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3.19 AVERAGE
3.19 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
*MAY CONTAIN SPOILER** FOR ACTUAL BOOK REVIEW, SCROLL ALL THE WAY DOWN TO "MY REVIEW"
SYNOPIS
Set in 17th-century Puritan Massachusetts, The Scarlet Letter tells the story of Hester Prynne, a woman publicly shamed and ostracized for committing adultery. The novel opens with Hester emerging from prison, holding her infant daughter, Pearl, in her arms. Her crime? Giving birth out of wedlock — and refusing to name the father.
As punishment, Hester is forced to wear a scarlet letter “A” on her chest (for “Adulteress”) and live a life of public humiliation and social exclusion. Yet, she bears her shame with dignity, never revealing the identity of Pearl’s father.
Meanwhile, the townspeople — and the reader — gradually become aware that the father is none other than Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, a respected minister in the community. Tormented by guilt and fear, Dimmesdale suffers in secret, his health deteriorating as he spirals into psychological and physical torment.
Enter Roger Chillingworth, Hester’s estranged husband who reappears in town under a false identity. Upon discovering Dimmesdale’s secret, Chillingworth begins a twisted campaign of psychological revenge, slowly driving the reverend to madness.
The story builds toward an explosive climax as Dimmesdale publicly confesses his sin, revealing a scarlet “A” carved or branded into his own chest (depending on interpretation), before dying in Hester’s arms. Chillingworth, having lost his victim, withers away and dies shortly after. Hester and Pearl leave town but eventually return. Hester continues to wear the letter by choice and becomes a quiet symbol of strength, endurance, and compassion.
THEMES
1. Sin, Guilt, and Redemption - Hawthorne explores how people handle guilt and atonement. Hester carries her sin publicly and grows stronger for it, while Dimmesdale hides his sin and it eats him alive. The novel argues that honesty and owning one's flaws leads to redemption, while hypocrisy and secrecy destroy the soul.
2. Public vs. Private Punishment - Hester’s punishment is external — she’s shamed, alienated, marked. Dimmesdale’s is internal — he’s beloved by society but is falling apart inside. Hawthorne asks: which punishment is worse? The one everyone sees, or the one no one does?
3. Hypocrisy of Puritanism - The Puritan society is shown to be cruel, rigid, and obsessed with appearance and punishment rather than true morality. They idolize Dimmesdale even as he’s rotting from guilt, and demonize Hester even as she grows into a better person. The book critiques religious legalism and the idea of moral perfection.
4. Feminism and Female Strength - Hester is one of literature’s earliest feminist icons. Despite being shunned, she raises her daughter alone, works as a seamstress, helps the poor, and becomes a source of wisdom. Over time, the “A” comes to mean Able rather than Adulteress. She represents resilience, dignity, and quiet defiance in the face of a male-dominated, judgmental society.
5. Identity and Society - The scarlet letter forces Hester to confront who she really is, outside of how society defines her. The novel explores the tension between personal identity and public perception — how we internalize shame or reclaim it. Hester becomes her own person through suffering, while others (like Dimmesdale and Chillingworth) are destroyed by their inability to reconcile who they are with who they pretend to be.
PLOT
➤ Chapters 1–3: Public Shame
* Hester Prynne is led out of prison carrying her newborn daughter, Pearl.
* She is publicly shamed on the scaffold in front of the entire town.
* She wears a scarlet “A” on her chest for committing adultery, but refuses to name the child’s father.
* Her long-lost husband, now going by Roger Chillingworth, secretly watches the punishment and vows revenge on the father.
➤ Chapters 4–8: Isolation and Secrets
* Chillingworth visits Hester in prison under the guise of a physician and demands to know who the father is. She refuses.
* He makes her promise to never reveal his true identity.
* Hester moves to a small cottage on the outskirts of town and raises Pearl, who is wild and intelligent, but ostracized like her mother.
* The town debates taking Pearl away from Hester, but the respected Reverend Dimmesdale defends her, allowing her to keep her daughter.
➤ Chapters 9–12: Chillingworth's Revenge
* Chillingworth becomes close to Dimmesdale, suspecting he is Pearl’s father.
* He acts as Dimmesdale’s physician, all while psychologically tormenting him under the guise of care.
* Dimmesdale suffers intensely from guilt, often beating himself and fasting.
