1. By Nathaniel Hawthorne
The Scarlet Letter By
Nathaniel Hawthorne

2. Setting (time and Place) Boston, 1642

3. Themes
Human frailty and sin
Hypocrisy
Alienation
Redemption

4. Symbols
Scarlet Letter
Weeds vs. flowers
Light vs. shade
The scaffold
Wild rose bush
Forest vs. the town
Pearl

5. Characters Hester Prynne – Woman caught in adultery
Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale – Young pastor in the Boston church
Roger Chillingworth – An old physician and Hester’s husband
Pearl – Hester’s daughter

6. Characters Reverend John Wilson – Senior pastor of the Boston church
Governor Bellingham – Governor of Boston
Mistress Hibbins – Gov. Bellingham’s sister who was believed to be a witch

7. Color Imagery
White – innocence and purity
Green – new birth; spring
Red – courage; blood; passion
Gold – wealth; luxury
Black – evil; darkness; death