The Scarlet Letter was an absolute revelation, completely defying my initial expectations. In truth, I'm not entirely certain what I had anticipated, but it definitely wasn't this captivating masterpiece. I found myself thoroughly enjoying every page of it.

Admittedly, it was a bit of a struggle to get started, especially with the rather old-fashioned language used in the introduction. However, as I persevered and became accustomed to the archaic expressions and sentence structures, I was completely hooked.

I can't help but wonder if I would have had the same level of enjoyment reading The Scarlet Letter in a school setting. Nevertheless, I can easily understand why it is such a widely read and studied work. It has an enormous potential for in-depth discussion and diverse interpretations, making it a teacher's dream come true. The complex themes, rich characters, and thought-provoking plot all contribute to its enduring popularity and literary significance.

Overall, my experience with The Scarlet Letter has been a truly rewarding one, and I would highly recommend it to anyone with a passion for classic literature.

The Scarlet Letter is one of the most renowned American classics. It tells a tale of sin, shame, and punishment, as well as the contrast between individual redemption and social damnation. The story of Esther Prynne, who was forced by her puritan community to wear a scarlet A on her bosom to signify her adultery, is presented through the trope of a found manuscript. The mystery of her life and sufferings unfolds, leading to a final drama.

This novel was Hawthorne's first major work. Although his tone in the text sometimes shows false modesty, it's clear that he didn't fully grasp the magnitude of his work at the time. The book, which is now a staple in high school curriculums, is based on historical events, but serves mainly as a pretext for Hawthorne to create a symbol and build a metaphor for a judgmental, self-righteous, bigoted, hypocritical, and scapegoating society.

While much has been written about The Scarlet Letter, I have a personal distaste for the author's writing style. However, I feel a sense of closeness to Esther's character, which I attribute to the author's ability to create a relatable and universal character. I wonder if it's still worth having students study this book today. While it can feel contemporary in some ways, its style and somewhat outdated nature may make it difficult for young people to understand and appreciate. Instead, it might be better to talk to them about the book and explain it in a more explicit way, allowing them to choose to read the original text when they're older. In conclusion, The Scarlet Letter is a classic that made history, but it may not be easily appreciated by today's teens.

The life of a branded woman in a Puritan colony in New England in the middle of the 17th century. This theme of the book initially sounded very exciting to me, because in many aspects I had knowledge gaps, starting from the early colonization of America to the religious direction of Puritanism, which clearly differed from Protestantism or Calvinism at that time. Unfortunately, the book had many highs and lows, so I ended up giving it a lukewarm three-star rating.

Hester Prynne came to the colony a few years ago and told the community that she was married in England, but her husband had disappeared or was missing. When Hester, who is still considered a married woman in the eyes of the Puritans, has a child (Pearl), she is pressured to reveal the name of the man. She refuses and must henceforth wear the Scarlet Letter "A" on her chest (the German translators had to change the letter to an "E" for Adultery in German. Also, in some translations, the mother and daughter are called Ester and Perle. I always find the translation of proper names really terrible). Shortly afterwards, her much older husband Roger Chillingworth appears in the colony from captivity among the Indians, does not reveal himself as such to the community, and Hester does not betray him either. Subsequently, Chillingworth poses as a doctor and inserts himself into the life of the supposed father as a healer and advisor. What might now sound like a spoiler is actually rather quickly clear in the book: the father is the young, sick village pastor.

The framework story is thus outlined and actually almost completely told. Because not much more happens in terms of plot. Primarily, the story revolves around the question of guilt, sin, forgiveness, burden, punishment, around God's judgment and the devil's contribution. In long scenes of verbal exchange between the characters, these important themes for Puritans are discussed. Linguistically, it is at a high level. The German translation is excellent in this regard, and therefore it was a pleasure to read this 170-year-old classic from these points of view. However, the explanations about the convoluted faith are also tiring. I sometimes felt like I was being put into a never-ending sermon on a Sunday morning. I then also caught myself reading the beautiful words, that they partly flowed through my brain without resistance, while my thoughts wandered elsewhere.

