An Actual Report of a Book – The Scarlet Letter

A Weird News B.N.I. Please don’t steal this report
On American Lit.

The Scarlet Letter by: Nathaniel Hawthorne
Historic fiction 221 pages (hard cover), 9th grade reading level, 1st printed in 1850

The “Scarlet Letter” is a book about adultery that has absolutely no sex in it. (Although they do say breast a few times, it is only used in a non sexy way.) It is only about the human psychological reaction to sin and its effects. It is rich with symbolism. Even the names of most of the characters are symbolic. The book is literally surrounded with the scarlet letter as both the first and last chapter start with a large capital A like that of the scarlet letter. It also attempts to be a look into Puritan life; however it fails horribly at it. For starters Hester Prynne the main character lives on the edge of town with only her daughter. This would be illegal at that time, as no one was allowed to live in a house without at least 2 people not counting babies and small children. Mistress Hibbins is not only a known witch, but doesn’t hide it and is allowed to live for years before being killed for practicing witchcraft.

Characters

Hester Prynne – The only main character who’s name is not symbolic. She is the wearer of the scarlet letter, a big letter A worn across her chest to let everyone know that she is an adulteress. This forced openness about her sin causes her to live separate from the community and spend her time doing giving to others to make up for her past.

Pearl – She is the daughter of Hester and how the town found out about Hester’s affair. This name is symbolic, and even the book points out how. She is named after the Pearl of great price in the Bible, (Matt 13:44-46.) because Hester gave up everything for her. She is also possible the first character in a book with autism, in a milder form like Asperger syndrome, as she displays many of the symptoms of the disorder; lack of social skills, delayed language skills, inflexibility about changes, persistent preoccupation with one interest, etc. Including ones that would not only be caused by her isolation from her peers, but is able to go on to live a least somewhat normal life in adulthood. (If any body has read the book, and has studied autism, we would love to hear your thoughts on it.)

Roger Chillingworth – He is the actual husband of Hester, who doesn’t want people to know it, and so changes his name and makes her promise not to tell people. He as his name states is the sinister character of the book. He lives only to make the man that slept with his wife miserable, even thought he doesn’t love her and married her to be a housekeeper and cook.
Reverend Dimmesdale – Pearl’s father. The towns beloved minister, who even when he tries to tell people what a horrible man he is no one believes. Whose life like his name, is dimming from hiding his sin.