The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a novel about sin, guilt, punishment, and moral hypocrisy in Puritan New England. The story follows Hester Prynne, who is forced to wear a scarlet letter as a public mark of adultery. Hester endures social shame while raising her daughter Pearl and protecting the identity of the child’s father. The novel explores the hidden torment of Arthur Dimmesdale and the destructive revenge of Roger Chillingworth. Hawthorne examines how rigid religious judgment can damage both individuals and communities. The book is a powerful study of conscience, identity, and social exclusion.