The Scarlet Letter

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne has been hailed as one of literature's finest works. The symbolism in this novel is immense, though the tone is dark. He wanted to portray the world that Hester lived in, and he did so, in all of it's dark glory. She is forced to wear the scarlet letter due to a sin she committed once. Her daughter Pearl, the product of her sin, is the living reminder of why she is forced to remain separate from the rest of the town. Her story, and the story of her aged husband who wants revenge on the man who caused him the dishonor he would have if he used his real name is known to some as the classic of Romantic literature.