultery. Hester is forced to wear a scarlet letter “A” on her chest, symbolizing her sin, as a constant reminder of her wrongdoing and to shame her in front of the community. Despite the public humiliation, Hester remains strong and refuses to reveal the identity of her lover, Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, who also bears the burden of guilt.

As the story progresses, Hester’s husband, Roger Chillingworth, disguised as a physician, arrives in Boston and seeks revenge on the unknown man who committed adultery with Hester. Chillingworth discovers Dimmesdale’s secret and torments him mentally and physically. Hester and Dimmesdale’s relationship develops further, and they plan to leave Boston and start a new life elsewhere. However, on the day of their departure, Dimmesdale confesses his sin publicly, revealing the scarlet letter engraved on his chest before dying in Hester’s arms.

Hester, who had become a respected member of the community through her charitable works, continues to wear the scarlet letter until her death, years later. In the end, the letter ceases to represent adultery and instead symbolizes her strength, resilience, and ability to find redemption.

Unique Facts:

1. Historical Inspiration: Hawthorne drew inspiration for The Scarlet Letter from his own ancestors’ involvement in the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. His great-great-grandfather, Judge John Hathorne, played a prominent role in the trials, which later haunted Hawthorne’s conscience.

2. Symbolism of the Scarlet Letter: The scarlet letter “A” represents many layers of symbolism, including adultery, alienation, and even angel. It serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of sin, but also as a catalyst for personal growth and transformation.

3. Cinematic Adaptations: The Scarlet Letter has been adapted into several film and television adaptations. Notable adaptations include the 1995 film directed by Roland Joffé, starring Demi Moore, Gary Oldman, and Robert Duvall, and a 1979 TV miniseries starring Meg Foster and John Heard.

4. Feminist Interpretation: The Scarlet Letter has often been analyzed from a feminist perspective, highlighting Hester Prynne’s strength and defiance against societal norms. She challenges the patriarchy and refuses to let her sin define her.

5. Criticism and Praise: Upon its publication, The Scarlet Letter received mixed reviews. While some praised its profound exploration of guilt and redemption, others criticized its perceived immorality and lack of proper religious sentiment.

6. Hawthorne’s Style: Hawthorne’s writing style is characterized by its rich symbolism, complex character development, and exploration of moral and psychological themes. This unique style contributed to the enduring legacy of The Scarlet Letter.

7. Literary Influence: The Scarlet Letter has had a profound impact on literature, inspiring countless authors and works that explore similar themes of guilt, shame, and redemption. Its influence can be seen in the works of authors such as F. Scott Fitzgerald, Toni Morrison, and Margaret Atwood.

1. Is The Scarlet Letter based on a true story?

No, The Scarlet Letter is a work of fiction. However, Nathaniel Hawthorne drew inspiration from historical events, such as the Puritan society and the Salem Witch Trials, to create a realistic backdrop for his narrative.

2. Why did Hester refuse to reveal the identity of her lover?

Hester refuses to reveal her lover’s identity out of loyalty and love. She believes that exposing her lover’s sin would only cause further harm and destruction.

3. What is the significance of the forest in the novel?

The forest represents a place of freedom and escape from the oppressive society of Puritan Boston. It is a sanctuary where characters can shed their societal roles and reveal their true selves.

4. Does Hester ever remove the scarlet letter?

Hester never removes the scarlet letter throughout the novel. It becomes a part of her identity and serves as a constant reminder of her past actions.

5. Why does Chillingworth seek revenge on Dimmesdale?

Chillingworth seeks revenge on Dimmesdale because he suspects that he is Hester’s lover. Chillingworth is consumed by his desire for vengeance and aims to torment Dimmesdale mentally and physically.

6. What is the role of Pearl in the story?

Pearl, Hester and Dimmesdale’s daughter, serves as a symbol of Hester’s sin and a constant reminder of her past. She also represents the possibility of redemption and serves as a catalyst for Hester’s personal growth.

7. How does The Scarlet Letter explore the theme of guilt?

The Scarlet Letter delves into the theme of guilt through the internal struggles of characters like Hester and Dimmesdale. It explores the psychological effects of guilt and the quest for redemption.

8. What is the relationship between religion and sin in the novel?

The novel portrays the Puritan society’s strict religious beliefs and its harsh judgment of sin. It questions the effectiveness of such a rigid religious system in dealing with human frailty and the complexities of sin.

9. Are there any other notable adaptations of The Scarlet Letter?

Apart from film and television adaptations, The Scarlet Letter has also inspired numerous stage and operatic adaptations, further showcasing its enduring popularity.

