Embracing a Feminist Nature: A Theory Essay

In the novel, The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne characterizes Pearl with contrasting personalities and roles she plays in Hester’s life. Pearl’s conflicting personality components, innocence and defiance, both derive from her isolation from society, which transpired because of her mother’s sin. Pearl represents the conflict between everything good and dark, which reflects in the role she plays in Hester’s life, as the physical embodiment of the A. While Pearl serves as a savior to Hester, representing possible redemption, she is also Hester’s tormentor, a constant reminder of her sin, and the consequences of disobeying her Puritan nature and religion. Hawthorne’s intent is established in the novel through Pearl’s attachment to the A, the mirror

Hawthorne's Hester Prynne is the underdog protagonist that the reader cannot help but want to succeed. She is flawed but her flaws are outshone by her good heart and spirit. This shamed and humiliated woman is the one the reader, with the help of Hawthorne’s descriptions, wants to support. This sinful woman, with a child from wedlock, a diabolical “husband”, and a secretive lover is the motivating force that drives the reader to continue on with The Scarlet Letter. The language, descriptions, and plot of The Scarlet Letter show that Hawthorne believes the reader should look past gender stereotypes because not everything is what is

In passage 1, the Hawthorne employs an allusion when he explains that Hester names her child Pearl because “Hester purchased her with all she had.” This is a reference to the bible when Jesus calls heaven a “pearl of great price” and declares that when someone comes across a pearl, he shall sell all he has to buy it. The author includes this allusion to convey how important Pearl is to Hester and to connect the meaning of Pearl’s name to religion, for religion presides over all in Puritan society. Hawthorne also uses exclamations to show how valuable Pearl is to her mother. But, at the same time, he points out that Pearl is Hester’s source of shame and torture. The function of the child parallels the function of the scarlet letter. They are both a reminder of Hester’s wrongdoing but become a huge part of her identity that she cannot live without. Hawthorne creates a sense of situational irony when he introduces the idea that in creating Pearl, Hester loses everything, her pride, her reputation and her social life, but at the same time she gains

Hawthorne juxtaposes the incredible grace and poise of Hester with the grotesque words and figures of the established Puritan women. When she is heading up to the scaffold, Hester is described as, “lady-like, too, after the manner of the feminine gentility of those days, characterized by a certain state and dignity” (Hawthorne 46). The idea of Hester being “lady-like” and having “gentility”, which are very positive qualities to have for a woman, especially in Puritan times, is used as a foil to the malicious treatment Hester receives. These positive traits also show the beauty and desirability of

This quote from the top of page fifty two surrounds the most controversial event in the book from when Hester was publicly shamed and humiliated because of her crime of adultery. In concurrence with this event, Hawthorne embodies the three most prevalent anti-feministic ideas from the book: objectification, ostracization, and targeting of women in 17th century Puritan society. Even though the shaming of Hester had just begun and the trial had just been concluded, the town was already beginning to push her away and view her not as Hester Prynne, but as the “A” for adultery. When I read this, I began to feel astonished at the fact that people would begin to judge her so quickly while having such little knowledge of the event for which Hester was in trouble. Not only was Hester ostracized for a crime that we now know as a relatively conventional event, to make matters worse, everyone in the crowd scapegoated solely her which was uncanny to me since with the crime of adultery, there must be another person involved, specifically a man. This made me think about why nobody had done anything to

“…See ye not, she is the scarlet letter only capable of being loved, and so endowed with a million-fold the power of retribution for my sin?” (Hawthorne 103). Hester was so confident that God had given her Pearl as a punishment. Ever since she was born the first thing she noticed about her mother was the scarlet letter, and from that day on she would not let her mother forget it. Even when Hester removed the scarlet letter from her bosom, Pearl would not come to her until she put it back on.

Throughout the progression of the story, Hawthorne portrays Hester conforming into a saint-like image, contrary to the badge of shame she is bound by. As Pearl grows up, Hester teaches her as a mother should, but more importantly Pearl ultimately becomes her biggest blessing. The author elaborates on the irony of Pearl being another outward symbol of Hester’s sin, and the way Hester begins to not only cope with the degrading shame she is reminded of by both child and the letter, but additionally to allow the situation to change her heart into a state of nobility and ironically enough, purity. Although Hester is seen by the town as the dark temptress and the ultimate sinner, the underlying message of the story proves that she was simply the unfortunate one whose sin had outward consequences. Through Pearl, Hester is forced to return to her own faith as well as leading her daughter in such a direction in order for her to avoid making her mother’s

" Hawthorne makes note of the various meanings of the letter "A" in the novel; at first it stands for "Adulterer," then at various times "Angel" and "Able." Hester was able to effect this heroic transformation by accepting the consequences of her actions, unlike Dimmesdale, and she ultimately triumphs over them. Hester Prynne is seen as “among the first and most important female protagonists in American literature. She’s the embodiment of deep contradictions: bad and beautiful, holy and sinful, conventional and radical… [she] can be seen as Hawthorne’s literary contemplation of what happens when women break cultural bounds and gain personal power.”

