The Scarlet Letter: A Tale of Sin, Punishment, and Redemption
Nathaniel Hawthorne was born on 4 July 1804 in Salem.
A woman he sentenced to death during the witch trials put a curse on him. Nathaniel was aware of the curse, and it emerged in his writings.
Interest in Puritans and in the concepts of sin, punishment, and evil.
In 1828, he published his first anonymous novel, Fanshawe, which was not a success.
In 1837, he published a collection of short stories, Twice-Told Tales.
He married Sophia Peabody in 1842, and they had 3 children.
In 1849, he left his job and began writing The Scarlet Letter, which was published in 1850.
The House of the Seven Gables (1851)
The Blithedale Romance (1852).
In 1853, he was appointed Consul to Liverpool and Manchester.
His last novel was The Marble Faun (1860).
He died on 19 May 1864.
The Scarlet Letter – Nathaniel Hawthorne.
In 1976, a family discovered a notebook that had been kept between 1835 and 1841 by Nathaniel Hawthorne. It was the notebook where he had jotted down his first thoughts for the play.
Was The Scarlet Letter a true story?
The story took place in the Puritan Settlement of Boston (1642-1649).
The Scarlet Letter involves themes of love, sex, sin, evil, punishment, rebellion, hypocrisy, revenge, and hatred.
Boston, 17th century.
Hester Prynne is married to Roger Chillingworth, a man who sends her in advance to America. She is lost at sea and has an affair that gives birth to a baby girl (Pearl).
An old man (Roger) blames her for adultery. Hester is condemned to wear the scarlet letter sewn on her clothes, to stay for 3 days on the village scaffold, and to go to jail.
While in jail, Roger Chillingworth comes to visit her and begs her not to give away her identity. Roger settles in Boston with the intention of taking revenge.
After several years, Hester and Pearl live in a cottage where Hester supports herself as a seamstress. The town officials try to take Pearl away from her, but with the help of Arthur Dimmesdale, a young minister, it is not possible.
However, Arthur Dimmesdale seems to be wasting away and suffers a mysterious heart problem, caused by psychological distress. Roger Chillingworth (who claims to be a doctor) takes him in, and they live together so that Roger can look after him 24 hours a day.
Chillingworth suspects the affair between Arthur and Hester, and so one night, while Dimmesdale sleeps, Roger sees that the minister has a mark on his chest, and his suspicions are confirmed.
One night, when Pearl is 7 years old, mother and daughter find Dimmesdale on the top of the village scaffold trying to punish himself for his deeds. Hester and Pearl join him and shake hands. Pearl proposes to her father to tell the truth about his identity, but he refuses, and the next day a meteorite falls from the sky and marks a red ‘A’ that lights up the sky. Seeing Arthur’s bad situation, Hester asks Roger to help the minister, but he refuses.
Hester arranges a meeting with Arthur because she knows Roger is planning his revenge and to reveal the identity of the Minister.
Hester and Arthur decide to flee to Europe and live with Pearl.
Hester feels free and takes off her scarlet letter and lets down her hair. Pearl does not recognize her.
The next day, Arthur preaches his most eloquent sermon. Meanwhile, Hester learns that Roger knows of her plan & has booked passage on the same ship.
Dimmesdale confesses to being Hester’s lover, revealing the scarlet letter engraved with fire. He falls dead as Pearl kisses him.
Frustrated in his revenge, Roger dies a year later, Hester & Pearl leave Boston.
Many years later, Hester returns alone, still with the scarlet letter, to live in her old cottage.
CHARACTERS:
Hester Prynne: A woman blamed for adultery.
Roger Chillingworth: Hester’s ex-husband, who claims to be a doctor.
Arthur Dimmesdale: Hester’s lover and Pearl’s father, a minister.
Pearl: Hester’s daughter.
Governor Bellingham: Forces Hester to tell her lover’s name (order and law).
Misbness Hibbins: Governor’s sister who invites Hester to the forest to speak to the Black Man (Satan).
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
CHARACTERS:
Hester Prynne: Mujer culpada de adulterio.
Roger Chillingworth: Exmarido de Hester, que dice ser médico.
Arthur Dimmesdale: Amante de Hester y padre de Pearl, ministro.
Pearl: Hija de Hester.
Gobernador Bellingham: Obliga a Hester a decir el nombre de su amante (orden y ley)
Misbness Hibbins: Hermana del gobernador que invita a Hester al bosque a hablar con el Hombre Negro (Satanás).
Boston, siglo XVII.
Hester Prynne está casada con Roger Chillingworth, un hombre que le envía por adelantado a Estados Unidos. Ella se pierde por el mar y tiene una aventura que da a luz a una niña (Pearl).
Un anciano (Roger) la culpa por adulterio. Hester es condenada a llevar la letra escarlata cosida en su ropa, estar durante 3 días en el andamio del pueblo e ir a la cárcel.
Durante su estancia en la cárcel, Roger Chillingworth va a visitarla y le ruega que no delate su identidad. Roger se instala en Boston con la intención de vengarse.
Tras varios años, Hester y Pearl viven en una cabaña donde Hester se mantiene como costurera. Los funcionarios del pueblo intentan quitarle a Pearl, pero con la ayuda de Arthur Dimmesdale, un joven ministro, no es posible.
Sin embargo, Arthur Dimmesdale parece estar consumiéndose y sufre un misterioso problema cardíaco, causado por una angustia psicológica. Roger Chillingworth (que decía ser médico) se hace cargo de él y viven juntos para que Roger pueda atenderle las 24 horas del día.
Chillingworth sospecha de la aventura entre Arthur y Hester y por ello una noche, mientras Dimmesdale duerme, Roger ve que el ministro tiene una marca en el pecho y confirman sus sospechas.
Una noche, cuando Pearl tiene 7 años, madre e hija se encuentran a Dimmesdale en lo alto del andamio del pueblo tratando de castigarse por sus hechos. Hester y Pearl se unen a él y le dan la mano. Pearl le propone a su padre contar la verdad sobre su identidad, pero él se niega, y al día siguiente un meteorito cae del cielo y marca una ‘A’ roja que ilumina el cielo. Viendo la mala situación de Arthur, Hester le pide a Roger que ayude al ministro, pero él se niega.
Hester organiza un encuentro con Arthur porque sabe que Roger planea su venganza y revelar la identidad del ministro.
Hester y Arthur deciden huir a Europa y vivir con Pearl.
Hester se siente libre y se quita la letra escarlata y se suelta el pelo. Pearl no la reconoce.
Al día siguiente, Arthur predica su sermón más elocuente. Mientras tanto, Hester se entera de que Roger sabe su plan y ha reservado un pasaje en el mismo barco.
Dimmesdale confiesa ser el amante de Hester, dejando ver la letra escarlata grabada con fuego. Cae muerto mientras Pearl lo besa.
Frustrado en su venganza, Roger muere un año después, Hester y Pearl se van de Boston.
Muchos años después, Hester regresa sola, todavía con la letra escarlata, a vivir en su antigua casa de campo.