| Author |
Hawthorne, Nathaniel, 1804-1864 |
| Title |
The Scarlet Letter
|
| Note |
There is an improved edition of this title, eBook #25344
|
| Note |
Reading ease score: 64.4 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read.
|
| Credits |
Dartmouth College
|
| Summary |
"The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a novel written in the mid-19th century. The story is set in Puritan Massachusetts and revolves around the themes of sin, punishment, and societal judgment. The main character, Hester Prynne, finds herself at the center of a moral crisis after bearing an illegitimate child, a consequence for which she is publicly shamed and forced to wear a scarlet letter 'A' as a symbol of her shame. The opening of the novel presents the grim setting of a prison door in a Puritan community, where a crowd gathers to witness the punishment of Hester Prynne. Described is the somber atmosphere filled with townspeople, particularly women, eager to judge and condemn Hester. As she emerges from the prison with her infant, she clutches the child tightly, showcasing both her defiance and vulnerability. The letter ‘A’ on her dress becomes a focal point, representing the complex interplay of sin and identity within the constraints of rigid societal constructs. As readers are introduced to the town's harsh attitudes, they are invited to reflect on themes of guilt, isolation, and the human spirit as Hester navigates her new reality. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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| Language |
English |
| LoC Class |
PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature
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| Subject |
Adultery -- Fiction
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| Subject |
Historical fiction
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| Subject |
Revenge -- Fiction
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| Subject |
Psychological fiction
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| Subject |
Married women -- Fiction
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| Subject |
Clergy -- Fiction
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| Subject |
Triangles (Interpersonal relations) -- Fiction
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| Subject |
Illegitimate children -- Fiction
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| Subject |
Women immigrants -- Fiction
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| Subject |
Puritans -- Fiction
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| Subject |
Boston (Mass.) -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775 -- Fiction
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| Category |
Text |
| EBook-No. |
33 |
| Release Date |
Jun 1, 1992 |
| Most Recently Updated |
May 13, 2022 |
| Copyright Status |
Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads |
2584 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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