The Scarlet Letter takes place during the mid-17th century in New England. More specifically, the love story is set in Boston in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The Puritans inhabited this land, after they escaped religious persecution in England. Puritanism is a sect of the Protestant Christian faith influenced by Calvinism, the idea that salvation is predestined. Even though salvation was already determined by God, the Puritans still placed great emphasis on perfect religious practices. They attended church regularly, did good deeds, and always strived for perfection. If a Puritan sinned, he or she was heavily punished. This is the basis of the novel. The Puritan faith drives character actions, influences the outcome of certain event, and impact the conflict's resolution.
To keep it simple, The Scarlet Letter revolves around the world of Hester Prynne and her Puritan dilemmas during the Colonial Era. Hester committed adultery upon coming to New England with Boston's Reverend Dimmesdale. When Hester's husband, Roger Chillingworth, finally arrives in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, he sees the sin Hester has committed, and he make it his mission to find the father of her illegitimate daughter.
In the end, Chillingworth breaks Dimmesdale, who reveals to the town that he is the father. He feels relieved of years of pain and guilt. Dimmesdale and Hester are buried in adjacent tombs, and Pearl lives happily back in England with her family.
In the end, Chillingworth breaks Dimmesdale, who reveals to the town that he is the father. He feels relieved of years of pain and guilt. Dimmesdale and Hester are buried in adjacent tombs, and Pearl lives happily back in England with her family.