* One night, he ascends the scaffold alone, then is briefly joined by Hester and Pearl — a secret midnight “confession.”
➤ Chapters 13–18: Shifting Power
* Years pass. Hester becomes a kind of counselor to other women, and her letter begins to be seen as a symbol of strength.
* She decides to tell Dimmesdale that Chillingworth is her husband.
* In the forest, Hester and Dimmesdale finally talk honestly. They plan to run away to Europe with Pearl and start a new life.
➤ Chapters 19–23: Confession and Death
* On Election Day, as Dimmesdale gives a powerful sermon, he feels the weight of his sin.
* After the speech, he climbs the scaffold with Hester and Pearl and confesses publicly to being Pearl’s father.
* He reveals a red “A” on his chest (the method and meaning are ambiguous — some think he branded or carved it himself).
* He then dies in Hester’s arms, finally at peace.
* Chillingworth, having lost his target for revenge, dies within a year, consumed by his hatred.
➤ Chapter 24: Aftermath
* Pearl inherits Chillingworth’s estate and disappears, likely moving to Europe.
* Hester eventually returns to Boston, wearing the scarlet letter by choice.
* She continues to help people and becomes a figure of legend and strength.
* When she dies, she’s buried near Dimmesdale, and they share a gravestone marked only with a red letter “A.”
FINAL NOTES
* The novel is deeply symbolic, gothic, and psychological — a blend of historical fiction and moral exploration.
* The Scarlet Letter isn’t just about adultery. It’s about the cost of shame, the cruelty of public judgment, and the human need for truth, identity, and compassion.
* Hawthorne himself had Puritan ancestors (one of whom was involved in the Salem Witch Trials), and the book is partially his way of reckoning with that legacy.
MY REVIEW
Another classic book I was excited to read! You know the drill — one of those “you have to read this because it’s a masterpiece” kind of books. And honestly? It was fine. Not groundbreaking, not awful. Just... there. It neither exceeded my expectations nor disappointed me. It sat comfortably in the "meh, okay" zone.
Pros:
1. The concept slapped - Let’s be real — the premise? Top-tier drama. A woman is being shunned in her religious community for committing adultery, which resulted in her having a baby. To punish her, they slap a big ol' scarlet “A” on her clothes and make her stand outside in the blazing sun, holding her baby while everyone plays the Puritan version of “public shame TikTok.” Oh, and the guy she committed the sin with? Just... living his best secret life while she suffers. To make it even messier, her long-lost husband reemerges from the shadows, takes one look at the disaster, and decides to dedicate his life to becoming the Bible-era Joker. That’s gold. That’s messy. That’s soap-opera-level literature. And honestly? Hawthorne kind of ate when it came to executing that idea. Kinda.
2. Hawthorne came for the Puritan necks - And I respect it. The author did a great job of showcasing the hypocrisy of the community with regard to how they treated Hester Prynne, the infamous “A” wearer. Everyone was out here judging her like they weren't sinning in private with their own dirty secrets. They acted like they were better than her, while quietly benefiting from her embroidery and gossiping about her like middle schoolers. It’s giving “throw the first stone” energy, and not in a Christ-like way.
3. Religious reflection mode: activated - As a Christian myself, this book had me doing a lot of internal commentary. Yeah, adultery is a huge sin, no arguments there — but where’s the love, the guidance, the redemption arc? Instead of helping Hester repent, confess, and move forward, they went straight to branding her like livestock and tossing her to the wolves. God calls us to correct people in love, not publicly destroy their spirit. Hester didn’t need a scarlet letter. She needed accountability, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, and a support system — not a personalized walk of shame with a side of slut-shaming. The townsfolk were out here playing moral police, waving their pitchforks, when the Lord says we all sin. And again — ALL these townspeople were doing something. You can’t just pick and choose which sins you wanna stone people for while turning a blind eye to your own nonsense. Classic hypocrite behavior.
4. Hester’s resilience - I have to give credit where it’s due: despite the fact that Hester was the worst mom ever (see my later rant), she did manage to make the best out of a seriously messed-up situation. She didn’t curl up in a corner and cry about the consequences of her actions, although I wouldn't have blamed her if she did. Instead, she focused on the things she could control. For one, she did everything in her power to keep Pearl with her — even when it seemed like the authorities were going to snatch her away (I mean, it was justified in this case, but Hester fought for her). And let’s not forget, Hester also became a mini social worker for the community, doing her bit to help the poor with food, clothing, and all that good stuff. Sure, she wasn't great at disciplining her child, but at least she was out there helping those in need. A little philanthropy never hurt anyone, even if she was a walking embodiment of scandal.
