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| | '''''The Scarlet Letter''''', written in 1850 by [[Nathaniel Hawthorne]], is a [[Romance]] novel.<ref>http://www.uwm.edu/Library/special/exhibits/clastext/clspg143.htm</ref> The book follows the story of Hester Prynne, a [[Boston]] [[Puritan]] woman discovered to have committed [[adultery]], and who is thus ostracized by her community for the years to come. It is noted for its deep and philosophical themes, including the guilt of [[sin]]. | | '''''The Scarlet Letter''''', written in 1850 by [[Nathaniel Hawthorne]], is a [[Romance]] novel.<ref>http://www.uwm.edu/Library/special/exhibits/clastext/clspg143.htm</ref> The book follows the story of Hester Prynne, a [[Boston]] [[Puritan]] woman discovered to have committed [[adultery]], and who is thus ostracized by her community for the years to come. It is noted for its deep and philosophical themes, including the guilt of [[sin]]. |
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| − | This book is heavily promoted by [[liberal]]s in schools because it tends to erode societal standards of [[morality]]. | + | This book is heavily promoted by [[liberal]]s in schools because it tends to erode societal standards of [[morality]]. Objectively, some of the writing in it is abysmal. |
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| − | Hawthorne obsessively overused the word “ignominy” (meaning public shame or disgrace) 16 times, “ignominious” a total of 7 times, and once for “ignominiously”.
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| | + | For example, Hawthorne obsessively overused the word “ignominy” (meaning public shame or disgrace) 16 times, “ignominious” a total of 7 times, and once for “ignominiously”. In addition, his opening sentence is atrocious writing by any standard: |
| | + | {{A THRONG of bearded men, in sad-colored garments, and gray, steeple-crowned hats, intermixed with women, some wearing hoods and others bareheaded, was assembled in front of a wooden edifice, the door of which was heavily timbered with oak, and studded with iron spikes.<ref>https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/25344/pg25344-images.html</ref>}} |
| | + | Many other sentences in this novel have been identified as bad writing.<ref>https://dysfunctionalliteracy.com/2015/03/01/bad-sentences-in-classic-literature-the-scarlet-letter/</ref> |
| | + | == Background == |
| | Hawthorne was born in [[Salem]], [[Massachusetts]], site of the [[Salem Witch Trials]], and Hawthorne's uncle John Hathorne was the presiding judge over one of the trials and the only one who did not later repudiate the trials. Nathaniel hated him for it and ''The Scarlet Letter'' is one of many anti-[[Puritan]] books written by Nathaniel. The book disparages a moral code as being unduly harsh in ostracizing a woman for committing [[adultery]]. | | Hawthorne was born in [[Salem]], [[Massachusetts]], site of the [[Salem Witch Trials]], and Hawthorne's uncle John Hathorne was the presiding judge over one of the trials and the only one who did not later repudiate the trials. Nathaniel hated him for it and ''The Scarlet Letter'' is one of many anti-[[Puritan]] books written by Nathaniel. The book disparages a moral code as being unduly harsh in ostracizing a woman for committing [[adultery]]. |
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