Introduction to The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Intro Summary Analysis Themes Characters Symbolism Nathaniel Hawthorne’s father passed away at sea when he was just four years old, leaving his mother to raise him alone in Salem, Massachusetts. He later attended Bowdoin College, graduating in 1824. In 1842, he married Sophia Peabody, and they shared a deeply loving marriage that blessed them with three children. Due to financial struggles as a writer, Hawthorne worked as a surveyor at the Salem Custom House between 1846 and 1849. He also established friendships with renowned authors, including Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Henry David Thoreau, and Herman Melville. Hawthorne passed away in 1864 after spending six years abroad in Europe. Historical Context of The Scarlet Letter The Scarlet Letter portrays a critical view of Puritan society, a religious group that had significant influence in late 17th-century Massachusetts. Puritanism originated in England during Queen Elizabeth's reign (1558–1603) with the goal of purifying the Church…