Cons (a.k.a. where everything unravels):
1. Dimmesdale. My God - If hypocrisy were a person, it’d be Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale. This man had the audacity — the full, unfiltered gall — to stand behind a pulpit preaching righteousness while being a whole fraud. Not only did he commit adultery, but he then just… stood there. In silence. While Hester got dragged through the mud, raising a child alone, wearing a literal badge of shame, and he? He’s over there in his robes acting like the Holy Spirit himself is pleased with his nonsense.
And we’re supposed to feel bad because his guilt is “eating him alive”? Boohoo, cry me a Puritan river. This man planned on taking his little secret to the grave while Pearl and Hester lived with the consequences he helped create. You're not a reverend — you're a walking contradiction and a disgrace to the pulpit. Sir, the Lord holds spiritual leaders to a higher standard, and you failed in every possible way. Transparency? Never heard of it. Accountability? Who's she? Dimmesdale was a joke, a coward, and I couldn't have cared less about his melodramatic self-destruction. You wanted to die with the secret? You should’ve.
2. Hester, girl, let’s talk about your parenting - Now I was rooting for Hester — really, I was. But then came Pearl. Wild, undisciplined, and running around like she drank three Red Bulls and did a séance with a demon. And Hester? She just... let her. Not once did I see that child get corrected. Instead, Hester made cryptic comments about Pearl being evil or sent by Satan. Ma’am. If you think your kid is Satan’s spawn, maybe don’t let her run the streets unchecked like a feral woodland creature. You created this chaos and then acted shocked when Pearl acted out. Do better.
3. Chillingworth Part I: So Hester’s husband, now going by Roger Chillingworth, is understandably pissed when he finds out his wife cheated on him and had a baby. I mean… fair. But what annoyed me to no end was Hester’s sudden indignation about his revenge quest. Like, “How dare he be mad that I cheated on him and ruined our marriage!” (even though it was already going down the drain due to Roger's neglect of his wife). I get that revenge isn’t the move — the Lord doesn’t support it — but don’t act like you don’t get why he’s spiraling. The man came back from the shadows to find his wife with a new man and a whole child. The betrayal was fresh. But it's also hard to completely defend this man when he's the embodiment of evil. I speak more about it in my next point.
4. Chillingworth, Part II: Ah, Roger Chillingworth. The name fits him perfectly, doesn’t it? Even though I said in my last point that I understood his revenge plot, that doesn't mean it's justified, especially if the guy was a walking red flag from the beginning. The dude is as emotionally distant as a brick wall, and I honestly don’t know who I feel more sorry for—Hester for being stuck with him or the poor soul who has to read about him in this book. This guy is a walking case study in how to be a terrible husband and a truly disgusting human being. He spent most of his life ignoring his wife, Hester, and when he finally bothered to look at her, he expected her to be the one to nourish his soul with affection. Newsflash: that’s not how relationships work, Roger. You can’t just ignore your wife and then expect her to be emotionally available to you when you grace her with your presence.
SYNOPIS
Set in 17th-century Puritan Massachusetts, The Scarlet Letter tells the story of Hester Prynne, a woman publicly shamed and ostracized for committing adultery. The novel opens with Hester emerging from prison, holding her infant daughter, Pearl, in her arms. Her crime? Giving birth out of wedlock — and refusing to name the father.
As punishment, Hester is forced to wear a scarlet letter “A” on her chest (for “Adulteress”) and live a life of public humiliation and social exclusion. Yet, she bears her shame with dignity, never revealing the identity of Pearl’s father.
Meanwhile, the townspeople — and the reader — gradually become aware that the father is none other than Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, a respected minister in the community. Tormented by guilt and fear, Dimmesdale suffers in secret, his health deteriorating as he spirals into psychological and physical torment.
Enter Roger Chillingworth, Hester’s estranged husband who reappears in town under a false identity. Upon discovering Dimmesdale’s secret, Chillingworth begins a twisted campaign of psychological revenge, slowly driving the reverend to madness.
