To atone for her terrible sin, Hester Prynne is sentenced to forever wear a scarlet letter embroidered upon her chest. Shunned by the whole of Boston for the ignominy the letter represents, Hester is left without friend or employment after her release from prison to care for herself and her young child; but, through her daughter, the unwitting evidence to her crime, and her talents with the needle, she finds new purpose in her life. Redemption, though, evades her still in the ominous shadow of old Roger Chillingworth, and the great looming specter of the scarlet letter itself. And there is another who walks, guilty just as she, who goes unpunished and unknown. She would have his secret kept, but only in the revelation of her accomplice's identity will true peace be found. Nathaniel Hawthorne's THE SCARLET LETTER paints a vivid picture of Puritan Boston, and the scorching punishments so sedulously given out during the era.

         The story opens with Hester's public release from prison, carrying her infant daughter in her arms. With the entire populace of Boston looking on, she is marched to a pillory and put on display before the people, that blazing scarlet letter embroidered upon her chest. The reader is to understand that this letter "A" stands for adulterer, her previously commited crime for which she now stands accused.


         In this chapter we are also introduced to two other very important characters; Roger Chillingworth and the Rev. Mr. Arthur Dimmesdale. Mr. Chillingworth first steps into the story in a conversation with a fellow bystander at Hester's "standing". The reader discovers that he is recently arrived in Boston from Mother England, and that he is a man cloaked in much mystery. The author assures us that he has a history with Ms. Prynne and that because of this past relationship, his place in the story is a vital one. The Rev. Dimmesdale is introduced when the leading religious offical cries out to him from his seat above the crowd. After all, this adulterous woman was a member of Dimmesdale's own parish. The official calls on Arthur to draw forth from Hester's lips the name of her fellow adulterer so that he who stands as guilty as Hester can be punished likewise. She refuses her Reverend's request, vowing instead to protect him from the same awful punishment she has been subjected to in response to their jointly commited crime. We see in Mr. Dimmesdale's mien, a manner that suggests a quiet refelctive man, holy and upright before the Lord; but, he, like old Mr. Chillingworth, has his secrets.

the setting and the characters. Hawthorne paints a very vivid and historically accurate living portrait of Puritanical Boston. His characters, too, are infused with the spirit that makes literay persons seem real and breathing. I also liked the language (for the most part). The language and sentence structures during Hawthorne's time were so much more complex and descriptive than the ones found in literature today. Although sometimes it gets slightly confusing () its very beautiful to read. The plot is also fairly suspenseful.

seeing the horrid and gradual decay of Rev. Dimmesdale and being unable to do anything to stop it or alert him to the evil that was Mr. Chillingworth. This book had me gritting my teeth at parts.

I wanted to share what I'd read with some else. It's quite a profound message that this book leaves you with. It shows that rigidty and deceit and bitterness, each shown by multiple characters throughout the book, aren't ultimately beneficial to the law, those who make it, those who enforce it, and, perhaps most importantly, those under it. The people of Boston and the officials of the city both treat Hester with severity and cast her out of society. Hester herself hides the identity of her fellow criminal. Rev. Dimmesdale refuses to step into the light and admit his secrets and dwells in bitter guilt, leaving his once strong and loving heart open to a looming shadow. Mr. Chillingworth is single-minded in his thoughts of gaining severe and complete revenge. This rends not only the fabric of Hester's own fate, but the cloth of her daughter, Rev. Dimmesdale, Mr. Chillingworth, the city officials, and the people of Boston. If its one thing I've drawn from this book its that understanding and patience are really essential ingredients in the law; without them comes an ending that no one really benefits from and often leaves you in discomfort some way or another.

Glad to be alive during this day and age. After reading this book I realized once again how blessed I am to live in a country like a America and in a time, that for all its problems, doesn't meet illegal activity with brutality.

is Nathaniel Hawthorne one of the great American Authors of the 19th century. He was born in 1804 and lived until 1864, when, most probably due to his failing health in his final years, he died in his sleep. Hawthorne was the author of such notable works as The Blithedale Romance, The House of the Seven Gables, and of course, The Scarlet Letter, which is perhaps his most famous piece.

if you love classic literature, this is a must read. Captivating characters and a plot that just keeps on twisting. It certainly didn't end like I thought it would.

sometimes it can be hard to understand due to anachronistic words/sayings and also references to things that don't exist now. A Cliff-noted version might be more helpful than this one for someone just starting to delve into classic literature.

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Created Oct 23, 2003 at 10:33am • Submit your own review...