The Scarlet Letterby Nathaniel Hawthorne

Nathaniel Hawthorne 1804-1864• Spent most of his life in Boston

and Salem• Changed the spelling of his last

name to avoid association with Judge Hathorne

• Published over 100 short stories, novels, and non-fiction pieces

• Worked in the Salem Custom House from 1839-1849

• Claimed to find the actual Scarlet Letter and its story in the attic of the Custom House…he edited the story and re-told it as a fictionalized version

Historical Context• Puritan society: strict

governance and punishments

• Religion was the law: no separation of church and state

• The novel is set 50 years before the Salem Witch Trials

• Written as a criticism and warning against the Puritan society

Literary Information• Style: Romantic/GothicDetailed descriptions, old language, long

sentences

• Point of View: OmniscientAll knowing, describing events after they

took place, focuses on one character per chapter

• Conflicts: Internal and External

Woman vs. Society, Man vs. himself

• Plot:Love Triangle and one woman’s story of

survival, perseverance, and strength

• Literary Devices:Foreshadowing and Symbolism

Themes• The Power of LoveIf love is true, no law or rule can

prevent it• AlienationTo shun someone or force them

to be an outcast• Appearance vs. RealityPeople and situations are not

always what they appear to be

• Breaking Society’s RulesWhat happens to those who

break the rules of expected behavior in society?

Symbols1. “A”

• Adultery/Alienated• This symbol changes meaning by the

end of the novel

2. Colors• Black: Puritans, gloom, death,

hidden• Red: Sin, passion

3. Light/Darkness• Light: exposure• Darkness: guilt & concealment

4. Forest• Freedom, natural world, natural

laws, not man made laws

5. Pearl• Child, but symbolizes unsolved

mystery and a reminder of sin