The Scarlet Letter Book Review + Analysis
February’s book pick was The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne; it's a story about guilt, sin, and finding one’s identity within an oppressed society. Protagonist Hester Prynne is publicly shamed for committing adultery with a man she will not name. The product of that sin led to a child: Pearl. In this book review and analysis of The Scarlet Letter, I break down how our two main characters deal with their shame and guilt from committing adultery; we learn how that affects themselves, their loved ones, and the townspeople.
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*This book review + analysis reveals spoilers*
Join the conversation and stick to the end to see my rating of the 1850s classic novel; I hope you enjoy this book review of The Scarlet Letter!
ABook Review
273 pages (including introduction) | Classic Historical Romance | Nathaniel Hawthorne
Edition: First Vintage Classics, August 2014
The Scarlet Letterby Nathaniel Hawthorne
Summary
In seventeenth-century Boston, Hester Prynne is labeled and shamed as an adulterer because of a pregnancy she conceived apart from her husband, who she believed was lost at sea. The public ignominy Hester receives gives the crowd reason to mistreat her, and the scarlet A upon her bosom is the consequence of her actions. While in jail, a physician arrives, he reveals himself to Hester alone: her husband. Having found out of her infidelity he confronts her and seeks revenge on her lover. Since she never names her partner in crime, Hester bore the offense alone, leaving her consort to carry the burden and guilt in silence.
Structure & Theme
The prose is poetic and magnetizing. I highlighted many lines in my copy on the sole fact that they sounded beautiful. For example, this character description astounded me and knew the book would be worth the read simply for the writing alone.
“He wore a dark feather in his hat, a border of embroidery on his cloak, and a black velvet tunic beneath; a gentleman advanced in years, and with a hard experience in his wrinkles.”
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Structurally the book is perfect. The formatting in this version makes reading seamless for each chapter is 10 pages long; it is just enough to ingest, yet if you want to continue, it isn't daunting. Pacing, pacing, pacing.
The only part I would cut is most of the introduction. Hawthorne writes it. Inside its contents live the reason he wrote the story and how he came about it. He found the scarlet A and its tale in the Custom-House he was working at. Most of the facts are interesting, but some details don't seem entirely relevant to his revelation.
Symbols
The scarlet letter represents the shame Hester wears externally, but what's fascinating is Hawthorne's representation with partner and adulterer Arthur Dimmesdale. Countless times, he mentions the reverend holding his heart with his hand; this can be concluded as his own concealed scarlet letter, much like his identity.
“The minister stood, white and speechless, with one hand on the Hebrew Scriptures, and the other spread upon his breast.”
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
The Scarlet A holds the plot together; it symbolizes adultery. A crime punishable by death - Hester is granted the mercy of public humiliation. She must wear this embroidery every day, so everyone knows her sin. She carries it all her life. Her daughter Pearl sees Hester as that letter, and upon her gravestone, the A forever remains.
Themes
Identity and guiltwithin society: Hester vs. Dimmesdale
The village is oppressed in Puritanical New England, forcing the townspeople to live in the darkness of their shadows shaded with guilt. Although Hester’s ignominy is broadcasted, she feels the most honest of them all. Baring her shame gives her resilience and enables her to be a capable and giving mother without the help of Pearl's father or any family; she navigates this new life, humbled by the humiliation and alteration this action causes. Hester carries her own cross - every day; her scarlet letter becomes her unmasking.
“She shuddered to believe, yet could not help believing, that it gave her a sympathetic knowledge of the hidden sin in other hearts.”
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Dimmesdale is the reverend of the village, revered by the people. He is viewed as a pure and faithful man, holding the burden of idolization that dwells within the people's hearts because his sermons possess passion and relatability. He guides the congregation spiritually, using the collective as a catharsis for his own inner turmoil. When they ingest the clergyman’s words, he dives further into his despair because the reverend hides who he is from himself and others - he feels like a fraud. Nonetheless, his guilt haunts him for the rest of his days until his final confession.
Hester and Dimmesdale are polar opposites in their actions; one hides from society while the other faces the truth. Hester publicly hits rock-bottom when she stands on the scaffold; the townspeople, the clergy, and lover humiliate her. Our protagonist became herself through that experience and by raising Pearl alone.
Religion
Riddled with guilt and dispiriting questions that stem from her sin against God, Hester wonders if her offspring created out of the adulterous act is an evil entity. Our protagonist overcomes the haunting thought by being honest with herself - and overall loving.
“The chain that bound her here was of iron links, and galling to her inmost soul, but never could be broken.”
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Dimmesdale's guilt stems from his fear of God because committing adultery is a mortal sin within his faith. His conclusion is revealed at the end of the book: everyone is a sinner.
“After exhausting life in his efforts for mankind’s spiritual good, he had made the manner of his death a parable, in order to impress on his admirers the mighty and mournful lesson, that, in the view of Infinite Purity, we are sinners all alike.”
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
This seems like a negative outlook to me. Sin consecrates guilt and shame, portraying the wrong message about faith. Infinite Purity is impossible because we are flawed - we make mistakes - we are human. Obviously, adultery is wrong. But what this book fails to reveal is that we can be forgiven as souls with contrite hearts. The reverend tells Hester that they will not meet in the afterlife because of their sin on earth. This conclusion deems God merciless, and I just can't believe that.
The town is deeply embedded with religious rules that reveal the most unforgiving aspects of theology. During this time period, the people may have felt closer to their faith through it. Today, society is segmented oftentimes due to these absolute judgments. Disagreeing with the rules is not an indictment of your soul.
Afterthoughts & Rating
Hawthorne crafts beautiful sentences. As far as storytelling, I have some issues. It's mildly melodramatic. One major flaw that I cannot overlook is the love story. We never see why Hester and the clergyman conceive in the first place, and they don’t speak about it for over several years. I do love a good real romance, and I’m not in desperate need of a love scene, but I don’t see their spark. It's not believable.
Rating: 3.5
★★★
“The heart, making itself guilty of such secrets, must perforce hold them, until the day when all hidden thighs shall be revealed.”
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
How do you feel about the romance?
When Dimmesdale stands silent while Hester is persecuted - does he deserve her love in the end?
Why do you think Pearl needs to see her mother with the A?
Please comment your answers below; feel free to add any of your thoughts about The Scarlet Letter, and about this book review!