I had actually hoped for a social novel from the early colonial life, but unfortunately the social aspects of exclusion were far too short. The focus is clearly on the four-way relationship between mother-daughter-husband-pastor as well as on the theological processing of the fall from grace. At the beginning of the book, Hester has to be put on the scaffold, and one can recognize a kind of court of justice by the villagers. But the village plays almost no role anymore in the further course. Surprisingly, Hester, who wears her letter almost with a kind of pride, becomes a respectable citizen, earns the respect of her fellow human beings thanks to her sewing skills and is even considered quasi-rehabilitated at the end. What a surprise. I don't want to say that Hawthorne is writing past reality here, as a Puritan he will have known his religious community better than I do. But the happy ending leaves me rather confused.

In addition, despite the long passages about the question of guilt from the perspective of the Puritans at the end of the book, I still cannot say exactly what their faith looked like in its entirety or rather looks like. On the one hand, they condemned religious symbols, threw crosses out of the churches, only counted the word of the Bible, on the other hand, they branded sinners on their lapels, which is not at all biblically faithful. Unfortunately, there are also open questions from a theological perspective. Nevertheless, I do not regret having dealt with this book.

This was my third time reading The Scarlet Letter.

The first encounter was during my junior year of high school. Surprisingly, I took a liking to it. At that time, the literature of the nineteenth century seemed like an enigma to me. The long and unfamiliar words made me hesitant, but I felt a sense of pride for simply being able to follow the plot.

When I read it again last year to teach it, I was completely captivated. This year, it was no different. Hawthorne's mastery over language is truly remarkable. The eloquence of his words holds such depth that it is almost like reading poetry. I find myself underlining numerous sections on each page, longing for months to dedicate to teaching this book, just so I can spend hours with my classes delving into the complex meanings and patterns that unfold within his language. (I bet my students wouldn't find it as enjoyable as I do.)

Reading the soap-opera-like plot is a guilty pleasure. Perhaps because I am accustomed to the quiet romance of nineteenth-century novels, I find the love scenes between Hester and her secret lover touching and sweet. (I think I even shed a tear this time when they were in the woods.) While most people seem to find them stale and unrealistic. Even though the plot revolves around scandals and secrets, the novel is a profound exploration of human interior and motives. I believe Hawthorne creates very interesting characters. I love that, although Hester conforms to the austerity of her penance on the outside, Hawthorne occasionally allows the reader to catch glimpses of her wild, turbulent, and rebellious interior. And I adore Pearl. Oh, that mischievous little imp of evil.

I truly appreciate Hawthorne's use of symbolism throughout the novel - the letter, Pearl, the rosebush, weeds, leeches, light, darkness, the scaffold, Hester's hair, and so on. I'm not sure if all the symbolism is extremely obvious or if it now appears so because I force it upon my students. However, it is admittedly satisfying to notice patterns and reach conclusions that Hawthorne repeatedly supports throughout the book. It just makes me feel good about myself.

Next time I read The Scarlet Letter, I want to focus on the use of bird imagery to describe Pearl and on how Hawthorne's Romantic view of Nature and the nineteenth-century perception of women influence his interpretation and critique of Puritanism, a less "developed" American landscape, and Hester.

I really like The Scarlet Letter. It might be in my top ten. But I think if I were to sit down and write my top ten, it would probably include about forty books. Nevertheless, based on my interest in The Scarlet Letter, I'm seriously considering rereading The House of Seven Gables. After being forced to read it before my freshman year of high school, it is my most hated book ever. I have a feeling that I might like it more now than when I was 12.

(This review was from 2007. I've now read it several more times. It never gets old.)

After a arduous struggle with the introduction, I ultimately managed to reach the main part of the book and complete it. However, it still failed to be an engaging read.

Certain chapters I discovered to be overly descriptive, whether it was a point of view, the setup, or the history. This truly diverted my attention from the main storyline.

A woman named Hester Prynne engages in an extramarital affair and gives birth to a child in the process. Her punishment, which involved wearing a scarlet letter, and her ignominy were the central focus of the story. Her partner in sin is not revealed but is hinted at through various descriptions of the physical and emotional suffering of one man. The culprit is unmasked at the end to be Reverend Mr. Arthur Dimmesdale.

Hawthorne delineates the differences in how the two partners in sin have endured for their wrongful behavior; the woman openly and the man secretly. Although the woman is publicly humiliated and initially struggles to live her life with such shame, she later earns respect and acceptance. However, the man hides his guilt and suffers under its burden, ultimately paying with his life.

