The Scarlet Letter (Signature Editions)
It is the mid-seventeenth century in Boston. Hester Prynne, dignified and silent, is led through prison doors to her public shaming by members of the Puritan town. Holding her illegitimate child to her breast, and bearing a bright scarlet letter "A" embroidered on her bodice, Hester must now struggle to create a new life for herself and her child within this censorious community.
When her missing spouse reappears, reveals himself to her, and takes up residence in town under an assumed identity, Hester, her daughter, her disguised husband, and her clandestine lover are forced to abide in close quarters--leading quiet, anguished lives. But the secrets eat away at their keepers, and only the most resolute, the most spiritual--rather than the merely religious--will survive the fall-out from the affair's exposure.
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Community Reviews
Good plot, character development, themes, etc... which probably accounts for it being part of our 11th grade requirements, but what a difficult read!
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.
One of my favorite classics. I thought this would be a slow read, but I had a hard time putting it down.
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
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
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