Prompts for "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathanial Hawthorne 1. Nathaniel Hawthorne was a descendant of Puritans himself (one of his ancestors was a judge during the Salem Witch Trials), but he has some criticisms for their values and way of thinking. Begin by giving a description (in your own words and from a variety of sources) of who the Purtians were, their goals in the "New Land", and an overview of their beliefs. Then discuss at least one criticism Hawthorne has for the Puritan way of life based on The Scarlet Letter using evidence from the text.

Hint: Think about their views on sin, religion, women, discipline, people in authority, etc. Include a link to your sources at the end.

2. What are the themes of The Scarlet Letter? What is the message? What do you think Hawthorne wants others to take away from the story?

Avoid cliches. This answer cannot and should not be pigeonholed to a cliche. This story is more than just “Sin, Knowledge, and the Human Condition” (Sparknotes). It has layers; layers of complexity. Try to peel away the layers and describe them. Use your own words and ideas to describe what you think Hawthorne's message is.