# Scarlet Letter - Real Punishment?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scarlet-letter-real-punishment/413378>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 27, 2007, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scarlet-letter-real-punishment/413378 "2007-07-27T15:02:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Lucie813](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@Lucie813](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucie813)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2007, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scarlet-letter-real-punishment/413378/1 "2007-07-27T15:02:56Z")

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We all know the story of Hester Prynne, but is there any historical record of someone actually being forced to wear a scarlet letter for the crime of adultery?