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The Value of a Star: Ratings Explained

The Scarlet Letter
By: Nathaniel Hawthorne
My Rating: THREE out of FIVE Stars
Best For: Ambitious readers 16 and up (or anyone who wants to be turned off reading forever)

The Scarlet Letter: An Important Classic, But Boy, Is It a Slog.

Alright, confession time: The Scarlet Letter was a huge hole in my reading pedigree. It’s one of those literary giants everyone talks about, and I figured it was high time I jumped in. Now that I’m done? Honestly, I would have rather just read the Wikipedia summary. And that’s saying something, because I’ve read other classics written around the same time—like A Tale of Two Cities and Les Misérables—that are utterly engaging and even fun to read. So, “it’s an old book” isn’t an excuse here.

About:

Set in 17th-century Puritan Massachusetts, The Scarlet Letter tells the story of Hester Prynne, a woman forced to wear a scarlet “A” on her dress as punishment for adultery. The novel delves deep into themes of sin, guilt, repentance, and societal judgment, all through the lens of a rigid religious community. It’s a fascinating look at what people in the 1850s thought about their Puritan ancestors, and it really shines a light on the origins of our historically misogynistic society. The author, Nathaniel Hawthorne, uses this narrative to deliver a powerful political message against the Puritans, portraying them as hypocrites whose blind devoutness leads to self-defeating actions and an unforgiving, shaming approach to perceived sin. It’s an examination of how extreme piety can, paradoxically, lead to impiety.

Review:

While I understand why this is considered an important piece of literature, I just couldn’t get into it. It’s not engaging, and it is absolutely not fun to read. This 250-page book took me way too long to finish, which is never a good sign. The characters often feel flat, and some of the narrative choices, like the extensive, often convoluted sentences, make it a real challenge to follow. Seriously, by the time you get to the end of some sentences, you’ve forgotten how they started! This unreadable style made what could have been a truly compelling story feel dry.

Hawthorne’s critical examination of religion’s role in society and his portrayal of its darker, judgmental aspects certainly make it easy to see why many view religion in a negative light. The novel powerfully illustrates how the Puritans, in their pursuit of moral purity, often ignored basic human realities and forgiveness, especially when it came to women. They judge Hester mercilessly without considering her as a potential victim, or even acknowledging that it takes two people for adultery to occur. This underlying commentary on sexism and hypocrisy is undoubtedly valuable.

However, the delivery was, at times, incredibly pedantic, and the middle sections felt drawn out with seemingly irrelevant events. It’s one of those books where the overall message is profound, and its socio-historical context is tremendous, but the reading experience itself is a struggle.

Sensitive Content:

• No specific content concerns, beyond the historical descriptions of societal judgment and the portrayal of religious extremism.

Should you read it?

If you’re an ambitious reader who genuinely enjoys dissecting classic literature for its historical and thematic importance, and you’re prepared for a dense, unengaging reading experience, then go for it. But if you’re hoping for a fun or engaging story, this one will likely turn you off reading forever. This dad says The Scarlet Letter is best for ambitious readers 16 and up.

Happy Reading!