The story builds toward an explosive climax as Dimmesdale publicly confesses his sin, revealing a scarlet “A” carved or branded into his own chest (depending on interpretation), before dying in Hester’s arms. Chillingworth, having lost his victim, withers away and dies shortly after. Hester and Pearl leave town but eventually return. Hester continues to wear the letter by choice and becomes a quiet symbol of strength, endurance, and compassion.
THEMES
1. Sin, Guilt, and Redemption - Hawthorne explores how people handle guilt and atonement. Hester carries her sin publicly and grows stronger for it, while Dimmesdale hides his sin and it eats him alive. The novel argues that honesty and owning one's flaws leads to redemption, while hypocrisy and secrecy destroy the soul.
2. Public vs. Private Punishment - Hester’s punishment is external — she’s shamed, alienated, marked. Dimmesdale’s is internal — he’s beloved by society but is falling apart inside. Hawthorne asks: which punishment is worse? The one everyone sees, or the one no one does?
3. Hypocrisy of Puritanism - The Puritan society is shown to be cruel, rigid, and obsessed with appearance and punishment rather than true morality. They idolize Dimmesdale even as he’s rotting from guilt, and demonize Hester even as she grows into a better person. The book critiques religious legalism and the idea of moral perfection.
4. Feminism and Female Strength - Hester is one of literature’s earliest feminist icons. Despite being shunned, she raises her daughter alone, works as a seamstress, helps the poor, and becomes a source of wisdom. Over time, the “A” comes to mean Able rather than Adulteress. She represents resilience, dignity, and quiet defiance in the face of a male-dominated, judgmental society.
5. Identity and Society - The scarlet letter forces Hester to confront who she really is, outside of how society defines her. The novel explores the tension between personal identity and public perception — how we internalize shame or reclaim it. Hester becomes her own person through suffering, while others (like Dimmesdale and Chillingworth) are destroyed by their inability to reconcile who they are with who they pretend to be.
PLOT
➤ Chapters 1–3: Public Shame
* Hester Prynne is led out of prison carrying her newborn daughter, Pearl.
* She is publicly shamed on the scaffold in front of the entire town.
* She wears a scarlet “A” on her chest for committing adultery, but refuses to name the child’s father.
* Her long-lost husband, now going by Roger Chillingworth, secretly watches the punishment and vows revenge on the father.
➤ Chapters 4–8: Isolation and Secrets
* Chillingworth visits Hester in prison under the guise of a physician and demands to know who the father is. She refuses.
* He makes her promise to never reveal his true identity.
* Hester moves to a small cottage on the outskirts of town and raises Pearl, who is wild and intelligent, but ostracized like her mother.
* The town debates taking Pearl away from Hester, but the respected Reverend Dimmesdale defends her, allowing her to keep her daughter.
➤ Chapters 9–12: Chillingworth's Revenge
* Chillingworth becomes close to Dimmesdale, suspecting he is Pearl’s father.
* He acts as Dimmesdale’s physician, all while psychologically tormenting him under the guise of care.
* Dimmesdale suffers intensely from guilt, often beating himself and fasting.
* One night, he ascends the scaffold alone, then is briefly joined by Hester and Pearl — a secret midnight “confession.”
➤ Chapters 13–18: Shifting Power
* Years pass. Hester becomes a kind of counselor to other women, and her letter begins to be seen as a symbol of strength.
* She decides to tell Dimmesdale that Chillingworth is her husband.
* In the forest, Hester and Dimmesdale finally talk honestly. They plan to run away to Europe with Pearl and start a new life.
➤ Chapters 19–23: Confession and Death
* On Election Day, as Dimmesdale gives a powerful sermon, he feels the weight of his sin.
* After the speech, he climbs the scaffold with Hester and Pearl and confesses publicly to being Pearl’s father.
* He reveals a red “A” on his chest (the method and meaning are ambiguous — some think he branded or carved it himself).
* He then dies in Hester’s arms, finally at peace.
* Chillingworth, having lost his target for revenge, dies within a year, consumed by his hatred.
➤ Chapter 24: Aftermath
* Pearl inherits Chillingworth’s estate and disappears, likely moving to Europe.
* Hester eventually returns to Boston, wearing the scarlet letter by choice.
