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The intentions of the scarlet letter "A" was to symbolize for "Adultery". Her sin is kept on her chest forever until god forgives her for her sin. As the novel continues, the letter symbolizes many different things. One is the corrupt marriage that Hester and Chillingworth are in together. The evil that is within him has caused Hester to doubt their love and become involved with Dimmesdale. The second symbol is for the word "Able". Hester feels is no longer defines her but instead, now identifies her. She is perceived as strong and powerful as she has a child sent from her actions and her letter does not restrict her anymore.

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Life in Puritan Massachusetts Bay Colony 

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Life in Puritan Massachusetts Bay Colony 

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Church was a very necessary for puritans to attend to. Everything was taken very seriously in these communities. The religious and old fashioned aspects together, cause for adultery to be a horrible transgression. Besides Hester in the novel, women would actually have to wear a scarlet "A" on their chest to show their sin to the public.
Public scrutiny was a common punishment during this time. Standing on scaffolding for extended time was allotted to both Hester and Dimmesdale. In real life, whippings were often conducted on defectors in town halls or areas open to the townspeople. Any person who strayed from God's ways, was punished.

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Hester has lost everything due to the birth of Pearl. She represents worth and a reason to strive for love. Her very existence though is "her mother's only treasure!" Hester put her life on the line to be with Dimmesdale and bear a child of sin.

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Life in Puritan Massachusetts Bay Colony 

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Life in Puritan Massachusetts Bay Colony 

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•In 17th century Puritan colonies, the men of the area and household were the decision makers. They had a larger part in the entirety of things that women did. Mayors, town hall speakers, and leaders were all men. The women of the communities were belittled and disrespectfully treated.
•Most people, including children, could read. In Massachusetts, law states that schools must teach literacy skills and techniques. As a child, you would attend school and class regularly. Pearl was very intelligent and started learning at a young age. Her abilities helped throughout the novel deepen her and Hester's relationship.

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Undoubtedly, Hester's actions are a major and vital sin that took place and shaped this novel. Her sin leads her life to become bitter veilled to the public, as now she is just seen as a sinner by most instead of a town's women. Dimmesdale has committed a sin most hurtful to myself. This profession had lead him to purity. The act of adultery eats him alive inside and brings him to death.

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•He was so full of disdain towards his first novel, Fanshawe, that he tried to burn all of the copies.
•Scarlet Letter, his most famous
•House of Seven Gables
•The BlitheDale Romance
•The Marble Faun
•The Twice Told Tales
•Mosses From an Old Manse
•A Wonder Book for Girls and Boys
•Tanglewood Tales

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Although Hester is downed by her adultery and sinfully marked, she does not let that best herself. The strength she has as a woman is enough to keep her attentive to both Arthur Dimmesdale and Roger Chillingworth. She wants what she cannot have, but she relentlessly gets it anyways. She breaks the puritan way of living as she does what she pleases against societal norms.

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•Born July 4, 1804 in Salem, Massachusetts
•Related to judge John Hathrorne, and descendants of sea sailors.
•Attended Bowdoin college in Maine of 1821. After graduating, he wrote his first novel Fanshawe.
•Married Sophia Peabody in 1842, only lasting until 1964 as Hawthorne died, leaving Sophia with 2 children, Julian and Mary.
•Hawthorne has a family curse due to his relatives William Hathorne and John Hathorne. His misfortune and poverty is believed to be from witches and quakers during the 1660's.

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Brooks, Rebecca B. “The Life of Nathaniel Hawthorne.” History of Massachusetts Blog, 15 Sept. 2011, historyofmassachusetts.org/nathaniel-hawthorne/.

DeMaiolo, James F., and Nathaniel Hawthorne. The Scarlet Letter. Applause, 1996.

“Nathaniel Hawthorne's Best Novels & Books.” History of Massachusetts, 12 Aug. 2018, historyofmassachusetts.org/best-nathaniel-hawthorne-novels-books/.

“Puritan Life.” Ushistory.org, Independence Hall Association, www.ushistory.org/us/3d.asp.

Shmoop Editorial Team. “The Scarlet Letter Themes.” Shmoop, Shmoop University, 11 Nov. 2008, www.shmoop.com/scarlet-letter/themes.html.