10. What is the significance of the name “Dimmesdale”?

The name “Dimmesdale” is believed to be a combination of “dim” and “dale,” symbolizing the character’s internal darkness and suffering within the confines of the Puritan society.

11. How does Hawthorne explore the theme of redemption in The Scarlet Letter?

Hawthorne portrays redemption as a gradual and difficult process. The characters of Hester and Dimmesdale strive towards redemption through their acts of penance, forgiveness, and ultimately, their acceptance of their past sins.

12. What message does The Scarlet Letter convey to its readers?

The Scarlet Letter conveys a message of the complexity of human nature, the destructive power of guilt, the importance of individual freedom, and the possibility of redemption and personal growth even in the face of societal judgment.

Insights from Professionals:

1. “The Scarlet Letter is an enduring masterpiece that explores the darkest corners of the human psyche, while also offering hope and redemption. Hawthorne’s use of symbolism and his ability to delve into the complexities of guilt and sin make this novel a timeless classic.” – Renowned literary critic and professor of English.

2. “The Scarlet Letter’s exploration of feminism and the defiance of societal norms was revolutionary for its time. Hester Prynne emerges as a strong, independent woman who refuses to let her past define her. This novel laid the foundation for future feminist literature.” – Scholar specializing in gender studies.

3. “Hawthorne’s portrayal of the Puritan society and its hypocrisy is a scathing critique of religious fundamentalism. The Scarlet Letter forces readers to question the effectiveness of an oppressive religious system in dealing with human flaws and the complexities of morality.” – Critic and author specializing in religious studies.

4. “The Scarlet Letter’s impact on literature cannot be overstated. Its exploration of guilt, shame, and redemption has influenced countless authors, shaping the way we examine and understand the human condition in literature.” – Expert in American literature.

5. “The Scarlet Letter’s enduring popularity lies in its ability to resonate with readers across generations. Its themes of sin, guilt, and redemption are universal and continue to captivate audiences, ensuring its place in the literary canon.” – Literature professor and author.

Unique Final Thoughts:

The Scarlet Letter remains a remarkable work of literature that continues to captivate readers with its exploration of sin, guilt, and redemption. Hawthorne’s vivid storytelling and profound symbolism have solidified its place as a classic in American literature. The novel’s themes of societal judgment, feminism, and the pursuit of personal freedom remain as relevant today as they were over a century ago. The Scarlet Letter’s impact extends beyond the pages of the book, with various adaptations in film, television, and the stage, further cementing its place in popular culture. Whether experienced through the words on a page or on the silver screen, The Scarlet Letter’s enduring legacy lies in its ability to provoke introspection, challenge societal norms, and offer hope for redemption.

Historical Context

The scarlet letter, by nathaniel hawthorne.

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s ‘The Scarlet Letter’ has its storyline built based on the era of the Puritanism movement which took place around the mid-1600s across several Massachusetts towns.

Article written by Victor Onuorah

Degree in Journalism from University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

Hawthorne’s ancestors were among the English Puritans who traveled along with British lawyer, John Winthrop, across the Atlantic into the Massachusetts Bay area. Following successful resettlement,  Winthrop took up leadership in the capacity of a governor and used his political influence to popularize his Puritanism legacy and culture to the towns under his leadership. This article will examine key reasons why Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote ‘The Scarlet Letter .’

The Mass Influx of English Puritans into Boston

The historical context of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s ‘ The Scarlet Letter ’ can’t be complete without tracking back to 1630, the year that John Winthrop led one of the biggest English puritans crossing from The Uk to the United States – and then settling across Massachusetts.

Born in a family which enjoyed a fair share of the scarce privilege of feudal wealth, Winthrop left his happy, comfortable life to pursue his puritan dreams and ideas – leading a legion of faithful followers across The Atlantic Ocean, settling in the Massachusetts Bay Area.

Winthrop had earlier entered Massachusetts and had started giving voice to his Puritan ideals among the people – with his major antagonist being King Charles I. By the end of the year 1629, his influence had bought the mind of the people that they elected him the governor of the colony. 

As the governor, Winthrop ruled with great authority by consolidating the government laws with religious precepts and enforcing them across the several towns he governed. 

The Height of the Puritan Revolution in New England

Winthrop’s reign – which would go on almost consequently for the next twenty-something years – marked the height of the puritan revolution in Boston, Massachusetts.

 Based on the core tenets of the Christian tradition, Winthrop’s Puritanism centered on the ten commandments of God – and other moral rules which going against would constitute ‘sin’ and moral crime. 