It is a tale of sin and retribution. But it also touches on ultimate forgiveness. If the author had any other meaning or message he intended to convey, it was not communicated to me.

When I read this as a teen growing up in liberal 1990s San Francisco, its points about hypocrisy and morality seemed obvious and outdated.

At that time, in the relatively permissive environment of San Francisco, the issues raised in the text might have appeared to be old hat. The ideas about hypocrisy and morality that were presented seemed almost too self-evident, as if they belonged to a bygone era.

However, unfortunately, it now seems relevant again. In the current social and cultural context, we can see the recurrence of many of the same issues. Hypocrisy still rears its ugly head in various aspects of society, and the question of what is moral and what is not continues to be a topic of intense debate.

I guess that's what makes for a timeless classic. Despite the passage of time and the changes in the world around us, certain works have the ability to speak to us across generations. They have the power to capture the essence of human nature and the perennial struggles that we face. This particular piece, with its exploration of hypocrisy and morality, has endured and remains as relevant today as it was when it was first written. It serves as a reminder that some things never change and that we can still learn valuable lessons from the past.

I would like to stop at the central episode of the novel to note a detail that escaped me upon the first reading.

Everyone knows that Hester Prynne was condemned to wear a red letter on her garment, for all to see the sin she committed: A for "adulteress".

Probably far fewer readers have noticed, due to a rather obscure passage, the fact that the pastor Arthur Dimmesdale himself bears the stigma, but not openly, but inscribed on his body. When, at the end of the book, the pastor publicly confesses his sin (the relationship with Hester), we read these sentences that surprised me by their ambiguity. Here they are:

“This mark, the man [Dimmesdale, of course, n.m.] bore upon him! The eye of his God saw it! The angels pointed to it constantly with their fingers! The devil knew it well and gnawed it unceasingly with his burning fang! But he hid it craftily... Now, in the hour of death, behold him before you! He asks you to look again at the scarlet letter of Hester! Is there any among you who would doubt the judgment of the Lord upon a sinner? Look! Look at her terrible testimony!

And with a convulsive gesture, he opened his priestly garment at the breast. Then, the revelation was completed!... For a moment, the horrified eyes of the crowd were concentrated upon the awful miracle, while the pastor stood upright like a man who, in an access of extreme pain, had won a victory. Then he fell upon the platform (pp.243-244).”

The ambiguity remains until the end. We don't know, we will never know if the stigmatizing letter appeared on the pastor's body through a divine/devilish miracle, or if the pastor himself inscribed the shameful letter with a red-hot iron.

Searching through books to see what others have said, I found in the 2003 volume of Susan Wise Bauer, The Well-educated Mind: A Guide to the Classical Education You Never Had, a statement that reinforces the idea that the letter of sin formed by itself: Dimmesdale “rips open his shirt to reveal a bizarre stigmata (an A which has formed itself on the flesh of his chest), and then dies” (p.91).

Of course, The Scarlet Letter is not among my favorite books... I didn't like this novel very much. Its plot is rather improbable. I don't share the Puritan view of destiny understood as implacable fate. The individual no longer has free will. I can't fully sympathize with poor Hester Prynne either. I don't understand the passivity with which she accepts the blows of fate. Surely, in the 17th century, almost everyone accepted resignedly the decisions of Providence...

Hester Prynne is a beautifully strong woman. She endures exclusion and bravely faces public shaming with grace and the utmost selflessness.

She stands alone, yet her spirit remains unbroken.

On the other hand, we have the preacher. He is just there, suffering from poor nerves.

Perhaps he is tormented by his own secrets and inner turmoil.

While Hester shows remarkable strength and resilience, the preacher seems to be crumbling under the weight of his own conscience.

The contrast between these two characters is striking.

Hester's ability to maintain her dignity and kindness in the face of such adversity is truly admirable.

The preacher, however, struggles to find the courage and strength within himself.

It is through their different experiences and responses that we gain a deeper understanding of the human condition.

My Video Review:

https://youtu.be/b8GilDA6DSY

I approached this novel with very limited knowledge. All I knew was a brief summary from the Easy A movie years ago. Given that I don't read many classics and enjoy even fewer, my expectations were not high.

