The Scarlet Letter | Nathaniel Hawthorne | Book Review

"Let men tremble to win the hand of woman, unless they win along with it the utmost passion of her heart. " 

- Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter

 

 

Book Description 

Nathaniel Hawthorne's masterwork, The Scarlet Letter is a historical fiction and tells the story of a young woman of the seventeen century Puritan community of Boston. Having conceived a daughter through an extra-marital affair, she is consequently convicted of adultery. Signifying an adulteress, the scarlet letter “A” remains fixed on her bosom as she tries to get through with life along with her daughter.

Book Review

The Scarlet Letter is a tale of love, passion, relationships, and religion. Hawthorne delves into the minds of the characters and brings out their emotional waves spectacularly. He simultaneously draws focus on the moral rigidity of the society and evaluates the standards of the same.

The book underlines a feminist essence that is essentially subtle and admiring. We see Hester trying to fight for her own place, even though in a blanket of acceptance. The way she never denies the reality but attempts to make it more bearable is an instance of a mentality that is way ahead of her time. Hester’s character is extremely powerful and brave in the most feminine sort of way. The Scarlet Letter is very much unlike any other romance novels. It is truly unconventional, and empowering in a peculiar way.

Pros 

The book provides an in-depth understanding of the social dimension of the period and how they were particularly contradictory in nature.

Cons

The language of the book is not exactly easy. I personally found it a little bit tiring.

 

Who can read the book?

I’d not recommend beginners to read this book, especially to those who are not quite acquainted with longer sentences and comparatively difficult vocabularies. But if you enjoy reading classics and women-centric historical fiction then The Scarlet Letter might be for you.

 

 

Until next time.

XOXO