# data[].attributes.body
Massachusetts Bay Colony was founded on February 6, 1788 and was dominated by men. Women were not allowed to participate in town meetings and they were also excluded from decisions within the church.

# data[].attributes.body
Church attendance was mandatory in the life of a person living in the puritan 17th century. Harsh punishments were put on those who strayed too far from god's work because these people believed that they were doing god's work. People believe in Old Testament methods and felt no remorse about administering punishment. In addition to this the puritans also had fun they had celebrations and festivals where people sang and children were aloud to play games.

# data[].attributes.body
Pearl, Hester's daughter is also a huge piece of symbolism. Pearl is a living breathing symbol of Hester's sin. She is a constant reminder to Hester and also to all of the bystanders in the book that Hester had committed adultery. Pearl is also used to pester Dimmesdale to symbolize that Dimmesdale should also be punished because he also committed adultery.

# data[].attributes.body
The most obvious point of symbolism is Hester's scarlet letter. This letter symbolizes sin, hard work, skil, charity, righteousness, scardeness, and grace. Hester wears this letter as punishment for her sin and committing the crime of adultery however she had to make the letter herself so this symbolizes her hard work, skill, charity, righteousness, scardeness, and grace.

# data[].attributes.body
Another apparent theme is that of passion and love. There is an apparent love between Hester and Dimmesdale which unites the two. However there are many different things that try and turn their love into disaster. The pulling apart of their love makes the two of them stronger morally and spiritually.

# data[].attributes.body
The most prominent theme in this book is sin. Almost all the characters in the story so far have committed some type of sin. Hester Prynne broke a great moral law by committing the crime of adultery. Dimmesdale does not tell anyone about the adultery that he committed with Hester. While Chillingworth's sin is of a different nature. His want for revenge dehumanizes him and turns him into a devil. He is more of a sinner than Hester and Dimmesdale.

# data[].attributes.body
In Hawthorne's 60 years of life he wrote many books some of these are:
-The Scarlet letter (1850)
-The House of Seven Gables (1851)
-The Blithedale Romance (1852)
-Twice-Told Tales (1837)
and
-The Marble Faun (1860

# data[].attributes.body
Nathaniel was born on July 4, 1804 in Salem, Massachusetts. Nathaniel lived with his mother who was a widow and two younger sisters. He graduated from Bowdoin college in 1825 but returned to Salem to become a writer.  Hawthorne died on May 19, 1864.

# data[].attributes.body
DeMaiolo, James F., and Nathaniel Hawthorne. The Scarlet Letter. Applause, 1996.
“Themes in The Scarlet Letter.” Conflict between Faith and Doubt in Galileo, www.bachelorandmaster.com/britishandamericanfiction/themes-in-the-scarlet-letter.html#.W57tWNJKjrc
Shmoop Editorial Team. “The Scarlet Letter in The Scarlet Letter.” Shmoop, Shmoop University, 11 Nov. 2008, www.shmoop.com/scarlet-letter/scarlet-letter-symbol.html.
“An Analysis of Symbolism in The Scarlet Letter.” Bright Hub Education, 19 Feb. 2016, www.brighthubeducation.com/homework-help-literature/42055-symbolism-in-the-scarlet-letter/.

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “Massachusetts Bay Colony.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 18 July 2017, www.britannica.com/place/Massachusetts-Bay-Colony.