The Scarlet Letter
Nathaniel Hawthorne • 1850
Devastation Rating
Puritan shame religion women
Our Take
Hawthorne's Puritan America has no mercy for the body — only the soul, and only when sufficiently punished. Hester Prynne wears her shame on her chest while the man who shares her guilt preaches to the congregation. Three hundred years later the structure of this punishment is still recognizable.
Appears In
This page contains affiliate links. If you buy a book through one of these links, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure →