The Scarlet Letter (Enriched Classics) [Mass Market Paperback] Nathaniel Hawthorne

This book is a powerful exploration of sin and societal judgment in Puritan New England. Its timeless themes and rich character development make it a classic worth reading.

Got it in perfect condition. The book was a nice read. This book is filled with symbolism, imagery and metaphors. Its perfect but at some places it seems too much. I just read it as a reader not someone bent on analyzing every single detail.Somethings could be more fast tracked while some could be more extended. Right in the middle there were two side characters whose story was stretched to two chapters while the ending was just in a single one.

This is one of those books which can effortlessly lend itself to a variety of critical readings, each one of them as legitimate as the next one. On one hand it treats Hester almost like a proto-feminist figure, undaunted and dignified in the face of public disgrace, one who earns her own living to raise her child and on the other, she is readily accepting of her own persecution.Similarly, Dimmesdale is torn between his emotional urges and his allegiance to a doctrine which denies him his humanity. Oppressed by the faith he clings on to for meaning and validation, he chooses private anguish over a public fall from grace quite consciously. In a way, he willingly remains a cog in the wheel of the Puritan machinery while subconsciously resenting the fact of his bondage. The author's treatment of Chillingworth is perhaps the most paradoxical. He is cast in the role of the Biblical snake, a decrepit looking man of intellect, but shown to be a strangely sympathetic cuckold at the same time who refrains from slut-shaming Hester and goes as far as admitting to his own failings as a husband, an astonishing and laudable character trait. I am not sure what was the point of linking natural intelligence with evil though.But let us decontextualize first. Because what good would it do to pan the tyranny of the Puritanical worldview in this day and age? And haven't re-envisioned Biblical scenarios already lost their sheen?Let us take the scarlet letter instead - the incriminating 'A', a mark of woman's ultimate disgrace that Hester bears like a badge of honour in the last stretch, perhaps, having appropriated its connotative worth as a social censure and transmuted it into a part of her identity. Undoubtedly it is the most interesting thing about the novel, because the very weapon of social ostracism wielded against Hester contributes towards her maturation as a character and unwittingly bestows on her the capacity for unfettered thought and freedom of movement. By cementing her status as an outsider, it accords her the unique opportunity of spotting the limitations of a community imprisoned by its own conservatism and aids the process of her liberation and education.It might be a stretch to call the letter a symbol for female emancipation but the text is my guide and the author is dead (in the Barthesian sense) so I'll draw my own conclusions.Sample one of her observations as evidence -"Indeed, the same dark question often rose into her mind with reference to the whole race of womanhood. Was existence worth accepting even to the happiest among them?"My biggest quibble with the book is its insistence on viewing Dimmesdale as a co-equal sufferer as Hester, victim of his own mounting contrition and Chillingworth's insidious revenge. As if Dimmesdale suffers as much as the woman banished to the very margins of society wherein she is forced to raise a child on her own and endure the objectifying gaze of men and women silently pillorying her existence. It seems only Pearl, often referred to as a 'demon offspring', a living embodiment of the repudiation of all doctrinal dogma, is quick to identify her father's moral hypocrisy -"What a strange, sad man is he!" said the child, as if speaking partly to herself. "In the dark nighttime he calls us to him, and holds thy hand and mine, as when we stood with him on the scaffold yonder! And in the deep forest, where only the old trees can hear, and the strip of sky see it, he talks with thee, sitting on a heap of moss! And he kisses my forehead, too, so that the little brook would hardly wash it off! But, here, in the sunny day, and among all the people, he knows us not; nor must we know him! A strange, sad man is he, with his hand always over his heart!"Even the denouement is fashioned with the sole purpose of salvaging Dimmesdale's lost self esteem and paving the way for his atonement. His guilt-ridden conscience is the center of his universe, not the welfare of the woman he abandons to a fate of enduring countless indignities. And his decision to go out in a blaze of pseudo-heroic glory by finally confessing to his 'sin' publicly is further evidence of his self-serving nature. If anything it proves to be his second act of traitorous desertion of Hester, in which he cruelly stamps out her last hope of beginning a new life elsewhere with the father of her child.Thus, I'd remember him as a representative figure of the Puritan moral machinery which flounders in its attempts to maintain its infallibility in the face of sobering reality.Further, the elevation of Hester to a Christ-like symbol of suffering and self-sacrifice who graduates beyond the confines of the world of flesh to attain a near-mythical status is deeply problematic. It vitiates the fact of her growth as a woman of independent means whose very presence, albeit in the fringes of society, serves as an existential threat to the patriarchal Puritan set-up.The omniscient narrator's interjections serve as additional irritants especially because he feels like he has to expatiate on the symbolism of the letter, Chillingworth and Pearl time and again for the sake of the reader's benefit. We get it, Mr Hawthorne. You like insulting the reader's intelligence. Lastly, since the narrative mostly develops around the tension between conflicting ideologies it becomes a bit too involved with its own didacticism, often reducing its characters to mere stiff mouthpieces or symbols. It fails to create any dramatic suspense. As a result there's very little pleasure to be derived from reading.Tl;dr, this is probably not a feminist novel. But of all the things that stand out for me, the author's indirect indictment of slut-shaming remains the foremost. For obvious reasons. Also, Chillingworth over Dimmesdale any day.

