Hester Prynne In The Scarlet Letter

     Hester with society also proves to be a strongly feministic aspect of The Scarlet Letter. Hester, as a female sinner, throughout the book, proves not to be a burden on society. Although she is an outcast, many find it hard to not admire the way she holds herself, especially due to the situation she is in. The admiration grows as the story continues. At first, the main admiration for Hester is her skill with the needle. Many of the townspeople regard Hester’s work as the latest trend. “Her

Her being forced to wear the scarlet letter which led her to becoming a women’s advocate reflects the theme that good things come from bad. There was plenty of negative backlash to Hester's mistake, however she gained the ability to help other women struggling just like her. “They said that it meant Able, so strong was Hester Prynne, with a woman's strength” (pg 177, Hawthorne). The sin she committed and the experience gained through the aftermath of that sin, gives her insight on what it's like to be a woman who's being discriminated. Raising her daughter on her own and her saving her from harming herself reflects the theme that everyone makes mistakes. After all Hester is human just like everyone else. It is in our nature to make mistakes or even sin. “It is remarkable, that persons who speculate the most boldly often conform with the most perfect quietude to the external regulations of society” (pg 181, Hawthorne). The actions we take to reverse or to compensate for that sin is what makes us who we are as individuals. Her being alienated from society and developing an independent thinking mindset mirrors the theme that one must acknowledge their mistakes to learn from them. Hester’s society made it abundantly clear that what she did was absolutely heinous and that she needs to repent and beg for forgiveness. The isolation she suffered through helped her become an independent thinker and develop thoughts that we would consider ahead of her time. “The world's law was no law for her mind” (pg 180, Hawthorne). Being excluded socially gave her a chance to dwell in her own thoughts and gather perceptions different from that of other puritans. This decision that Hester makes is very important to the story because it mirrors many of the major themes the author tried getting across to its

Hester wishes not to bring shame upon her accomplice so she bears the blame of them both. “Thus the young and pure would be taught to look at her, with the scarlet letter flaming on her breast,—at her, the child of honorable parents,—at her, the mother of a babe, that would hereafter be a woman, —at her, who had once been innocent, —as the figure, the body, the reality of sin” (Hawthorne 34). Standing before the crowd, Hester was a living symbol, a reminder, of a sin that she committed. The sin of adultery brought upon great consequences for Hester, but she held her head high and pursued a life for her

In the novel, The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Hester Prynne is a young, strong, carefree woman who is married to an older man by the name of Roger Chillingworth. She married Roger although she did not love him. This led to her having an affair with Arthur Dimmsdale, which causes her to be publically shamed and humiliated in front of the whole community. Prynne is a major protagonist in the novel, because she is the target of all the alienation and estrangement from her locality. During this time, Hester becomes lost in thought and speculation on human nature and which leads her to become agnostic and wise. The narrator claims to denounce her new freethinking spirit, but covertly commends her confidence and ideas. Hester is also has a maternal nature about her, not only because she has a daughter, but she cares for the poor by bringing them supplies such as food and clothing. By the end of the novel, Hester Prynne becomes a well-respected, feminist, maternal figure in her community. After all the uproar about her affair blows over, she shows the people of the community the only reason she was so badly alienated was because of the old-fashioned sexist beliefs about women. For example in this quote, she is addressing the public regarding its radical, old-fashioned rules. “Doth the universe lie within the compass of yonder town, which only a little time ago was but a leaf-strewn

In the Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne the reader gets the sense that Hester Prynne is a complex character during her introduction. Although she is known for being corrupted, she still appears to be somewhat innocent, shown when the narrator describes, “She turned her eyes downward at the scarlet letter and even touched it with her finger to assure herself that the infant and the shame were real” (41). The reader gains respect for Hester due to her brave composed appearance which “never had...appeared more lady-like...than as she issued from the prison” (37). More character traits are revealed when she refuses to give up name of the baby’s father, demonstrating her stubborn and selfless will to take the fall for her sin. Hawthorne depicts

