Introduction

My exhibit focuses on Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, a work of historical fiction, which was first published in 1850. The Scarlet Letter has been banned several times since its publication. In 1977, the book was challenged because it was considered “pornographic and obscene,” although there was not a single sex scene in the book. I will discuss this book from the following points of view:

Book. I describe the book The Scarlet Letter; A Romance itself, a controversial book that portrays the protagonist Hester Prynne is marked with the scarlet letter "A" for her life due to her betrayal and guilt.

Context. I discuss why the book was considered immoral and illegal. Some items here include: a drawing of “The Revelation of the Scarlet Letter”; the manuscripts of “The Scarlet Letter: Analysis. Holograph, unsigned, undated”; and the book of “The Cambridge companion to Nathaniel Hawthorne”. These artifacts show how the book deals with conflicts with community values and social norms.

Insights. I explain the moral issues and social contradictions in the book by analyzing the inner conflicts of the protagonist, with the discussion of the shame and fear of exposure of reality, and the limitation on human political rights.