The Scarlet Letter

Set in 17th-century Puritan Boston during the years 1642 to 1649, it tells the story of Hester Prynne, who conceives a daughter through an adulterous affair and struggles to create a new life of repentance and dignity. The Scarlet Letter "A" represents the act of adultery that she has committed and it is to be a symbol of her sin for all to see. Throughout the book, Hawthorne explores themes of legalism, sin, and guilt.