What kind of insights can i gain by reading The Scarlet Letter?

Question

I like to read books that i can gain knowledge and insight from.

I've heard that The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne would be a good choice for me.

I'd like to know what kind of insight i can gain from reading it beforehand.

Please help!

Answer 1

You learn about the excesses of the Puritans and the role it played in th founding of the Thirteen Colonies.

This can be a history lesson that will help you understand the otherwise unexplainable excesses of American life in more recent times: Prohibition, the McCarthy era, believing G.W. Bush 's reasons for invading Iraq, etc.  

Answer 2

For one thing, how narrow-minded Puritans are. For another, how the most self-righteous among us are usually the most immoral.

Answer 3

You would learn about Puritan ideals, as well as deeper things, such as forgiveness, sin, truth, and other themes. I'm reading this novel right now, and I really like it. It's filled with symbolism, which makes you think about things so much more.