Join Professors Janice Knight and Eric Slauter, specialists in Early American colonial literature and history at the University of Chicago, for an exploration of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s classic work. Set in a Puritan community during the mid-17th century, The Scarlet Letter remains eerily resonant and prescient in today’s vastly different cultural climate. With its mix of compelling psychological portraits, effective symbolism, and sheer intensity, this seminal text is considered an American masterpiece.
Hawthorne's evocation of sexual taboo, social ostracization, and the price of secrets has captivated readers since 1850. From the first moment Hester Prynne steps out of jail with “natural dignity and force of character” – holding Pearl, her illegitimate child, in her arms – until the final wrenching scenes of the book, the infamous scarlet letter pinned to her chest marks her forever as “adulterer.” This shameful mark affects not only Hester and Pearl, but also the lives of a mysterious stranger, Roger Chillingworth, and the town’s pious minister, Arthur Dimmesdale.
Even if you’ve read The Scarlet Letter more times than you can count, this session promises to introduce you to new ways of looking at an old classic. Explore the links below to get ready for our session, and sign up today!
Books Unbound is made possible through the generosity of Polk Bros. Foundation.
