THE SCARLET LETTER BY NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE :- A REVIEW
This book was published in 1850 and is a work of fiction with historical elements, set during the Puritan era. The story begins with a woman named Hester Prynne, who commits adultery. However, because she was pregnant at the time, she wasn't sentenced to death—since adultery was a criminal offense in Puritan America. To protect the identity of the child's father from facing the death penalty, she refuses to reveal his name. Instead, Hester is punished through public humiliation and forced to wear a scarlet letter "A" on her chest, symbolizing "Adultery." As the story unfolds, we see how the meaning of the letter changes from "Adultery" to "Able," and we also discover who the father of her child is.
The novel explores themes like pride, truth, morality, guilt, and revenge. The writing can be a bit challenging at times, but it's incredibly beautiful. Hawthorne describes everything so vividly that it paints a clear picture of the time period, creating a very atmospheric experience.
There are a few supernatural elements in the story, which fit with the Puritan era's beliefs. At that time, people believed in many superstitions, and since Nathaniel Hawthorne came from a Puritan family, these things were not supernatural to him—they were a part of his reality, or what he considered truth.
Some of the things I loved most about this book are:
It doesn't justify adultery. While we see the love between Hester and her lover, and how she suffers under the judgment of others, the story never lets us forget that her actions had consequences and brought pain. This might reflect Hawthorne's Puritan upbringing.
Even though Hester is a Puritan and many of her thoughts are shaped by that background, she stands her ground and remains strong. She is not a weak protagonist.
Pearl, Hester's daughter, constantly reminds her of the sin she committed, almost acting as a living "scarlet letter." Despite this, Hester never resents her child—she loves her deeply.
This book was published in 1850 and is a work of fiction with historical elements, set during the Puritan era. The story begins with a woman named Hester Prynne, who commits adultery. However, because she was pregnant at the time, she wasn't sentenced to death—since adultery was a criminal offense in Puritan America. To protect the identity of the child's father from facing the death penalty, she refuses to reveal his name. Instead, Hester is punished through public humiliation and forced to wear a scarlet letter "A" on her chest, symbolizing "Adultery." As the story unfolds, we see how the meaning of the letter changes from "Adultery" to "Able," and we also discover who the father of her child is.
The novel explores themes like pride, truth, morality, guilt, and revenge. The writing can be a bit challenging at times, but it's incredibly beautiful. Hawthorne describes everything so vividly that it paints a clear picture of the time period, creating a very atmospheric experience.
There are a few supernatural elements in the story, which fit with the Puritan era's beliefs. At that time, people believed in many superstitions, and since Nathaniel Hawthorne came from a Puritan family, these things were not supernatural to him—they were a part of his reality, or what he considered truth.
Some of the things I loved most about this book are:
It doesn't justify adultery. While we see the love between Hester and her lover, and how she suffers under the judgment of others, the story never lets us forget that her actions had consequences and brought pain. This might reflect Hawthorne's Puritan upbringing.
Even though Hester is a Puritan and many of her thoughts are shaped by that background, she stands her ground and remains strong. She is not a weak protagonist.
Pearl, Hester's daughter, constantly reminds her of the sin she committed, almost acting as a living "scarlet letter." Despite this, Hester never resents her child—she loves her deeply.