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Script: N. Hawthorne Editor: M. McLaughlin Producer: M. Hoffmeister

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THE SCARLET LETTER- THE SCARLET LETTER- THE CUSTOM HOUSETHE CUSTOM HOUSE

THE CUSTOM THE CUSTOM HOUSEHOUSE

Frame storyFrame story Fiction within a Fiction within a

fictionfiction Serves to intro the Serves to intro the

scarlet letter and scarlet letter and Hester PrynneHester Prynne

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SETTINGSETTING

Boston, 1642Boston, 1642 GrimGrim SternStern JoylessJoyless SomberSomber FrontierFrontier PrimitivePrimitive DarkDark RepressiveRepressive

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SETTINGSETTING

A. A. The The MarketplaceMarketplace

Public SpacePublic Space

Church-religion/stateChurch-religion/state Scaffold-lawScaffold-law Prison-Puritan mind-setPrison-Puritan mind-set

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SETTINGSETTING

B. B. The ForestThe Forest

Private SpacePrivate Space

DarkDark SecretSecret IndividualIndividual FreedomFreedom EscapeEscape

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CHARACTERCHARACTER

HESTER PRYNNEHESTER PRYNNE

– Commits adulteryCommits adultery– Wife of Roger Wife of Roger

Chillingworth (Prynne)Chillingworth (Prynne)– Sinner/Heroine?Sinner/Heroine?– Strong womanStrong woman– Individual Individual

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CHARACTERCHARACTER

ARTHUR ARTHUR DIMMESDALEDIMMESDALE

– Minister/saintlyMinister/saintly– HeroHero– HypocriteHypocrite– CowardCoward– WeakWeak– GuiltyGuilty– SinnerSinner

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CHARACTERCHARACTER

ROGER ROGER CHILLINGWORTHCHILLINGWORTH

– Doctor/ScientistDoctor/Scientist– Cold-heartedCold-hearted– ScholarScholar– DeformedDeformed– Single-mindedSingle-minded– Fiend-likeFiend-like

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CHARACTERCHARACTER

PEARLPEARL

Treasure/pearl of great Treasure/pearl of great priceprice

Dressed in red/gold-Dressed in red/gold-elaborate decorationelaborate decoration

Unusual childUnusual child Character as symbol Character as symbol

(What does Pearl mean?)(What does Pearl mean?)

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THEMESTHEMES

Law-natureLaw-nature Individual-societyIndividual-society Sin-redemptionSin-redemption Heart-headHeart-head Public-privatePublic-private Woman-society/Woman-society/

marriagemarriage

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SYMBOLSSYMBOLS

Colors-red, black, Colors-red, black, goldgold

The letter “A”The letter “A” The roseThe rose The forestThe forest

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