(8/100) The Scarlet Letter: Guilt and Shame

In the story 'The Scarlet Letter' by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the main character is Hester Prynne. She lives in a Puritan town in America. Hester has a baby girl named Pearl. Hester has a secret. She made a mistake and had a baby without being married. The town is very strict. They want to punish her for this. Hester must wear a scarlet letter 'A' on her clothes. The letter 'A' means 'adultery', which is a serious mistake. Hester feels guilty and ashamed. Her lover, Dimmesdale, feels the same guilt but he does not tell anyone. He keeps it a secret. The story shows us how guilt and shame can affect people. Hester shows strength. She helps others and takes care of Pearl. In recent years, many people talk about guilt and shame in our lives today. Everyone makes mistakes, and we can learn from Hester's story.