At this point, the church had the responsibility of catering to spiritual guidance for the people but also had a great influence on governance – especially in terms of dictating the dos and don’ts for the people and organizing their social needs and activities among other things. 

This 1630s reality in New England, particularly across several Massachusetts colonies, becomes the basis for the zeitgeist portrayed in ‘ The Scarlet Letter ’ by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Salem, one of the colonies, is at its puritan heights when Hester Prynne falls short of the sin of adultery, one of the most deplorable moral crimes of the time.

And even though such action doesn’t exactly violate government laws for the people, it infringes on the moral laws of the puritan tradition, and because the church has a great influence on the government and its judiciary, she gets her punishment for such actions.

The impact of Governor Winthrop’s legacy in Massachusetts was far-reaching and aside from stealing the spirit of the times in which Winthrop ruled, there’s also speculation that the idiosyncrasies of some of the foundational characters in ‘The Scarlet Letter ’ are also culled by Nathaniel Hawthorne from the people in this historical period.

Hawthorne’s Ancestral Legacy

Another important backstory responsible for the creation of ‘ The Scarlet Letter ’ was the tremendous involvement of the author’s ancestor in the Salem witch trial and execution, which took place toward the end of the 1600s. 

Hawthorne had several ancestral relatives on this, but in the thick of the affair was his great grandfather, John Hathorne – who was a prominent judge in the witches’ trial and execution, an incident which is arguably one of the lowest points in human rights violation. 

This part of puritan history was also very important and vaguely represented in ‘ The Scarlet Letter ’ as is seen with government Bellingham; his trial and execution of convicted witches – with his sister being one of them.

The Salem Custom House

In ‘ The Scarlet Letter ,’ the Salem Custom House is mentioned, and it goes to mean much more than just a fictional creation because it’s a place and building that existed. 

The author had worked for the Salem Custom House – an establishment with was responsible for the people’s tax needs. He was later dismissed for his contradictory if not slightly controversial social, political, and religious beliefs. 

Hawthorne included this narrative as a pre-story involving an unnamed narrator who gets fired from the tax company but falls back on the pieces of manuscripts he had found in the attic of the company’s building before he was fired.

A ‘Decline’ of America’s Literary Industry?

From the mid-1800s, the literary industry had been saturated by female authors – with the majority of the popular and best-selling books of this time all having been written by women. 

Hawthorne wasn’t a big fan of these works, not because they were written by women, but because he thought they lacked real substance and, as a result, were merely written for their commercial viability. 

For this reason, Hawthorne sought to create a better book with substance to compete with the industry’s best – even though he was fully aware he might have to sacrifice the book’s market success. 

‘ The Scarlet Letter ’ became the product of such an endeavor for the author, and even though the book instantly became a banger among readers, Hawthorne believed it could have sold even more if the book was devoid of substance and written to appease the market. 

Influence of Transcendentalism

Although Hawthorne was more concerned with writing about dark romanticism ( – as he was one of its 19th-century pioneers) than he was about transcendentalism – dominated by the writings of  Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau , his book ‘ The Scarlet Letter ’ carries some of the ideas of transcendentalists. 

For example, readers can notice from the tone of the narrative, the unnamed narrator (which very likely portrays Hawthorne himself) is always quick to support the protagonist Hester Prynne’s actions geared towards expressing her independent beliefs and opinions as opposed to those of the authorities – which the narrator condemns and weighs heavily down on.

What historical importance does ‘The Scarlet Letter’ have?

‘ The Scarlet Letter ’ is a book that retells an important part of American history – which is based on New England Puritanism and its height in the Massachusetts Bay Area. 

How does Hawthorne represent John Winthrop in his book, ‘The Scarlet Letter’?

Hawthorne indirectly uses his character Arthur Dimmesdale to represent the personality of John Winthrop – with both idiosyncratic sharing similarities of some sort. 

Is the tone in ‘The Scarlet Letter’ pro or anti-Puritanism? 

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s tone in his book, ‘The Scarlet Letter ’ is very clearly anti-Puritanism. The author takes the transcendentalist mindset towards the book, and readers could feel how characters with independent, individualistic mentality are praised while the government and its overly imposing laws are criticized. 

Was ‘The Scarlet Letter’ by Nathaniel Hawthorne banned? 

Following its publication, ‘The Scarlet Letter’ received a series of criticism leading to its censorship- with many stakeholders claiming the book promoted obscenity and carried sexually unacceptable themes.

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About Victor Onuorah

Victor is as much a prolific writer as he is an avid reader. With a degree in Journalism, he goes around scouring literary storehouses and archives; picking up, dusting the dirt off, and leaving clean even the most crooked pieces of literature all with the skill of analysis.

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