Contemplations and notations

I've always loved the Scarlet Letter. I read it for the first time when I was 15 and wrote a paper on it titled " Dimmsdale is a weenie". We were taught a type of New Criticism to reading in high School and so my old copy had all these highlights for particular symbolism--pink for Pearl, yellow for dimmsdale's cowardice, green for Chilingworth's envy, etc. it was fun to go back and read it again with all those highlights. It is such a well-done tale. And resonates so much with me still. The culture that produced that story is still too alive and well in America.