Classic?

The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne in 1850, is a very well known story. Students in high schools all over have read and discussed this story for years. This book is considered to be a classic. One of the main characteristics of a classic novel is the fact that it is very universal and can connect with readers from all generations. The Scarlet Letter definitely has a universal theme and connects with readers of al ages. I think that The Scarlet Letter is a classic and should continue to be considered so.

When I first started to read The Scarlet Letter I thought that it was going to be very hard to understand and connect with because of the time period in which it was written. Surprisingly, I could understand it very well and was even interested by the story. The fact that a teenager in 2010, who doesn’t read books unless she has to, can read a book written in 1850 and actually enjoy it proves the universality of The Scarlet Letter. Even though the culture and customs of the 1800’s were far different than they are now, Hawthorne did a great job of communicating the emotions and situations of the characters to connect with the reader more. Today, adultery is almost no big deal to society. In the 1800’s, people, like Hester Prynne, were put to public shame and ostracized for committing adultery. Even though there is really no connection between the way society used to deal with adultery and the way it is dealt with now, the reader can still connect with the way Hester feels alone and hopeless. The reader could also connect with Mr. Dimmesdale’s situation with his hidden sin and double standards. The Scarlet Letter is a story worth reading. It may contain words that are difficult to understand, or societal issues that are somewhat irrelevant to today, but each character helps connect with the reader of any generation. The Scarlet Letter, which is over 100 years old, proves itself to be a classic

The Scarlet Letter remains

The very last sentence in The Scarlet Letter, which was written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, says this, “So somber it is and relieved only by one ever-glowing point of light gloomier than the shadow: - ‘ON A FIELD, SABLE, THE LETTER A, GULES.’” This sentence is a description if what symbol can be found on the grave of Hester Prynne. The tombstone on the grave of Hester Prynne bears the same scarlet letter that Hester bore on her bosom most of her life. This statement seems to say that amongst the darkness and gloominess of the grave, there is one small ray of light glowing. The glowing comes from a bright red letter A; the scarlet letter.

This quote is significant to the life of Hester Prynne in looking at the legacy she left behind. Looking at the fact that Hester bore the burning of the scarlet letter for many years on Earth as well as when she went to the grave, helps one to see that the choices a person makes affects him/her for the rest of his/her life and possibly longer. Most people want to leave a legacy of some kind when they leave and in Hester’s case, she will forever be known as an adulterer. When people go to visit Hester’s grave, they will not see a legacy of how well she raised her daughter, or of the love she had for others, or even her great skill with the needle, they will only see the scarlet letter and therefore remember her for being an adulterer. Hester’s life could serve as an example for generations to come to see how important it is to make wise decisions. Although Hester was able to help many people through rough times and offer counseling to people who made bad mistakes as well, she will not be remembered for her counseling or for her help. The only thing remembered about her is symbolized by a burning, glowing scarlet letter A.