The Scarlet Letter (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne
- First Published: 1850
- Type of Work: Novel
- Type of Plot: Psychological realism
- Time of Work: Mid-seventeenth century
- Setting: Boston
- Genres: Long fiction, Psychological fiction
- Subjects: North America or North Americans, Northeast, U.S., Colonies or colonization, Mistaken or secret identity, Guilt, New England, Ministry or ministers, Seventeenth century, Adultery, Punishment, Good and evil, Revenge, Illegitimacy, Boston, Sermons, Gossip, Massachusetts Bay Colony, Needlepoint or needlework
- Locales: Boston, MA
Characters Discussed
Hester Prynne, an attractive young woman living among the Puritans of Boston during the 1650’s. She becomes a martyr because she, presumably a widow, bears a child out of wedlock; this sin results in her being jailed and then publicly exhibited on a pillory for three hours. After she is released from jail, she must wear for a lifetime a scarlet “A” upon her bosom. She becomes a seamstress, stitching and embroidering to earn a living for herself and for Pearl, her child. After her one act of sin, Hester behaves with such uncanny rectitude that she...
[The entire page is 941 words long]
Navigate
- The Scarlet Letter (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
- The Scarlet Letter (Identities and Issues in Literature)
- The Scarlet Letter (Magill Book Reviews)
- The Scarlet Letter (Masterplots, Revised Second Edition)
- The Scarlet Letter (Cyclopedia of Literary Places)
- The Scarlet Letter (Magill’s Survey of American Literature, Revised Edition)
See Also:
Nathaniel Hawthorne (Cyclopedia of World Authors)Nathaniel Hawthorne (Short Fiction)Nathaniel Hawthorne (Long Fiction)Nathaniel Hawthorne (Dictionary of World Biography)Nathaniel Hawthorne (Identities and Issues)
See Also:
- - For teachers, the The Scarlet Letter Lesson Plan.
- - Read the The Scarlet Letter text online.
- - The Scarlet Letter summary and study guide in the eNotes.
- Add The Scarlet Letter to your favorites