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The Scarlet Letter (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)

by Nathaniel Hawthorne (Author), Thomas E. Connolly (Editor), Nina Baym (Introduction) "It is a little remarkable, that-though disinclined to talk overmuch of myself and my affairs at the fireside, and to my personal friends-an autobiographical impulse..." (more)
Key Phrases: scarlet letter, poor minister, Hester Prynne, Roger Chillingworth, New England (more...)
3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
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Product Description
Set in the harsh Puritan community of seventeenth-century Massachusetts, this tale of an adulterous entanglement resulting in an illegitimate birth engendered the first true heroine of American fiction.

Introduction by Nina Baym
Notes by Thomas E. Connolly

About the Author
Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1865) was born in Salem, Massachusetts, where he wrote short stories of American colonial history.

Nina Baym is the director of the School of Humanities and professor of English at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

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First Sentence:
It is a little remarkable, that-though disinclined to talk overmuch of myself and my affairs at the fireside, and to my personal friends-an autobiographical impulse should twice in my life have taken possession of me, in addressing the public. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
scarlet letter, poor minister
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Hester Prynne, Roger Chillingworth, New England, Arthur Dimmesdale, Black Man, Governor Bellingham, Mistress Hibbins, Mistress Prynne, Old Manse, Election Sermon, Master Dimmesdale, Surveyor Pue, Uncle Sam, Father Wilson, Governor Winthrop, Madam Hester, Mistress Hester, Apostle Eliot, Isaac Johnson, John Wilson, King James, King's Chapel, Master Brackett, Spanish Main
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22 Reviews
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3.9 out of 5 stars (22 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Sin, Redemption , June 10, 2008
By fra7299 "fra7299" (California, United States) - See all my reviews
  
I think the many readers who were forced to partake of this classic were angry at their English teacher for making them read a book so wordy, detailed, and archaic in language. Many of the reviewers' complaints are about the author's style, which is definitely an acquired taste. Hawthorne doesn't merely give you a scene; he tries to tell you what time it is, how and why it is happening, and what each character is thinking as they enter the room. In this way, this can be a turn off to a leisurely reader; it may even be a turn off to an avid reader. The bottom line is that The Scarlet Letter, maybe more so than any other classic, is definitely a matter of style. I tend to admire the book because I can over look some of Hawthorne's unorthodox styles and look for a deeper meaning; if you happen to feel this way, great, if not, then maybe it just wasn't your kind of book.

The main subject in The Scarlet Letter is sin--but not only the sin of adultery (Hester and Dimmesdale). There is also the sin of jealousy and revenge (Chillingworth) as well as the sin of hypocrisy and gossip (Puritan community). Hawthorne's opinion of the hypocrisy of the Puritans seems to be illustrated in the opening scene with Hester coming out of the prison door we hear the Puritan women making besmirching comments about Hester, and one even wanting death for Hester because of her sin--this reaction from a do-good community! The main crux of the story though, as alluded to, is about Hester and Dimmesdale's sin of adultery, and, more importantly, how each of the two protagonists deal with their sin. While Hester's sin is spread out in the public eye of the New England community, and she is shamed publicly, Dimmesdale's sin is hidden, as no one except he, Hester and Chillingworth knows about it. In this way, there are two very paths that follow for Hester and the Reverend Dimmesdale. Hester, after her initial public humiliation and shame, begins life anew, and is able to find a hobby (that of a seamstress) to make ends meet, and her suffering seems to make her able to take on the challenges in life. She is able to deal with the questions and mischievousness from her daughter Pearl, and seems to implore Dimmesdale, who is obviously overcome with guilt, to forget their sin and live free. Dimmesdale, on the other hand, takes his sin very harshly, and not only feels he must punish himself for it, but physically becomes a shell of his former self. Still, Dimmesdale has a remarkable power to still give amazing sermons to the community, even with guilt. Chillingworth, Hester's ex-husband, enters the scene early in the book, and begins to "peck" away at Dimmesdale, knowing full-well that he can break him down mentally and physically with such a weight on his shoulders. During the scenes where Chillingworth is probing the mind of Dimmesdale, there seems to be a symbolic parallel between Chillingworth and the devil (there are several references to Chillingworth being the "black man" in the novel). Dimmesdale can't save himself physically, but he can spiritually. Hester emerges as the novel's hero, mainly because she sheds her former faults, and becomes a stronger person in the process.

