1. Background notes And Information

2.  Five Points  Doctrine of Original Sin: Adam’s sin was as much that of every individual as of Adam himself; mankind and nature were depraved—capable of no good  Unconditional Salvation—predestination: No good works could earn a man’s salvation; the salvation of a chosen few was entirely unconditional; no man could will himself to be saved.  Limited Atonement: Christ’s grade was for nobody except this “elect”; atonement was only for them.

3.  Irresistible grace: God’s grace was irresistible; one must accept God’s grace if he were of the elect.  Permanent election: one might backslide, but would retain his salvation.

4. His Life and Works

5.  Born in Salem, Massachusetts on July 4, 1808  Descendant of Puritan Immigrants  Added w to his name because Judge Hathorne of Salem Witch Trials was his ancestor and he wanted separation from that.

6.  Unpardonable Sin: the triumph of head over heart; happens when one allows an intellectual obsession to take precedence over his sense of human compassion; this sin is within the human being who does it  Destructive power of guilt: guilt will ruin your life if you let it.  Pride: many characters suffer from excessive pride; spiritual pride shown o be a thing that isolates people; frequently used wit; NOT the same as Unpardonable Sin

7.  Mad Scientist  Two types of Women:  Nice girl: ordinary woman; usually blonde; blue-eyed; wife; keeper of the hearth  Tall, dark mysterious woman with a past (HESTER): usually suffer more than nice girls; very believable characters

9.  Story begins in Puritan Boston in 1642  Hawthorne claimed in “The custom House” that he found the manuscript for the novel and a faded letter A  As the story opens, Hester Prynne is suffering public punishment for adultery.  Her husband, who everyone thought died at sea 2 years earlier suddenly shows up.

10.  Hester Prynne  Husband lost at sea  Committed adultery and has a child  Must suffer public humiliation for her actions  Pearl: Hester’s daughter  Roger Chillingworth  Hester’s husband  Presumed dead for 2 years; assumes a false identity  Doesn’t blame Hester, but vows to punish her lover

11.  Arthur Dimmesdale  Hester’s minister  Plays a part in her public punishment  Tries to make things easier for her and Pearl  Shares a house with Chillingworth

12.  The effect of Sin  Personal and Public Truth  Wisdom through suffering