The Scarlet Letter

Summary

Set in 17th-century Puritan Boston, The Scarlet Letter tackles the subjects of social stigma, shame, and judgment. Hester Prynne is at the forefront of the scandal, subject to public humiliation for bearing a child out of wedlock. Forced to wear a scarlet “A” on her clothing for the rest of her life, she cannot run from her sin. Hester refuses to name her daughter's father, a local reverend whom she is in love with, a timid man who keeps his secret from the community. Hester's husband—presumed lost at sea for two years—returns, seeking to exact revenge on the child's father, whoever he may be. One of the most important novels in American literature, The Scarlet Letter is a tragic tale about sin, punishment, misplaced judgment, and non-conformity to social pressure and religious power.