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The Scarlet Letter I. Authorial Background. Nathaniel Hawthorne was a prominent American author. He was a fictional writer of romance and sentiment. Nathaniel was born on July 4, 1804 in Salem, Massachusetts. His mother became widowed when Nathaniel’s father died when he was only four years old. Such a tragedy made Nathaniel dependant on his mother for emotional condolences. Therefore, he acquired sympathetic skills towards his literature. Nathaniel grew up amongst an ancestral background of Puritan forefathers. Puritan consists within the novel, The Scarlet Letter as a repetitive word involved within his life as well. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s life has obviously influenced his writing and creativity needed to successfully compose his masterpiece. II. Literary Period. Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote the masterpiece novel, The Scarlet Letter, in America during the mid 1800’s. Nathaniel related his work to thus a period by using old English to signify the 1600’s as a reminder, and his cultural background as a backbone to his enchanting insights. III. Setting. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel, The Scarlet Letter, took place during June 1642 in the Puritan town of Boston. IV. Plot Summary. Roger Chillingworth, Hester Prynne’s husband, sent Hester to America while he concluded his business matters in Amsterdam. While in America, Hester is led to believe that her husband has died. Therefore, she engages in sexual behaviors with Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale. Unfortunately, Hester becomes pregnant with the Reverends daughter. The puritan townspeople scowl her in dismay and trial her guilty of adultery. Hester is imprisoned until the birth of her daughter. Upon leaving the prison, Hester is forced to wear an “A” on her chest as a reminder and ridicule for her ungodly action. The townspeople refuse to socialize with Hester until her dignity is somewhat replenished by her dedication to helping the less fortunate and her articulate needlework.
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