Hester’s A: The Red Badge of Wisdom | National Humanities Center

America in Class Lessons

Hester’s A: The Red Badge of Wisdom

Advisor(s): MacKethan, Lucinda H. (NHC Fellow, 1984–85)

By Schramm, Richard R. (NHC Vice President for Education Programs, 1984–2016)

By deepening her emotional sympathy and by allowing her to liberate her thinking from Puritan orthodoxy, Hester Prynne’s scarlet letter, meant to exclude her from the community, functions ironically as the agent of her inclusion.

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Subjects

Literature / Literary Criticism / Education Studies / American Literature / Novels / Puritans / Morality / Community / Fiction /