The Scarlet Letter is a classic novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne, published in 1850. Set in Puritan New England in the 17th century, the novel tells the story of Hester Prynne, a woman who has committed adultery and is publicly shamed and ostracized by her community. The novel begins with Hester being publicly shamed and forced to wear a scarlet letter “A” on her chest as a sign of her sin. She is also forced to stand on a scaffold in the town square for three hours, where she is subjected to public humiliation and scorn. Hester is eventually allowed to return to her home, but she is still shunned by the community. She is also forbidden to reveal the identity of her child’s father, and so she is left to raise her daughter Pearl alone. The novel follows Hester’s struggles to survive in a society that has rejected her, as well as her attempts to find redemption and peace. Along the way, she meets a mysterious scholar named Roger Chillingworth, who is determined to uncover the identity of Pearl’s father. The novel also explores themes of guilt, sin, and redemption, as well as the power of love and forgiveness. In the end, Hester is able to find peace and acceptance, and the novel ends with her and Pearl leaving the town together.
By Nathaniel Hawthorne · First published 1850 · Genre: Romance, Historical Fiction, Drama · 24 chapters