* She continues to help people and becomes a figure of legend and strength.
* When she dies, she’s buried near Dimmesdale, and they share a gravestone marked only with a red letter “A.”
FINAL NOTES
* The novel is deeply symbolic, gothic, and psychological — a blend of historical fiction and moral exploration.
* The Scarlet Letter isn’t just about adultery. It’s about the cost of shame, the cruelty of public judgment, and the human need for truth, identity, and compassion.
* Hawthorne himself had Puritan ancestors (one of whom was involved in the Salem Witch Trials), and the book is partially his way of reckoning with that legacy.
MY REVIEW
Another classic book I was excited to read! You know the drill — one of those “you have to read this because it’s a masterpiece” kind of books. And honestly? It was fine. Not groundbreaking, not awful. Just... there. It neither exceeded my expectations nor disappointed me. It sat comfortably in the "meh, okay" zone.
Pros:
1. The concept slapped - Let’s be real — the premise? Top-tier drama. A woman is being shunned in her religious community for committing adultery, which resulted in her having a baby. To punish her, they slap a big ol' scarlet “A” on her clothes and make her stand outside in the blazing sun, holding her baby while everyone plays the Puritan version of “public shame TikTok.” Oh, and the guy she committed the sin with? Just... living his best secret life while she suffers. To make it even messier, her long-lost husband reemerges from the shadows, takes one look at the disaster, and decides to dedicate his life to becoming the Bible-era Joker. That’s gold. That’s messy. That’s soap-opera-level literature. And honestly? Hawthorne kind of ate when it came to executing that idea. Kinda.
2. Hawthorne came for the Puritan necks - And I respect it. The author did a great job of showcasing the hypocrisy of the community with regard to how they treated Hester Prynne, the infamous “A” wearer. Everyone was out here judging her like they weren't sinning in private with their own dirty secrets. They acted like they were better than her, while quietly benefiting from her embroidery and gossiping about her like middle schoolers. It’s giving “throw the first stone” energy, and not in a Christ-like way.
3. Religious reflection mode: activated - As a Christian myself, this book had me doing a lot of internal commentary. Yeah, adultery is a huge sin, no arguments there — but where’s the love, the guidance, the redemption arc? Instead of helping Hester repent, confess, and move forward, they went straight to branding her like livestock and tossing her to the wolves. God calls us to correct people in love, not publicly destroy their spirit. Hester didn’t need a scarlet letter. She needed accountability, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, and a support system — not a personalized walk of shame with a side of slut-shaming. The townsfolk were out here playing moral police, waving their pitchforks, when the Lord says we all sin. And again — ALL these townspeople were doing something. You can’t just pick and choose which sins you wanna stone people for while turning a blind eye to your own nonsense. Classic hypocrite behavior.
4. Hester’s resilience - I have to give credit where it’s due: despite the fact that Hester was the worst mom ever (see my later rant), she did manage to make the best out of a seriously messed-up situation. She didn’t curl up in a corner and cry about the consequences of her actions, although I wouldn't have blamed her if she did. Instead, she focused on the things she could control. For one, she did everything in her power to keep Pearl with her — even when it seemed like the authorities were going to snatch her away (I mean, it was justified in this case, but Hester fought for her). And let’s not forget, Hester also became a mini social worker for the community, doing her bit to help the poor with food, clothing, and all that good stuff. Sure, she wasn't great at disciplining her child, but at least she was out there helping those in need. A little philanthropy never hurt anyone, even if she was a walking embodiment of scandal.
Cons (a.k.a. where everything unravels):
1. Dimmesdale. My God - If hypocrisy were a person, it’d be Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale. This man had the audacity — the full, unfiltered gall — to stand behind a pulpit preaching righteousness while being a whole fraud. Not only did he commit adultery, but he then just… stood there. In silence. While Hester got dragged through the mud, raising a child alone, wearing a literal badge of shame, and he? He’s over there in his robes acting like the Holy Spirit himself is pleased with his nonsense.
And we’re supposed to feel bad because his guilt is “eating him alive”? Boohoo, cry me a Puritan river. This man planned on taking his little secret to the grave while Pearl and Hester lived with the consequences he helped create. You're not a reverend — you're a walking contradiction and a disgrace to the pulpit. Sir, the Lord holds spiritual leaders to a higher standard, and you failed in every possible way. Transparency? Never heard of it. Accountability? Who's she? Dimmesdale was a joke, a coward, and I couldn't have cared less about his melodramatic self-destruction. You wanted to die with the secret? You should’ve.
