Today in 1850 The Scarlet Letter was published for the first time. The author, Nathaniel Hawthorne began writing this novel during a time of desperation. He worked as a surveyor because he did not make enough 
money with writing. After the death of his mother in 1849 he had to rely on his friends for charity.
The Scarlet Letter was originally going to include other writing to make it longer for profits and wanted to balance the sadness of this one with lighter stories. In the end it was decided that he would publish just this story.
Adultery, though the word was never used in the book, gave Hawthorne the availability to explore many issues, it being the only sin that requires two people. Thus Hawthorne could explore human experience from many perspectives. He looked at the community and the individual, freedom, responsibility, passion, sin, repentance, crime and punishment. The Scarlet Letter rejected seventeenth century Puritan Massachusetts idea of the Bible only having one meaning, societies costum to label people, and the oversimplification of good and evil.
Nathaniel Hawthorne is one of America’s greatest writers. Much of his writing centers on New England and explores moral allegories. Hawthorne name was orginally spelled Hathorne but he added the “w” to dissociate himself from his relatives which included John Hathorne who was a judge during the Salem Witch Trials. If you would like to read this book the call number is PS1850.F63 vol.1 c.3
