Rating: 
Summary: A Scarlet A-plus!
Review: I remember reading this novel back when I was in high school, and again recently when there was another film version of it done. It really is a classic tale, set in early America. However, the moral of the tale is rather timeless -- it deals with sexual morality, but more importantly it deals with honesty and corruption in society, and how we can really harm ourselves by trying to live up to what society wants from us.Hester Prynne is the main character. In a Puritan community, she breaks her marriage vows by having an affair, with the new preacher no less, Reverend Dimmsdale. This affair results in a pregnancy, something that is impossible to hide in the small community. Reverend Dimmsdale becomes both her lover and her chief accuser, given the status he has in the village. The entanglements that Dimmsdale and Prynne have with each other, in public and out, make for fascinating reading, and shows that people remain the same essentially no matter how technology and history may change. The title, the scarlet letter, refers to the big red "A" Hester Prynne is required to wear, identifying her as an adulteress. Interesting, of course is that while the whole community is full of sinners, because Puritan religion believes this of all people, they single her out. This also shows times don't change, because even today sexual "sins" are often considered worse than far more bloody or violent ones. This is a well written book, not really easy but not really difficult to read, and a fascinating look at both early America and how people interact.
Rating: 
Summary: We had to read this thing in high school.
Review: We had to read this thing for class in 11th grade. It is considered a classic, but I found it really boring and uninteresting.
Rating:
Summary: One of my all tme favorite books for English!
Review: I loved this book, the structure of it, the characterization, etc, etc! It contains so much symbols, conflicts and all kinds of literary terms you can think of that it's the best book for the introduction to serious literature. It's the foundation to other American novels as Hawthorne paves the way of how a book should be written- with passion and interest. I just find Arthur Dimmesdale so fascinating while some people might disagree with me. It is his mind that intrigued me to evaluate him and as my subject for my paper. This is definitely an American masterpiece by Nathaniel Hawthorne. I wish that this classic book would be more highly appreciated. Just don't see the movie! Appreciate the beauty of Hawthorne's writing style.
Rating:
Summary: Great Classic Literature!
Review: I'm a high school student who had to read this book for school. Yes, it is hard to read sometimes because of the outdated language and sometimes difficult to understand writing style. But if you read a book that is easy to understand and always entertaining, then you are probably not learning anything. This book is a classic that everyone should be exposed to, and hopefully learn to appreciate.
I stumbled over parts of this book, but in the end, I got a better appreciation of Early American Puritan life. I also really enjoyed watching the movie of the Scarlet Letter.
Rating:
Summary: dazzling, deep, and alien
Review: WHen I finally started reading this classic, I was simply astounded by the alien beauty of the language: the prose style is as dense as the best of Nabokov, with characterisations of people and nuances of emotion that are far-reaching and subtle. Even better, the psychology of the characters is so finely drawn that it begs to be read again from cover to cover. Things are never neatly and unrealistically resolved, but continually appear in their full ambiguity, so much like real life. While not exactly a historical novel that depicts a period with total accuracy, it is one of the first great psychology novels ever written, and indeed is in a league with Stendhal in that respect. As this has been extrensively reviewed, I will leave plot descriptions to others. This is a classic that truly lives up to its reputation. Highest recommendation.
Rating:
Summary: Nobody's Perfect
Review: I chose to read this book because of its status as a classic in American literature. I chose to continue it because I looked with sympathy, horror, and amazement at the protagonist, the priest, the physician, and the illegitimate child. There were moments when I was downright afraid of the child, Pearl, and convinved she must be demonic. I regarded Roger Chillingworth, the antagonist, as a generally benign, justice-seeking man. The protagonist, in light of her background, appeared to have little to defend herself with. But as the book progressed, it became apparent that Hawthorne had painted the portraits of characters more human than many of the people I know! Did Hestor Prynne utter words of (gasp!) sexual liberation? Or was that just my hindsight vision? Could Mr. Dimmesdale really be such a coward? Or was he truly a benevolent, if imperfect, man? In truth, regardless of what anyone else sees in The Scarlet Letter, I found a compelling story that encoruaged me to reëvaluate certain beliefs, and to enshrine others. No wonder it's a classic! I highly recommend this book.
Rating: 
Summary: poo
Review: I really hated this book. I really hated the made-for-tv-movie that I had to watch after I finished reading it. But maybe it was just because it was for English.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Classic!
Review: I decided to read a good classic a couple of years ago, and picked up "The Scarlet Letter". I read this book in one whole weekend and I enjoyed it. It is a little old-fashioned (because she's the only one blamed for the adultery..what about the father?), but it is still a good book. It was like a "mystery" to me because I didn't know who was the father was at first, until I got to the end, which turned out to be Rev. Dimmingsdale. I also found out that Hester's husband was an evil man. This is a good book for anyone to enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: Great plot, horrible writing!!!!!!!!
Review: I believe that the plot of "The Scarlet Letter" could have been wonderful & something I would love to read, because the events are all such interesting ideas. I just think that Mr. Hawthorne made them boring through his writing style. Sometimes it just dragged on forever & I really think more of the book consisted of descriptions than dialogue---I couldn't enjoy a book like that. I think if this was written by a different author, with mainly the same plot, it could be wonderful. But this, was terribly boring!!!!!!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Perhaps a little outdated
Review: Although The Scalet Letter is superbly written and there is no denying the greatness of Nathanel Hawthorne, I must admit that the book was, perhaps, a bit on the dry side. Hawthorne, himself having grown up in Puritan Salem, writes from first-hand experience of the unwavereing rigidity and intolerance of Puritan society. Hester Prynne, having committed the unthinkable sin of adultery and conceiving her illegitimate child Pearl, becomes a veritable pariah as she is forced to live on the outskirts of town and wear the ignominious scarlet letter A on her bosom for eternity. In sanctimonious colonial Salem, Hester's impropriety is tantamount to murder in today's society. She, however, should not have to bear the guilt alone. As they say, it takes two to tango. Reverend Dimmesdale, in his absolute cowardice, is just as, if not moreso, guilty than Hester. Furthermore, the biggest coward and hypocrite proves to be none other than her spineless husband, Roger Chillingworth. I must say that the reading was at times a bit laborious, but a good read nonetheless. I must further confess that the movie version with Demi Moore is much more rewarding, although the book should undoubtedly be read first.
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