The Scarlet Letter is definitely "heavy" reading. It might take you a few times to get through a few of the chapters. But, alas, persevere, and you may find it worth reading. And, take some advice: skip the introductory chapter "The Custom House" and just begin reading with "The Prison Door." I can give you a quick synopsis of the introduction: Hawthorne wrote a book about two people who sinned by committing adultery, and the Puritans weren't happy. As much as people say this book is outdated, it really isn't. I mean, public scandals are a part of our culture just as much as they were then. Hester Prynne is that public scandal, the story you hear on the news or other media outlets. Public infamy, as well as changing public perception, seems to never go out of style.

3 ½ stars


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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful piece of literature, however, May 23, 2008
I completely agree with most HS students that this book should be optional reading for them because HS teachers should very well know that there are many different minds that need very different kinds of reading material and exposure to variety is not always a good thing that's why you end up having reviews of books like this by some HS students who puke on it rather then have savored it like I did. My reasons for really loving this book is because of the historical/puritan life and manners I like to read about, I love human struggle and the need to understand inner feelings of character, and I like knowing about how communities deal with religious matters. Can you blame me for being such a sentimental person? Yes, the book is written at the 5th grade level, and some people still do read at that level so this may be a reason why it's survived for such a long time. In any case, don't have it on your book shelf if it's not your cup of tea; with me, it will always be a treasure.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Even better when it's not required reading in school, July 16, 2007
By Misfit (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)      
Wow, I can't even put into words how good this book was, and so much better the second time around. The classic tale of Hester Pryne, forced to wear The Scarlet Letter as a sign to all of her adultery, but she refuses to name her lover who is then forced to bear his guilt in silence.

Enough reviewers have recounted the story better than I could. Suffice it to say I loved Hawthorne's prose, it was very dense and lyrical at the same time, and you have to pay close attention or you might have to backup and reread a paragraph or two. His descriptions of the scenery and people came alive, especially the character of young Pearl. And I very much enjoyed the scenes in the forest -- it was amazing how Hawthorne brought it all to life, even the sounds of the babbling brook.

Highly recommended to anyone looking to discover (or rediscover) an old classic. Side note to some of the young misses who clearly weren't happy at having this book as required reading in school -- you really really should try to work harder on your spelling, punctuation and grammar when criticizing a great masterpiece such as this.
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 		 Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars A chore to read
Nathanial Hawthorne is an exceptionally bright author. His use of symbolism is amazing and the plot is pretty good too. Read more
Published 25 days ago by Mary

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best novels ever
'The Scarlet Letter' is a beautifully written and perfectly balanced classic of American literature, addressing in a lean 251 pages countless issues of the human experience: love,... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Christopher H.

4.0 out of 5 stars Useful for AP Lit
I read Nathaniel Hawthorne's Scarlet Letter for my Advanced English 11 class. This is not a book I would normally have picked up and read, but I am glad that I read it... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Daniel Flucke

4.0 out of 5 stars Timeless Classic
I enjoyed this book a lot, once I got past the slow parts. Hester Prynne is found pregnant out of wedlock. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Ruth Ann Nordin

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant
This work is an American classic, and the introduction is effective. The editors must be credited with including Hawthorne's original introduction as well, which they note as been... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Dana Yawer

2.0 out of 5 stars Startlingly overrated (in my opinion, anyway)
The Scarlet Letter is an American tourist trying to ask one of the locals for directions; it speaks loud and slow, making gigantic explanatory hand gestures and nodding... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Laszlo Matyas

3.0 out of 5 stars Korean drama, Puritan style
The two missing stars are the result of Hawthorne's abuse of repetitions throughout the novel.
At times, the novel is redundant - while it might have served to... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Michelle Y. Lee

3.0 out of 5 stars An interesting story told with a boring style
Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter is a fascinating story about guilt, revenge, and the faults of the Puritan community. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Stephanie Yen

2.0 out of 5 stars A long dull drag to finish that does have its few moments
First and foremost, this book felt long and drawn-out. The convoluted prose that Hawthorne uses as with his excessively long sentences help add little relief when one is lost in... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Lawrance Chung

4.0 out of 5 stars Patience pays off
In high school, which was quite some time ago, I "had" to read this story and if I needed a quick nap all I needed to do was pull out Scarlet Letter. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Scott A. Reighard

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