The Scarlet Letter, published in 1850 by Nathaniel Hawthorne, is a classic American novel set in the Puritan Massachusetts Bay Colony during the 1640s. It explores themes of sin, guilt, and redemption through the story of Hester Prynne, a young woman who bears an illegitimate child and is forced to wear a scarlet "A" on her chest as punishment for her adultery. As Hester navigates societal scorn and raises her daughter, Pearl, the narrative delves into the psychological and moral struggles of Hester, her secret lover, Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, and her vengeful husband, Roger Chillingworth. Hawthorne’s work critiques the rigid moral code of Puritan society while examining the complexities of human nature and the consequences of hidden versus public shame.