The Scarlet Letter – Respect

I’m teaching characterization in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel, The Scarlet Letter. I will focus on the theme of respect by looking at the book’s protagonist, Hester Prynne, and tracking her journey from scorned societal outcast to respected contributor within her community. At the beginning of the unit I could utilize the conversation surrounding Confucius, which explores the idea that respect comes from doing things for others and is a path that can look different for everyone.