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'Thou and thine, Hester Prynne, belong to me.' With these chilling words a husband claims his wife after a two-year absence. But the child she clutches is not his, and Hester must wear a scarlet 'A' upon her breast, the sin of adultery visible to all. Under an assumed name her husband begins his search for her lover, determined to expose what Hester is equally determined to protect. Defiant and proud, Hester witnesses the degradation of two very different men, as moral codes and legal imperatives painfully collide. Set in the Puritan community of seventeenth-century Boston, The Scarlet Letter also sheds light on the nineteenth-century in which it was written, as Hawthorne explores his ambivalent relations with his Puritan forebears. The text of this edition is taken from the Centenary Edition of Hawthorne's works, the most authoritative critical edition. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.
Hester Prynne faces public shaming and social ostracization in a rigid Puritan society after bearing a child out of wedlock. Hester struggles to maintain her dignity and protect the identity of her lover while her vengeful husband, arriving in Boston under a false identity, systematically dismantles the lives of those involved. The narrative operates through a third-person omniscient perspective that examines the psychological toll of guilt and the hypocrisy inherent in strict moral governance. The story unfolds within the claustrophobic confines of seventeenth-century Boston, where the physical environment mirrors the internal moral landscape of the characters.
Discussion often centers on the intricate symbolism Hawthorne employs to critique the rigidity of Puritanical structures. Readers frequently highlight the stark contrast between Hester’s public resilience and the internal decay of the men surrounding her. Critics often note the atmospheric density of the prose, which serves to heighten the sense of isolation experienced by the protagonist. The work remains a primary subject of study regarding the intersection of personal morality and public judgment in early American settings. Many readers appreciate the nuanced portrayal of guilt and the enduring nature of the scarlet letter as a cultural icon.
Page Count:
270
Publication Date:
2007-01-01
Publisher:
OUP Oxford
ISBN-10:
0191608815
ISBN-13:
9780191608810
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