Annotated Bibliography

Works Cited

Abbott, Anne W. "Review of 'The Scarlet Letter, a Romance." 1850. The Scarlet Letter & Other Writings. New York: W.W. Norton, 2005. 371-82. Print.

Abbott begins with a positive appraisal of “The Custom-House,” saying she appreciates “the preface better than the tale.” She then discusses style and characterization in The Scarlet Letter and  applauds Hawthorne’s “artistic prowess” and Pearl’s character, but questions the reality of Roger Chillingworth, Hester, and Arthur Dimmesdale. 

Hawthorne, Nathaniel, and Leland S. Person. The Scarlet Letter and Other Writings: Authoritative Texts, Contexts, Criticism. New York: W.W. Norton &, 2005. Print.

            The Scarlet Letter follows the struggles and triumph of Hester Prynne, a young woman who has a child out of wedlock.  She is forced to wear a red letter A (for adulterer) on her clothing at all times while raising her young daughter, Pearl.  Ultimately she learns how to overcome her adversity and redeem herself from her sin.  I tried to contrast my selections from the book with quotes that described the characters before redemption and after redemption.  I tried to take quotes from different sections in order to have a bigger picture.

Whipple, E. P. "Review of 'The Scarlet Letter, a Romance." 1850. The Scarlet Letter & Other Writings. New York: W.W. Norton, 2005. 352-67. Print.

E.P Whipple criticizes Hawthorne for creating a plot “too painfully anatomical” but applauds his “purely objective” outlook on romance and sin.  Whipple also comments on “The Custom House” and finds it to be a very interesting autobiographical piece about Hawthorne.  Whipple praises Hawthorne for not succumbing to the “French Romantic novelists” and sticking with a story that challenges ideas about morals and social standing.