2. Hester, girl, let’s talk about your parenting - Now I was rooting for Hester — really, I was. But then came Pearl. Wild, undisciplined, and running around like she drank three Red Bulls and did a séance with a demon. And Hester? She just... let her. Not once did I see that child get corrected. Instead, Hester made cryptic comments about Pearl being evil or sent by Satan. Ma’am. If you think your kid is Satan’s spawn, maybe don’t let her run the streets unchecked like a feral woodland creature. You created this chaos and then acted shocked when Pearl acted out. Do better.
3. Chillingworth Part I: So Hester’s husband, now going by Roger Chillingworth, is understandably pissed when he finds out his wife cheated on him and had a baby. I mean… fair. But what annoyed me to no end was Hester’s sudden indignation about his revenge quest. Like, “How dare he be mad that I cheated on him and ruined our marriage!” (even though it was already going down the drain due to Roger's neglect of his wife). I get that revenge isn’t the move — the Lord doesn’t support it — but don’t act like you don’t get why he’s spiraling. The man came back from the shadows to find his wife with a new man and a whole child. The betrayal was fresh. But it's also hard to completely defend this man when he's the embodiment of evil. I speak more about it in my next point.
4. Chillingworth, Part II: Ah, Roger Chillingworth. The name fits him perfectly, doesn’t it? Even though I said in my last point that I understood his revenge plot, that doesn't mean it's justified, especially if the guy was a walking red flag from the beginning. The dude is as emotionally distant as a brick wall, and I honestly don’t know who I feel more sorry for—Hester for being stuck with him or the poor soul who has to read about him in this book. This guy is a walking case study in how to be a terrible husband and a truly disgusting human being. He spent most of his life ignoring his wife, Hester, and when he finally bothered to look at her, he expected her to be the one to nourish his soul with affection. Newsflash: that’s not how relationships work, Roger. You can’t just ignore your wife and then expect her to be emotionally available to you when you grace her with your presence.
And let’s talk about his little “leech” persona. Yep, the guy actually goes by the name of a doctor, and it’s a fitting title, because he’s not only draining the life out of everyone around him emotionally, but he’s also got a habit of feeding off their misery for his own gain. How charming. The whole “let’s get revenge on my wife and her lover” thing is such a mature response, isn’t it? This guy doesn’t just want to settle the score; he wants to destroy, to break people down. And guess what? Once he has nothing left to ruin, once his targets are gone, he dies. Yep, he’s so wrapped up in his quest for vengeance that without anyone left to torture, his pathetic existence simply fizzles out. Talk about poetic justice.
Chillingworth is as evil as they come. He embodies the worst of humanity—seeking out revenge, not justice, and doing it with a side order of hypocrisy. He hides behind science and medicine, dabbling in dark practices that are just shy of witchcraft. This guy is like the human embodiment of a snake oil salesman. And the worst part? His “evilness” isn’t even remotely complicated. He’s not a tragic figure, he’s not misunderstood. He’s just bad—pure, unadulterated badness. His quest to destroy doesn’t stem from any misplaced sense of morality or justice; it’s just petty and spiteful. Unlike Dimmesdale and Hester, who had an affair driven by love (albeit, misguided and sinful), Chillingworth’s whole life is a series of deliberate, evil actions aimed at making everyone else as miserable as he is. If this guy had an ounce of self-awareness, maybe I’d have some sympathy for him. But nope, he’s just a bitter, deformed old man hell-bent on ruining other people’s lives to fill the hole in his own sad existence. Ugh.
5. The ending? Pure misery - Just when you think things might end with some sort of redemption or peace, bam — nope. Dimmesdale dies after finally confessing (waaay too little, waaay too late), and Hester and Pearl move away. You’re thinking, “Okay, maybe now they’ll be free.” But NOPE. Hester, for reasons I cannot begin to understand, decides to return to the same town that humiliated and ostracized her. Like girl, why? You had a golden opportunity to start over somewhere else, live a quiet life, reconnect with Pearl, maybe dye your clothes something other than red — and instead you went back to Sad Girl Central?
