The Scarlet Letter: A RomanceHester Prynne is condemned to wear the scarlet embroidered letter "A" on her breast, as punishment for her adultery. She resists all attempts of the 17th Century Boston clergy to make her reveal the name of her child s father. Her husband, an old physician who had remained in Europe, arrives in America to see her on the pillory. Assuming the name of Roger Chillingworth, he seeks revenge. So begins the chain of events in the story often referred to as "The First Great American Novel." A stark tale of adultery, guilt, and social repression in Puritan New England, It is considered a foundational work of American literature. Nathaniel Hawthorne s exploration of the dichotomy between the public and private self, internal passion and external convention, gives us the unforgettable Hester Prynne, who discovers strength in the face of ostracism and emerges as a heroine ahead of her time. |
Contents
The PrisonDoor | 51 |
The MarketPlace | 53 |
The Recognition | 65 |
Copyright | |
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alchemy Ann Hutchinson answered Hester appeared Art thou Arthur Dimmesdale aspect beauty beheld beneath bosom breast brook brought character child clergyman cried Custom-House dark deep Dimmes Dimmesdale's Dost thou earth earthly Elizabeth Peabody embroidered England evanescent evil eyes face fancy father felt forest gaze gleam Governor Bellingham grey hand hast hath head heart Hester Prynne hither human ignominy imagination impulse infant kind knew likewise little Pearl look magistrates market-place mind minister minister's Mistress Hibbins Mistress Prynne moral mother murmur nature never Old Manse old Roger Chillingworth once pale passion personage physician pillory poor possessed Prynne's Puritan Reverend Roger Chilling Salem scaffold scarlet letter scene secret seemed seen shadow shame simple abundance smile solemn sorrow soul speak spirit steps stern stood strange sunshine sympathy thee thought token town tremulous truth venerable voice Whigs whispered wild Wilson woman yonder young