The Scarlet Letter

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The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a classic novel set in Puritanical Boston in the mid-17th century. It tells the story of Hester Prynne, a young woman who is publicly shamed and ostracized for having a child out of wedlock. Hester is forced to wear a scarlet "A" on her clothing to signify her status as an adulterer. As she struggles to survive in a Puritanical society that is unforgiving of her sins, Hester is eventually able to redeem herself through her strong will and determination. The novel examines themes of sin, guilt, and repentance in a powerful way.

Throughout the novel, readers are able to explore the inner workings of Hester's mind and understand the consequences of her actions and how they affected those around her. The Scarlet Letter is an emotionally charged and thought-provoking story that is sure to stay with readers long after they finish the book.

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Published Nov 15, 2019

272 pages

Average rating: 6.69

331 RATINGS

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Sherlock

Nov 26, 2024

Good plot, character development, themes, etc... which probably accounts for it being part of our 11th grade requirements, but what a difficult read!

Miss Scarlett

May 06, 2025

9/10 stars

It was a sad story. Even so, I loved it. This is the first Hawthorne's novel I read. I'm surprised about his ability for making you feel close to the characters and close to the story, and at the same time, you, as a reader, feel the story as an intruder, as a real witness of a tragedy you don't belong to, but you are taking part in. It was beautiful, especially, the depictions of the walks through the wild and unexplored woods of New England. I felt it as an autumnal reading. Very soft, very gentle, very simple and quiet in appearance, and full of violence and injustice on the other hand. A painful love story, but most of all, a story about love and hate, and the very little distance between them. A story about humankind conscience vs sin. A tragedy in all its rule. The final chapter is a masterpiece.

wardbunch

Mar 26, 2025

10/10 stars

Just love Hawthorne.

Jesica Clemmons

Jan 26, 2025

9/10 stars

One of my favorite classics. I thought this would be a slow read, but I had a hard time putting it down.

kathie

Jan 11, 2025

8/10 stars

cancel culture has always been a thing! surprisingly enjoyable to read. maybe just because i’ve read a little hawthorne before or maybe because i’ve been reading a lot recently, but i didn’t find the style too bad/hard to read!

unfortunately there are some racist descriptions of native americans, though i can’t be surprised due to the time period, and they’re fairly limited