The Scarlet Letter

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a seminal work of American literature first published in 1850. Set in 17th-century Puritan Massachusetts the novel tells the story of Hester Prynne a woman who bears an illegitimate child and is forced to wear a scarlet A on her chest as a symbol of her sin. The book explores themes of guilt redemption and the complexities of social and personal morality. Through Hester’s struggles and the impact of her sin on herself and others Hawthorne delves into the nature of sin and the harsh judgment of society.