Chapters 1-2

The story begins outside the first prison-house of the Puritan colony of Boston, where a crowd of people are gathered outside. The prison-house is given a depressing vibe, being described as "more antique than anything else in the New World". I believe Hawthorn chooses to start Chapter 1 at a prison-house because it gives a great way to introduce the main character (Hester) and the hate directed at her because of her crime of adultery. Hester's punishment is to have the letter "A" stitched on her dress. While Hester accepts her punishment with dignity, the crowd thinks the punishment Hester received is not enough, and one woman even makes the remark that Hester should die for her crime. This represents the strict believes of the Puritans and how they want extreme punishment for "sin". However, Hawthorn describes Hester as "a figure of perfect elegance on a large scale" and describes the "A" as artistically done. Hawthorn calls Hester beautiful even though she has committed a great sin in the Puritan society.

The Scarlet Letter

The Scarlet Letter, By Nathaniel Hawthorn, sounds interesting despite what I heard from previous readers. I normally do not show interest in stories from this era, but I am interested in how this story of passion, emotion, and rule-breaking would play out in its strict Puritan setting. I read how upon Hawthorn reading the last words of the final chapter to his wife, she ran to bed crying. This tells how much of an emotional impact this book has on its readers. I wouldn't say I am too excited, but this book has caught my attention.