The Scarlet Letter (novel)

"The Scarlet Letter," written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, is a novel set in 17th-century Puritan Massachusetts. It tells the story of Hester Prynne, who bears an illegitimate child and is publicly shamed for her adultery. To cope with her sin and society's judgment, she dons a scarlet letter "A" for "adulteress." The novel explores themes of sin, guilt, and redemption, focusing on the struggles of Hester, her lover Dimmesdale, and her estranged husband Chillingworth. Through rich symbolism and character development, Hawthorne critiques Puritan rigidity and examines the complexities of human morality.