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Liked It5 of 5 members found this review helpful “A beautifully written parable. If you're looking for one book to illuminate the legacy of America's Purtitanical roots, it's this one.” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It4 of 4 members found this review helpful “Hawthorne chooses every word. I wish he would have chosen less.” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“Possibly one of the worst books written & forced upon American youth.”
Megan wrote this review yesterday. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I absolutely love the detail and passion put into each carefully crafted sentence. It takes awhile to get to the point, but that is what makes it so very beautiful. I love this story and will never forget it's message.”
Becca P wrote this review yesterday. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Best book I read while in high school. I love how Nathaniel Hawthorneis writes and reveals the darkside in all of us.”
Ms. R wrote this review yesterday. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Since the English is more formal then today's. It has taken me a while to read, only because i want to capture the essence of the story.”
Lauren P wrote this review 3 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“REQUIRED READING - ELEVENTH GRADE: This novel is about a woman who commits adultery and is condemned to wear a scarlet A on all of her clothes. The main characters are Pearl, Hester, Arthur Dimmsdale, and Roger Chillingsworth. The theme is that a guilty conscience will always eat at your soul until you confess. I did not like this book at all. I found it very un-interesting.
Wendy Bell wrote this review yesterday. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
English 526: Visuality in American Literature - Once again, this presented an instance where a second reading enabled me to really enjoy this book. I loved it, rethinking the validity of whether it should be read at the high school level or not. Class discussions centered around the A as a literary visual that is personified in the novel, as well as the person wearing the A becoming the A. Many possibilities here in this book.”
“Not bad for High School reading”
William G wrote this review 4 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne investigates the human condition in a very compelling way.
Zommbie1 wrote this review 5 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Set in Puritan Boston it explores what happens to the very souls of primarily three individuals when as sin is committed and discovered. It also criticises early Americans for their views on sin and who has committed it.
The three individuals at the centre of the story are Hester Prynne, Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale and Roger Chillingworth. At the beginning of the novel it is revealed that married Hester Prynne has committed adultery and as an adulteress she is forced to wear the Scarlet Letter "A" at her bussom. The story then goes on to show how she uses her sin to do good. As the story progresses we find out that her partner in crime is the Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale who does not confess to his part in the crime. He is then eaten up from the inside by his guilt. Roger Chillingworth is Hester Prynns estranged much older husband who does not addmit to this to the population in Boston but passes himself off as a doctor who treats Reverened Dimmesdale as he becomes physically ill from his guilt.
Hawthorne makes use of extensive symbols and metaphores in the telling of his story. Perhaps the most important of these symbols is the Scarlet letter itself which becomes and outward symbol of Hester's sin but also comes to symbolise her making of herself. As the novel progresses it is remarked that the "A" has now come to symbolise Able as Hester helps around the society in a way other women cannot. In the end the symbol becomes so much a part of her that her own daughter will not come to her if she wears it.
I thuroughly enjoyed this book. I found it had a lot to say about how we make ourselves into who we are. I suppose it is the American in me that feels that it is far more important what the sum total of us is rather than one or two outward symbols. It is what we do with those symbols that matters.”
“It was ok, I would have liked it better if it was NOT a school assignment”
Lullaby379 wrote this review 8 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“A women left alone by her husband, Hester Prynne seeks for a lover in the puritan community. A great sin both commited and the result being little Pearl. So what has her husband have to say after his return? Who is hte father of little Pearl who Hester refuses to say the name of? What happens to this poor sinful women in this strict religiouse New England?”
cindi p wrote this review 8 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