Excellent book! Beautifully describes the gender based double standards that favour men. the book is filled with symbolism right from the scarlet letter, little pearl, the governor's mansion, the woods, the black man and many more. There is not much action but the thoughts and emotions felt by each character is what makes this book a must read. Each page must be read with careful thought since everything has a hidden meaning which when discovered makes the book very interesting.Quality of the book is excellent. Reasonable price. I got it for Rs. 97

Well, this book is a kind of religious book. A woman has been published for adultery. The book is fine reading but I personally didn't like the book. The fingerprint publishing I bought which is not good I think but it is cheaper both in rupees and quality. But you can go for it .. its one reading only

A story of denial, shame, and sin of adultery due to society's fear and their beliefs. A story seen from the perspective of both hester and arthur (the main characters). One that openly accepted her sin and one who hides it due to his fear and reputation. The story tells how the presence of love for her child pearl can make you follow the light and ignore society's mistreatments and how the influence of evil roger chillingworth can make your life miserable.It is what hester said in the end that sums up the story:"Heaven will show you mercy, had you but the strength to take advantage of it".

Good book

Good at this price point

mooie uitgaven van een klassiek boek, snel geleverd en in perfecte staat

Many (and old-fashioned) words for a short message. I got easily through reading this book by listening to it (audiobook). How about marking a sinner as such? What consequences has it for a person to wear...a scarlet letter, or a yellow star or some other mark? The message this story transports is timeless. In fact, we are all sinners, but it is always easier to mark one as a "scapegoat". The only right answer to such doing is what Jesus says in John 8 vers 7: "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her."

I just love The Scarlet Letter! An immortal protagonist. Great lessons on the danger of self-righteousness, and how grace is what we all crave.

Modern readers may find the verbal eloquence of writers from this period trying. Like Irving, Hawthorne delighted in such loquaciousness, but even if it doesn't work for you, the story, primarily about appearances, is still pertinent and worth reading.

Muy buena edición y libro, la portada es de cartón fino por lo que se puede doblar con facilidad.El tamaño es algo mas pequeño que un folio A5 pero está bien ya que no pesa y lo puedes llevar contigo. El texto está algo pegado para mi gusto, pero se puede leer fácilmente.En general recomiendo este artículo.Really good book and edition, the cover comes in paper format so you can easily bend it.The size is slightly smaller than a blank page but it's alright as it is not heavy and you can carry it with you. Overall, the text is a little bit small for my liking, but it's very easy to read.I highly recommend this product.