The Scarlet Letter

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a two hundred and

fifty-four page novel about Hester Prynne, Pearl, Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale, and

their conflicts. The book opens with a discussion about the prison door and a

lonely rosebush whose significance will be mentioned later. It goes on to tell of

Hester's punishment for her sin; she must forever wear the letter 'A' on her

breast. She must be marked as an adulteress for she and the Reverend had an

affair. Hester was found out, but her partner was not. She has a baby, named

Pearl, who is shunned for being a child of an evil bond. The story continues

through the lives of these three people, telling of their sorrows, problems and

fears.

The Scarlet Letter is set in the Puritanical Boston, Massachusetts during

the 1600's. This period was often a harsh time in America. Most of the comforts

in England were all but nonexistent in the colonies. The land was often harsh in

climate and soil. It was also a hotbed of change. The people were

experimenting with democracy. They were exploring new boundaries wider than

they had ever known. The Puritans were practicing a strict theocracy that ruled

with an iron hand. Their ways of life were also tightly formed around their

religious beliefs.

The character Hester Prynne is a stubborn, bold, and proud woman. She

wears her letter with pride despite its implications. Despite how she acts on the

outside, Hester doesn't feel guilty about her relationship with the reverend and

she continues to love him. She mentions this to him in a whisper (p. 186), "What

we did had a consecration of its own. We felt it so!" Her daughter, Pearl, is a

rambunctious child often seen as the devil's child. Pearl says things like they

are. For example the child says (p. 175), "... the sunshine does not love you ... it

is afraid of something on your bosom." Reverend Dimmesdale is a quiet,

withdrawn, and guilty man who severely punishes himself for his sins. He feels

he has betrayed his God, his people, and most of all, himself. He wishes to be

as brave as Hester and confess his sins. He practices his confession (p. 140),

"... I, your pastor ... am utterly a pollution and a lie!"

Symbolism floods this novel. Some of the more notable symbols will be

discussed. Chapter one (p. 56) mentions a rosebush flourishing amongst

"unsightly vegetation which evidently found something congenial in the soil that

[held] ... a prison." It blooms healthily every year. This rose bush symbolizes

Hester and how she can bloom in such a harsh environment. Pearl herself is the

symbol of the relationship between Dimmesdale and Hester. She takes a role of

devilishness and yet is the model of beauty and love. Later in the book, when

the three main characters are standing on the scaffold in the square (p. 151), a

letter 'A' is written in red across the sky. This celestial phenomena symbolizes

that even adultery could be something beautiful and amazing.

The most appealing aspect of The Scarlet Letter was the interesting story

line. The love story between Hester and Reverend Dimmesdale to be very

romantic and inspiring. It made staying focused on the book easier. The most

unpleasant aspect was that they spoke Old English. It was often difficult to

understand. Another unappreciated part of it was how the sentences often

rambled and seemed to never get to the point.

Overall The Scarlet Letter was an enjoyable piece. It remained true to

history throughout and also tantalized the readers tastes. The lesson this book

tries to get across is that even a bad thing can be made good. This classic

deserves to be recommended to any reader.