The Scarlet Letter & A Model of Christian Charity Beneath the Surface <Tab/>Nathaniel Hawthorne lived during an extraordinarily turbulent time in American history. Our young nation was barely into its second generation of independence from England. Emotionally volatile issues revolving around religion, slavery, and liberty abounded. During American's antebellum period, citizens struggled to define themselves in a rapidly changing world. Questions concerning religious doctrines, the morality of slavery, and …showed first 75 words of 1737 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1737 total…very much a work that was intended to get reader to reevaluate their preconceptions. Even the 21st century finds value in the questions Hawthorne subtly encourages his readers to ask. Works Cited Winthrop, John. "A Model of Christian Charity." 1630. Norton Anthology of American Literature. 6th ed. Vol A. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2003. 206-217. Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. Norton Critical 3rd Editon. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 1988. 4-178.