The Scarlet Letter

"The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a 19th-century novel that takes place in Puritan Massachusetts, exploring sin, punishment, and how society judges people. Hester Prynne is the main character, facing public shame for having a child out of wedlock. She has to wear a scarlet letter "A," which marks her as sinful. The story starts with a dark scene: a prison door in a Puritan town. The townspeople, especially the women, are all gathered to watch Hester's punishment, ready to criticize her. When Hester comes out of prison with her baby, she holds her child close, showing both her strength and her weakness. Her letter "A" stands out, showing how sin and identity are tangled up in a strict society. Readers see the town's tough views and are asked to think about feeling guilty, being alone, and the strength of the human spirit as Hester figures out her new life.