Oh, and speaking of Pearl — we never even find out what happened to her. She’s just... gone. No closure, no details, nothing. Just a cryptic mention that maybe she’s living well and married. Or maybe she died? Who knows. Apparently not Nathaniel Hawthorne.
To make matters worse, when Hester finally dies, she’s buried separately from everyone else. Even her grave is treated like it’s contagious. And what’s on her tombstone? The stupid scarlet letter. Even in death, she couldn’t escape her shame. She lived and died in the shadow of one mistake. No peace. No honor. Just one long walk of shame straight to the grave. That was a heavy, bleak, and honestly kinda depressing way to wrap it all up.
Final Thoughts:
Overall, The Scarlet Letter was an interesting read that really made me think about how we treat sinners, especially in the church. I didn’t expect to spiral into a whole religious tangent, but this book warranted it. It gave me a lot to chew on — from hypocrisy to forgiveness to public versus private guilt.
Do I think it’s a perfect book? No.
Do I think it sparked some deep thoughts and emotions? Absolutely.
Was I side-eying half the characters while judging their life choices? You bet.
Would I read it again? Probably.
Did it make me want to go on a ten-minute rant about fake reverends and demonic toddlers? You know it did.
Oh, and speaking of Pearl — we never even find out what happened to her. She’s just... gone. No closure, no details, nothing. Just a cryptic mention that maybe she’s living well and married. Or maybe she died? Who knows. Apparently not Nathaniel Hawthorne.
To make matters worse, when Hester finally dies, she’s buried separately from everyone else. Even her grave is treated like it’s contagious. And what’s on her tombstone? The stupid scarlet letter. Even in death, she couldn’t escape her shame. She lived and died in the shadow of one mistake. No peace. No honor. Just one long walk of shame straight to the grave. That was a heavy, bleak, and honestly kinda depressing way to wrap it all up.
Final Thoughts:
Overall, The Scarlet Letter was an interesting read that really made me think about how we treat sinners, especially in the church. I didn’t expect to spiral into a whole religious tangent, but this book warranted it. It gave me a lot to chew on — from hypocrisy to forgiveness to public versus private guilt.
Do I think it’s a perfect book? No.
Do I think it sparked some deep thoughts and emotions? Absolutely.
Was I side-eying half the characters while judging their life choices? You bet.
Would I read it again? Probably.
Did it make me want to go on a ten-minute rant about fake reverends and demonic toddlers? You know it did.
honestly it was a really good story, it was just really hard to read
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Hawthorne is still an author I think of as full of great ideas without necessarily putting the words together.
I just finished The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne and I gave it 4 out of 5 stars. The Scarlet Letter is set in mid 17th century Puritan Massachusetts. It tells the story of Hester Prynne who was temporarily jailed for committing adultery and then sentenced to a life of shame and social isolation by having to wear a Scarlet Letter "A" on her outfit which outwardly displays her crime to everyone. Hawthorne did a good job of showing how strict his Puritan ancestors were, and how hypocritical they truly were. (For example, they shunned Hester, but yet the high ups in her town used her for her skills as a seamstress). While I read the novel I could see how the emotions of shame and guilt were manifested in both the characters of Hester Prynne and Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, (her co-adulterer). I can recommend this novel simply for how well Hawthorne brought tangibility to the guilt of committing a sin against God and how it rests on one's soul. I have to say that Roger Chillingworth was a strange character to me. I suppose the meaning behind his character is that the devil works so clandestinely, that you have to keep a wary eye out. I enjoyed Hester's daughter, Pearl, (who resulted from the adulterous affair), as a character the most. She was very observant for someone so young, and I appreciated Hawthorne's efforts on creating and developing her as a character. The Scarlet Letter is a social comment against dogmatic Puritanism, but it is also moralistic in showing the reader that a truthful life is the best way everyone should lead their lives. The Scarlet Letter was beautifully written, and I recommend this classic.
dark
sad
slow-paced
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What a book. I will admit it's quite dense, considering the long-winded phrases to really set the context in stone, but that's alright. I view it as a complex take on the nature of womanhood, particularly complex considering it was written by a man. Anyway. I know it's the point, but I did find it so frustrating when everyone was head over heels with Reverend Dimmersdale even after he confessed but yeah I get that that's the point he's trying to make. Hope Pearl's okay, what a diva.