Summary
Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, published in 1850, stands as one of the most influential works of American literature. Set in 17th-century Boston, this historical novel explores themes of sin, shame, and redemption through the story of Hester Prynne, a woman condemned to wear a scarlet letter “A” as punishment for adultery. Hawthorne's richly symbolic tale offers a searing critique of Puritan hypocrisy while examining the psychological toll of guilt and social ostracism. Praised for its complex characters, evocative prose, and probing moral questions, The Scarlet Letter was one of the first mass-produced books in the United States and an immediate bestseller. A fixture in high school and college literature curricula, Hawthorne’s work continues to provoke discussion and debate.
Plot
In Puritan Boston, Hester Prynne is publicly shamed for committing adultery and giving birth to a child out of wedlock. As punishment, she is forced to wear a scarlet letter “A” on her chest. Hester refuses to reveal the identity of her lover and raises her daughter Pearl alone. Her long-lost husband returns and, upon learning of her affair, vows to discover and take revenge on Hester's secret lover.
Hester's husband, now going by the name Roger Chillingworth, suspects the sickly Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale of being Pearl's father. He moves in with Dimmesdale as his physician and begins to psychologically torture him. Meanwhile, Hester works as a seamstress and performs acts of charity, slowly earning back some respect from the community. However, there are still those who wish to take Pearl away from her.
After seven years, Hester meets Dimmesdale in the forest and reveals Chillingworth's true identity. They make plans to flee to Europe together. On Election Day, Dimmesdale gives a powerful sermon but then dramatically confesses to being Pearl's father in front of the whole town. He collapses and dies in Hester's arms on the scaffold where she was originally punished. Chillingworth dies soon after, having lost his will for revenge.
Hester and Pearl leave for Europe, where Pearl eventually marries and Hester inherits property from Chillingworth. Years later, Hester returns alone to her cottage in Boston and resumes wearing the scarlet letter by choice. When she dies, she is buried near Dimmesdale under a tombstone bearing a scarlet “A.”
Themes
Sin, guilt, and redemption
Identity and society
Nature versus civilization
Punishment and judgment
Isolation and alienation
Hypocrisy and integrity
Gender roles and feminism
Setting
The Scarlet Letter is set in the Massachusetts Bay Colony between 1642 and 1649. This was a time of strict religious adherence and moral codes in the colonies, where Puritan settlers sought to create a pious society according to their interpretation of Biblical law. The novel vividly portrays the repressive social norms and harsh judgments that characterized this era.
The story primarily takes place in Boston, one of the most important settlements in colonial New England. Key locations within the town include the prison where Hester Prynne is initially held, the scaffold in the town square where she faces public shame, and the small cottage on the outskirts of town where she later lives in isolation with her daughter Pearl. The nearby forest also serves as an important setting, representing a space beyond the reach of Puritan law where characters can speak and act more freely.
Nathaniel Hawthorne contrasts the stark, repressive atmosphere of Puritan Boston with glimpses of the world beyond. References are made to England, where some characters have come from or plan to return to, as well as to nearby Native American communities. This wider context serves to highlight the insularity and rigidity of the Puritan colony, trapped between the “iron men” of England and the “savage wilderness” of the New World, as Hawthorne describes it in his introductory essay.
Characters
scarlet letter “A” as punishment for committing adultery. Despite facing public shame and ostracism, she maintains her dignity and strength throughout the story. Hester eventually gains respect in the community through her charitable works and quiet demeanor. Her character embodies themes of sin, redemption, and female empowerment.
Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale: The minister who fathered Pearl through his affair with Hester. Dimmesdale is tormented by guilt over his secret sin and hypocrisy as a religious leader. His internal suffering manifests as physical illness and self-harm. Though respected by the community, Dimmesdale struggles with his conscience until finally confessing his sin publicly before his death.
Roger Chillingworth: Hester's husband who was presumed dead but returns to find her punished for adultery. He conceals his true identity and becomes obsessed with discovering and tormenting Hester's lover. Chillingworth's relentless pursuit of vengeance consumes him, transforming him into a malevolent figure. His character represents the destructive power of revenge and bitterness.
Pearl: Hester's illegitimate daughter, described as impish and elf-like. Though a living reminder of Hester's sin, Pearl is also a source of joy and love. She is intuitive and perceptive beyond her years, often making adults uncomfortable with her insights. Pearl's wild nature symbolizes the freedom and passion that Puritan society attempts to suppress.
Governor Bellingham: The leader of the Puritan settlement. He represents the strict moral authority of Puritan society and initially threatens to take Pearl away from Hester.
Mistress Hibbins: Governor Bellingham's sister, rumored to be a witch. She tempts Hester to join her in the forest, symbolizing the allure of sin and rebellion against Puritan norms.
Quick facts
The Scarlet Letter was one of the first mass-produced books in America, with 2,500 copies selling out in just 10 days after its initial publication in 1850.
Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote the novel at the Peter Edgerley House in Salem, Massachusetts, which still stands today as a private residence.
The character of Pearl was likely inspired by Hawthorne's own daughter, Una, who was about the same age as Pearl when he wrote the book.
Hawthorne originally planned for The Scarlet Letter to be part of a short story collection called “Old Time Legends,” but his publisher convinced him to expand it into a full novel.
The novel's famous opening line, “A throng of bearded men, in sad-colored garments and gray steeple-crowned hats, inter-mixed with women...” was added at the last minute before publication.
Hawthorne's wife, Sophia, created the first sketch of the novel's “A” symbol, which later became iconic.
The Scarlet Letter initially stirred up controversy, with some religious leaders accusing Hawthorne of not understanding Christianity and promoting bad morals.
D.H. Lawrence called The Scarlet Letter “a perfect work of the American imagination."
The Scarlet Letter has inspired numerous stage and screen adaptations, with the first being a silent short film in 1908.
One notable film version is the 1995 adaptation starring Demi Moore as Hester Prynn, which takes liberties with the plot but remains true to its core themes.
About the Author
Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864) was a prominent American author in the Romantic movement of the 19th century—specifically, dark romanticism. Drawing inspiration from his roots in Salem, Massachusetts, his works often focused on New England's Puritan history and moral hypocrisy. Over his career, Hawthorne wrote numerous short stories and essays. Yet, he remains best known for his novels The Scarlet Letter (1850) and The House of the Seven Gables (1851).
After graduating from Bowdoin College in 1825, Hawthorne spent several years writing in relative obscurity. In 1837, he gained local recognition with the publication of his short story collection, Twice-Told Tales. He married Sophia Peabody in 1842 and they settled in Concord, Massachusetts, where Hawthorne became part of the Transcendentalist circle that included Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. His most productive and successful period as a writer came in the 1850s, when he published his most famous novels.
Hawthorne's writing style is characterized by its exploration of human psychology, use of allegory and symbolism, and blend of realism with elements of the fantastic. His works often grappled with themes of guilt, sin, and moral complexity against the backdrop of Puritan New England. Though his stories were set in the past, Hawthorne used them as a lens to examine contemporary social issues and human nature.
In addition to his literary career, Hawthorne worked for several years as a customs official. He also wrote a campaign biography for his college friend Franklin Pierce, who became president in 1853. Pierce then appointed Hawthorne as the US consul in Liverpool, England. Hawthorne spent his later years back in Concord, where he continued to write until his death. His last novel, The Marble Faun, was published in 1860.
