Fiercely romantic and hugely influential, The Scarlet Letter is the tale of Hester Prynne, imprisoned, publicly shamed, and forced to wear a scarlet 'A' for committing adultery and bearing an illegitimate child, Pearl. She is not willing to reveal the identity of her lover. The scarlet letter, and the public shaming, is her punishment.Throughout the book, Nathaniel Hawthorne takes us on the journey of this woman as she strives to create a new life of repentance and dignity, exposing the stereotypes of society. A tale of sin, punishment and atonement, it exposes the moral rigidity and double standards of the society.