Fortunately, I obtained a physical copy and borrowed the audiobook from the library simultaneously. This was an excellent decision. As I read along, I listened to the narration, which enabled me to complete the novel in two days. (I had to read it for class, and I only realized this two days before.) I truly believe this method enhanced my enjoyment significantly. I didn't become overwhelmed by the old writing style, which seemed dense when I considered reading it alone.

Subsequently, my Law and Literature class dedicated an entire session to discussing various aspects of the book, focusing on societal rules and their concept of laws. It accurately depicted how each individual place and group had their own versions of punishment, which rarely coincided with others' early on. We conversed about the values of society and how they influenced the town's perception of crime, punishment, and rehabilitation. We also touched upon some of the more literary themes. I think all of these elements combined truly augmented my enjoyment of this novel! Without reading in this manner, I doubt I would have appreciated it nearly as much.

No one talk to me about this book ever again

My second book read was written by Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864), who was被誉为 the "Shakespeare of the American Literature."

Whoa! I've only read one book of Shakespeare, but I have an idea of the others. I hope it's not just the use of "thee" and "thou" that leads to the comparison. For me, this book, The Scarlet Letter, is also theatrical and dramatic. For example, the opening scene where the adulterer and the main female protagonist, Hester Prynne, is on the scaffold (stage) holding her baby, Pearl, and wearing the scarlet letter "A" on her bosom is like Hamlet talking to his dead (ghost) father. The public shaming, where it's announced to everyone that Hester is an adulterer and the mother and child should be ostracized, is mind-boggling. It gave me goosebumps, similar to the feeling when Hamlet is talking to his ghost father.

Imagine being ridiculed for sleeping with a man (and having a child) who isn't your lawful husband? Of course, this was the practice by the Puritans when they fled to Boston from England during the 17th century, and they were very strict on morals. I'm glad that the Philippines isn't ruled by Puritans. Otherwise, many people would have to wear that scarlet letter. Maybe it could also appear on my bare chest someday!

Oh well, that part wasn't properly explained by Hawthorne, right? How it came to be on the bare chest of Rev. Arthur Dimmesdale. But for me, though that was a bit immaterial (with the redemption being the main focus), Hawthorne should have made some hints. For a heart-tugging story, it would have been better if that part was explained and not left hanging.

Overall, this story is sad. The hypocrisy that runs beneath the facade of the characters to the outside world. The wronged lover. The agony of being shamed. The man who, because of his vow, has to hide under his habit. The innocent child who suffers the most. The sky that cries when Hester cries and shines its blissful rays to bless her and her child.

Glorious writing. Good use of symbolism. Gothic. Dark. Sad. Mysterious. An interesting backdrop that made me have to Google who these Puritans were and almost buy a book about John Winthrop (but I resisted since I have too many books already in my to-be-read pile). Juicy strip-teasing just enough to keep me turning the pages.

I liked this book! I wondered for a minute there how come it took me so long to crack this book open. Then I remembered that hey, I had a book buddy, Maria.

Thanks, Maria for being my reading buddy for this book!

The story of Hester Prynne is a shameful yet courageous one. Abandoned first by her husband and then by the father of her child, she endures poverty and the punishment of society alone. Standing on a scaffold, facing a puritan crowd, she is branded an adulteress for giving birth out of wedlock. Refusing to name the father, she is forced to wear the letter A on her chest as a constant reminder of her disgrace.

Despite the hardships, Hester turns to her talent of needlecraft to feed her child. She makes beautiful gowns, coats, and adornments for the wealthy, learning to navigate a society that shuns her. Ironically, the Scarlet Letter A, which was meant to be a symbol of punishment, becomes a badge of courage and survival. Her reputation already in tatters, she has no boundaries in her business, and even the wealthy and disreputable seek her services.

The Scarlet Letter is a powerful novel that explores themes such as adultery, sin, religion, and redemption in a puritan society. It is both a tragedy and a triumph, exposing the hypocrisy and indecency of the times. Although it is described as a romance novel, there is little talk of love. Instead, it is a story of a woman's determination to turn her fate and fortunes in her favor, a timeless classic that continues to resonate with readers today.