EVERYTHING You Need to Know Before Reading The SCARLET LETTER

by Nathaniel Hawthorne (The book is by Hawthorne—not this slide show. In case you were wondering…)

About the author Nathaniel Hawthorne was born in 1804 in Salem, Mass. His father was a sea captain and descendent of John Hawthorne, one of the judges in the Salem witch trials of 1692. As an adult Hawthorne showed much interest in the Puritan period in America. His father died when Nathaniel was four years old. Nathaniel grew up in seclusion with his widowed mother. He wrote The Scarlet Letter in 1850. He also wrote, House of Seven Gables, as well as many other works, including several well known short stories.

Hawthorne and Herman Melville (that’s the Moby Dick guy) found in mother nature and human nature radical contradictions NOT accounted for by other writers of their era. They encountered life in its tragic dimension and understood evil to be inherent in life. -Think back to our journal entry last week—is evil a part of all of us from birth? Do most people share similar struggles? Are we all capable of the same wrong deeds?

Characteristics of his work: Used symbolism to great effect (seriously—it’s everywhere…) Sin, pain, & evil exist Holds readers’ attention through dread of a series of terrible possibilities

Inspiration for The Scarlet Letter The author tells about his life working at the Custom House in Salem Massachusetts. During his time there, he discovers some records in the attic and begins to piece together the story of Hester Prynne, an adulterous woman in Puritan Salem. The Scarlet Letter is his account of the story gathered from the documents he found.

The Story… What happens when a private sin becomes a public crime?

The Scarlet Letter: Introduction In Puritan New England a young woman named Hester Prynne gives birth to a baby girl. Awwwwwww…. 8

There’s Just One Problem… Who’s My DADDY?

Talk of the Town… Hester’s pregnancy become THE scandal of Boston. Hester’s older husband has been missing for some time now. When Hester becomes pregnant, everyone knows he cannot be the father. Hester’s pregnancy become THE scandal of Boston.

There’s One Question Burning in the Mind of EVERY PURITAN in Town:

The town punishes Hester harshly The town punishes Hester harshly. Partly because of her sin of adultery, and partly because of her refusal to confess who the father of her child is. First, they imprison her. Then, they condemn her to wear a scarlet letter A for the rest of her life. And they also require her to stand on the town scaffold.

Hester is treated as an outcast Hester is treated as an outcast. She becomes the living symbol of sin and shame.

Adding to the scandal of Hester’s sin, the townspeople still have no idea who the father of Hester’s baby is. The secrecy and her refusal to point a finger keeps her the target of scorn. Her lover, whomever he is, seems to escape punishment. Or does he?

In this text, Hawthorne plays with the question of what’s worse: HIDDEN SUFFERING PUBLIC SHAME -OR-

Some Historical Info.

The Scarlet Letter: Background Persecuted in England, the Puritans came to North America to form their own communities. 17

The Scarlet Letter: Background Life in the Colonies was harsh, but it gave the Puritans the opportunity to escape persecution and form a society based on their own religious ideals. 18

The Scarlet Letter: Background The setting of The Scarlet Letter is Boston in the 1640s. Boston had recently been founded by about one thousand English Puritans, led by John Winthrop. 19

The Scarlet Letter: Background Puritans sought the freedom to live by their own beliefs. However, the Puritan leaders did not tolerate religious beliefs that differed from their own. 20

The Scarlet Letter: Background As for personal freedom… every member of the community was held to strict standards of behavior. 21

The Scarlet Letter: Background In a Puritan community such as Hester’s, no aspect of life was truly private. People kept a close watch on their neighbors. 22

The Scarlet Letter: Background Those considered sinners were publicly—and often harshly—punished, as an example to others. 23

As we begin reading the story, pay attention to how the culture and beliefs of the Puritan society influence the story differently than perhaps if the tale had taken place in a more modern American society. Also, consider how we might share similar aspects with the Puritan culture and treatment of the situation.