** spoiler alert ** Where do I start? I was surprised at just how readable this book was, and on how simple yet timeless the central story remains. This is more than just a story about adultery and its harmful effects, or about intolerant religions and societies. This is a story about how sin can separate a person from happiness.

Four main characters are impacted by Hester and Arthur’s sin. First is Hester herself, made to publicly suffer the shame of the sin, she seems unrepentant and shows a rebellious streak by artistically decorating the emblem of her penance with gold thread so it better stands out. She suffers separation from her community and gives up love and friendship as a result of the adultery. One could say her pride is her largest sin. Or maybe the fact that she settled into a marriage of convenience which ultimately led her to seek physical solace outside of marriage is her sin. Either way her penance is plainly read throughout the story.

Next is the doctor, his sin is plain. He hates the two sinners deeply for the shame their sin caused him. He secretly seeks revenge on Arthur by subtly reminding him of his guilt every chance he gets, poisoning Arthur’s spirit while pretending to heal his ailing body. He does not seek to do the same with Hester because he perceives she is suffering enough with the scarlet letter affixed to her dress. Her public admission, and shame, in effect removes her from his power. However, the hates transforms the doctor from a quiet scholar interested in furthering mankind’s knowledge of medicine to a man bent on evil. His purpose, to make Arthur suffer as long as possible, is betrayed when he vows to follow the couple into their escape.

Arthur’s guilt seems the most damming to me. He is a hypocrite who allows Hester to fully shoulder the shame of the adultery, and even sit on her judgment board fully knowing his part in the sin. The knowledge eats him up, drives him to become a more compassionate and spiritual minister, and finally drives him to his death. Of all the characters I see him as the weakest and most pitiful.

Pearl is the embodiment of wild nature, and since she was conceived in sin and secrecy, she remains wild until her true origins are revealed.

This was a pretty good book, better than I expected. I’m not sure if I would read it again, but I would recommend it for any true lover of American Literature.