A modern retelling of The Scarlet Letter
When I first read Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, I was struck by Hester Prynne’s dedication to secrecy. She is a woman tried, condemned and punished by her community, and yet refuses to name the true father of her child, or to name her husband. She protects the men around her by taking all the blame upon herself. Why? Some of her actions might have been brought on by fear, but it’s possible they were equally brought on by love for Roger (her husband, presumed dead before he reappears) and for Arthur (the minister in whom she took comfort when she believed she was a widow).
What would happen to Hester to now? Would we be as unforgiving of her? Would she keep secrets as well as she did in Puritan New England? How would we treat Arthur, who fathered a child with another man’s wife? How could Hester and Arthur remain a vibrant part of a modern church community?
These are the questions I wanted to explore in this retelling of a classic. Hester would still be afraid, and she would still feel the need to keep secrets, but ultimately, I think we can offer both Hester and Arthur more grace than they received in the past. A forgiving response, in place of a punitive one, feels like a better choice.
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Overcome: Chapter 14
(Find previous chapters and a description of the project here.) It is Sunday. It is 9:32. She is visibly shaking from adrenaline. She tells herself not to let her lizard brain take over. She tells herself that she can survive the next hour. Brett takes her hand as she enters the church. Finn sticks close
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Overcome: Afterword
(Find the chapters and a description of the project here.) There are several ways I could have retold this story. I could have stayed true to the original narrative, and written about two people continuing their lives after facing condemnation and shame. I could have written both Jesse and Rebecca as unapologetic and shameless. I
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Overcome: Chapter 13
(Find previous chapters and a description of the project here.) It is Friday. She sits at her computer, staring at the screen. There is an email from Laura Miller in her inbox. Laura teaches children’s Sunday school. Brett and Finn haven’t attended regularly in two years, but Laura has kept up with them regardless. The
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Overcome: Chapter 12
(Find previous chapters and a description of the project here.) It is 5:59. She is standing outside the door of the conference room at the church, leaning against the wall. Inside, she can hear low talking. She counts four distinct voices among the chatter. She wonders how many of them there are. Her internal monologue
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Overcome: Chapter 11
(Find previous chapters and a description of the project here.) It is Thursday. She stares at the sonogram the ultrasound tech printed for her. The baby looks like a bean. She smiles at it, then takes a magnet from the fridge, uses it to stick the sonogram to the surface. It is 4:12. The boys
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Overcome: Chapter 10
(Find previous chapters and a description of the project here.) It is Monday. She is at her grief support group. She stopped coming to these group sessions three months ago. Today though, she needs to be here. It is preparatory. She sits with her back straight, both feet flat on the floor, hands on
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Overcome: Chapter 9
(Find previous chapters and a description of the project here.) It is Sunday morning. She is still in bed. It is past dawn, but she has been awake since Jesse rose, dressed in the dark, and went for a run. He’s in the shower now. She listens to the sound of the water running. She
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Overcome: Chapter 8
(Find previous chapters and a description of the project here.) It is Saturday. She stands in the living room, staring out the window at the trellis sitting in the yard. Jesse and Mark—another minister, one of Jesse’s friends from seminary—are standing next to it talking. They both have their arms crossed. They are both wearing
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Overcome: Chapter 7
(Find previous chapters and a description of the project here.) It is Tuesday again. She is waiting by the door. He is late. She pulls her phone from her purse. It is 12:07. I’m ready. She sends the message. Just as she puts the phone back into her purse, he pulls into the driveway. She
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Overcome: Chapter 6
(Find previous chapters and a description of the project here.) It is 5:12. She has been home for exactly 13 minutes. She stares at the message she has typed. It is waiting, ready to send. I’m home. Come over whenever. She has stared at the words for what seems like an hour. Logically, she knows
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Overcome: Chapter 5
(Find previous chapters and a description of the project here.) It is 4:02. Anna is nowhere in sight as she walks into the coffee shop. She has expected this though. Anna is not usually on time. She should have known to come at 4:15, but she had to get out of the house. She left
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Overcome: Chapter 4
(Find previous chapters and a description of the project here.) It is 11:17. She glances at the clock as she puts the car into park. Jesse has driven separately, and parks his Taurus next to her. The boys tumble from the backseat. She will need a new car in a few months, maybe even
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Overcome: Chapter 3
(Find previous chapters and a description of the project here.) It is Sunday. Her boys sit with her in their normal spot, fourth pew, left side. She takes the middle so no one has to ask her to scoot in. She passes Brett and Finn peppermints. They are too old now to be bribed this
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Overcome: Chapter 2
(Find chapter 1 and a description of the project here.) It is 1:07 am and she cannot sleep. Her body is begging for rest, but her thoughts will not turn down the volume. When she closes her eyes, all she can see is the dark blue cross in the test result window. So, she keeps
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Overcome: Chapter 1
(Before reading this chapter, you may want to read a description of the project here.) It is Tuesday. Tuesday is when he comes to see her. She has opened the front door, leaving only the glass storm door between her anticipation and his arrival. When he comes, she knows he will not knock. He will
The Quick and the Dead 