In chapter six’s passage, Hawthorne emphasizes Pearl’s beauty and her grandiose character, even though she was created out of sin and guilt. Hawthorne juxtaposes the town’s perspective of Pearl, as being a child of wrongdoing, to Hester’s view of her being an angelic figure, which a glowing spirit. The author juxtaposes the “absolute circle of radiance around [Pearl]” to “the darksome cottage-floor” in order to contrast Pearl’s purity to society’s cruel and unjust treatment of her and Hester. Although Pearl is a constant reiteration of Hester’s sin; Hester sees the goodness in her daughter. Hester however, is also fearful that her actions and society’s treatment of them will influence Pearl’s life and character.

Hawthorne expresses Pearl, the daughter of Hester, as the scarlet letter and the scarlet letter as Pearl. Pearl has an obsession to the scarlet letter. Pearl refuses to go to Hester in the forest when Hester was not wearing ‘A '. Pearl thinks only when Hester is wearing ‘A ', Hester is her mother and "should Hester repudiate the letter, she will repudiate Pearl" (Baym). The action of Pearl refusing to go to Hester when Hester is not wearing the scarlet letter clearly shows Pearl has a deep connection with the letter. Pearl was the "result of Hester 's

While Puritan women are weak and dependent upon their husbands, Hester Prynne is empowered and self-reliant. A character designed by Hawthorne to show 19th century women that women’s work could be valuable, Hester supports herself and her daughter by needlework. “For, as the novel unfolds, the letter, intended by the Authorities to signify harsh but just condemnation, is made by Hester to signify something entirely different—able, admirable.” (Bell 109) All aspects considered, the ability of Hester, a woman who committed sin and was publicly punished for this crime, to manipulate this punishment into a virtue

The scholar emphasizes the feministic qualities the novelist surrounded Hester in, allowing her to first appear impressively independent; furthermore empowering women. Nonetheless I see eye-to-eye with Chase on how the novel is far from a theme of feminism. He informs readers, “So magically various is the book that one may sometimes think it is a rich sensibility and profound mysteries are not usually associated with feminist literature” (147). While reading, there is diverse argumentations on how tightly Hawthorne holds onto the significance of feminism. I agree with the fact that despite maintaining feministic thoughts to accentuate surrealness in the time period, the author still reduces Hester to an object of society, withdrawing any competence she may possess. Due to the abrupt change in thought while reading of Hester, multiple conclusions around Hawthorne’s use of feminism is up for interpretation. The novelist clearly show readers how sin has engulfed the female lead’s conscience. Hawthorne writes, “Hester turned again towards Pearl with a crimson blush upon her cheek, a conscious glance aside the clergyman, and then a heavy sigh”. Pearl’s mother cannot erase her past from the minds of society, nor can she leave. In my opinion, if she

Throughout the book, Hawthorne shows us the story of Hester Pryne, a women who lives wiht the scarlet letter. As we see the story move along, we see how her daughter, Pearl Prynne, is connected as sin in The Scarlet Letter and from being the letter A itself, Pearl begins to become a open defiance to society. Hawthorne references her in these ways be imagining her as a bird, a rosebush, and a product out of sin.

Hester’s battle with herself can only be understood by taking a glimpse into her daily life with her beloved daughter, Pearl. Pearl is the physical manifestation of her sin, of the adultery that Hester committed with her secret lover; with every waking hour, Pearl is always alongside Hester, constantly reminding Hester of her transgression. Whenever Hester sees Pearl, she sees a young and energetic girl, who also possesses the same attributes that she loathes about herself, the difficult and wild side of herself that would never give up. Hawthorne writes that Pearl, “lacked reference and adaptation to the world into which she was born. [Pearl] could not be made amenable to rules” (Hawthorne

While Hester is a feminist, not only does she share the ideals but shows superiority to the town while being fearless. " It may seem marvelous, that this woman should still call that place her home, where, and where only, she must needs be the type of shame.” (chapter 5, paragraph 2) Hester does not let the shame and remorse of the sin keep her away from the town like most would do. Hawthorne even states that Dimmesdale is weaker than Hester by punishing himself and holding his heart while Hester embraces the sin and is strong while carrying the letter on her chest. She leads a self-righteous life, although she could keep what she earns, she gives most away. Even the townsfolk say Hester is "so kind to the poor, so helpful to the sick, so comfortable to the afflicted."(chapter 13, paragraph 5) Hester can be seen over the townspeople helping them although they shamed her. Hawthorne presents that Hester’s “tendency of her fate and fortunes had been to set her free.” (chapter 18, paragraph 2) With this Hester has a “radiant and tender smile, that seemed gushing from the very heart of womanhood. (chapter 18, paragraph 12) These quotes from Hawthorne show that Hester’s kindness helps her overcome her sin on her own. With Hester’s contribution to the town, “Her handiwork became what would now be termed the fashion.” (chapter 5, paragraph 6) In his research, Sacvan Bercovitch remarks that “Hester Prynne ‘builds upon the tradition of the biblical Esther -