'The Scarlet Letter' Quiz

The unnamed narrator of the novel is a 19th century surveyor of the Salem Custom House. At the custom house, he discovers a manuscript and a scarlet piece of cloth in the shape of the letter "A." The manuscript, written by an 18th century surveyor named Jonathan Pue, offers an account of a series of mid-17th century events. The unnamed narrator takes this account and turns it into the fictionalized story of Hester Prynne.

Hester Prynne is sent to prison and forced to wear the scarlet "A" because the townsfolk discovered she had a baby out of wedlock, which is considered a major offense in the extremely religious Puritan community. The scarlet "A" becomes an ever-present symbol of the shame and judgment directed towards Hester by the community.

Upon her release from prison, Prynne and her daughter move to a small cottage on the edge of the town, where she devotes herself to needlework (producing work of notable quality). She never tells Pearl the true meaning of the scarlet letter "A."

Through the relationship between Dimmesdale and Chillingworth, Hawthorne explores the differences between scientific and religious modes of thought and understanding. Dimmesdale, the priest, represents the views of the Puritan colony's inhabitants: deeply religious, with little understanding of the scientific process. Chillingworth, a physician, is a new addition to the town who represents the encroachment of science into the religious New World colonies.

Arthur Dimmesdale, the beloved Puritan minister, is the father of Hester's daughter. He is racked with so much guilt that his health begins to deteriorate, but he cannot bring himself to confess the truth to the public until the end of the novel, when he climbs up onto the scaffold to confess his relationship with Prynne. (Many townspeople claim to have seen a mark in the shape of an "A" on Dimmesdale's chest.)