The Scarlet Letter The Scarlet Letter is a novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne, written in 1850. It is framed in Puritan New England in the early seventeenth century. It tells the story of Hester Prynne, a woman accused of adultery and sentenced to wear on his chest a letter “A” of adultery, you tag. She does not reveal the identity of the father of her daughter, and tries to live in an unjust and hypocritical society with dignity. In the novel, Hawthorne addresses the themes of divine grace, justice and punishment. The story begins with a public trial at a plaza to Hester Prynne, in the eyes of her husband, recently returned after two years of absence. She is condemned to bear the mark of an adulteress, but throughout history shows his strength in his attempt to rebuild their lives. Throughout history, his partner in crime, the Rev. Dimmensdale, does not reveal his sin and continues to be a respected member of the community. But his guilt gives him great remorse and pain and eventually commits suicide.