THE SCARLET LETTERNathaniel Hawthorne

English 10

A

Nathaniel Hawthorne 1804-1864 Salem, Massachussetts Published in 1850-brought fame Over 150 years ago.

Themes Alienation Breaking society’s rules A woman lets her heart rule her head and

suffers. Romance – Deals with internal truth or truths

of the human heart. Relationship with nature. Interior psychology of individual characters.

Setting

Puritan Boston, Massachusetts, in the early 1600s. Puritans arrived in New England in the

Massachusetts Bay Colony in the early 1600s.

Believed in a pure interpretation of the Bible.

Religion and government closely intertwined. Ministers counseled judges. Strict rules against theater, music,

sensuous poetry, and frivolous dress.

Character Hester-

Came to America to wait for her husband who was finishing business in Europe to arrive.

Husband is captured by Indians and never shows up. He is believed to be dead.

Hester commits adultery and becomes pregnant.

She is imprisoned and must wear the scarlet letter, which she elaborately embroiders in gold.

Must stand on the public scaffold. Does so wearing the letter and holding three-

month-old Pearl.

Chillingworth-An old man new to the village asks about her and learns her story.

Rev. Dimmesdale- A revered minister in the village.

Pearl-Hester’s daughter

Romance – Deals with internal truth or truths of the human heart.

Relationship with nature.

Assignment

Read chapters 1-6 by Tuesday, September 7.

Keep character profiles in your novel section. Write down characteristics of the characters and emotions you feel for the characters.

As you read, think of whom you feel to be the father of Hester’s child.