"The drama is really the drama of the patriarchal society's need to control female sexuality in the most basic way," (Evan Carton 4th paragraph) In the article "Hester Prynne: Sinner, Victim, Object, Winner" There are many opinions about 'The Scarlet Letter' and this stood out to me the most. Evan Carton is saying that this is an attempt of men trying to control feminism. He says Hester's role is supposed to increase the male society's anxiety. "“Will he go back with us, hand in hand, we three together, into the town, (Hawthorne 427) Pearl ask Hester this question about Dimmesdale as she finally realizes that she needs a dad figure in her life. Hester tells her not now, but later. Soon he will be able to teach her a lot. Towards the end of the book Hester finally sees that she is equal to men and finds herself. "“The tendency of her fate and fortunes had been to set her free. The scarlet letter was her passport into regions where other women dared not tread," (Hawthorne 402) Hester's isolation, which was imposed by the Puritan patriarchs, makes her give up so much in her life. Hester finally accepts this, her heart, her true love, and her

For decades, women were viewed as the inferior sex. Women were not allowed to vote, own land, run businesses, etc., as their main priority was to be an excellent housewife. Fortunately, that concept has been replaced with the idea of feminism. Feminism, the political, social, and economic equality of men and women, is a major key concept in the novel The Scarlet Letter. Hester Prynne, the main female character of The Scarlet Letter, is an epitome of a strong feminist who was able to overcome a Puritan society’s judgement and discrimination.

Feminism is defined as the advocacy of women’s rights. Although organized feminism did not begin until 1848, the idea of equality for women and men has been discussed many times over the last few centuries, however only during more recent years have women able to truly been able come together and protest for equality. Throughout The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne effectively proves herself a strong feminist character by taking responsibility for her actions, overcoming social isolation, and creating an untraditional female image. Although Hester Prynne has been sentenced to public shame until her death, she bares the brand of shame upon her breast with a sense of dignity and responsibility. In Chapter 2 of The Scarlet Letter it states, “

What comes to mind when the reader hears the word “feminist?” Amongst that thought bubble, determines the words “equality” “rights” and “beliefs” included? A feminist notices the “[…] gendered power relations and the ways in which the distribution of power impacts on social relations” (Seymour 22). In The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne accidentally portrays Hester Prynne as a feminist, due to her situation. Hester Prynne does not like that fact that women act inferior to men causing her to become financially and emotionally independent.

Hester Prynne is a character who relies on her inner strength as she transforms from an impetuous, shameful sinner to a stoic woman. She is a character in The Scarlet Letter written by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Hester Prynne is a woman who was condemned by a Puritan town for being an adulterer. This conclusion is evident because she became pregnant while her husband was “lost at sea”. Hester’s conviction is openly displayed by a scarlet letter on her chest.

In the novel, the Scarlet Letter, as soon as Hester Prynne moved from England to Boston, she was instantly separated from the other people from the town. In the Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne is unique because of her undeniable beauty, her inner strength, and her embroidery skills One thing that distinguishes Hester from the other townspeople is her beauty. For example, in the Scarlet Letter, when Hester is standing on the scaffold, the author says how “her beauty shone out (Hawthorne,1850, pg 46).” This proves that every other person is average, but Hester is unusually attractive.

“In the world where masculinity is respected and femininity is regularly dismissed, it takes an enormous amount of strength and confidence from any person… to embrace their feminine self.”(Julia Serano). Hester Prynne is a woman who is alone in the village, the town man tries to tell Hester about what not to do, but she still speaks her mind to the in town. Hester is an independent woman who speaks her mind and won’t let no one control. In the novel “Scarlet letter,” by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the theme of femininity, illustrates humanity, and their idea.

In The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Hester is shamed for her sin of adultery, and she lives alone with her daughter Pearl. This book can be viewed using the feminist theory because within this book it shows how a woman can overcome anything that is in her way. The feminist theory is used in this situation because using this lens it shows how this piece of literature undermines the psychological oppression of women (Tyson). Hester is able to help many of the unfortunate people because she knows how it feels to be looked down upon. She wants to help people because she knows that no one else will care to help those less than themselves. That is why when many people referred to the scarlet letter “they said it meant Able; so strong was

The Scarlet Letter stood out as a revolutionary work of writing when it was first published in 1850, mainly because of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s radical main character Hester Prynne. The novel’s influence and Hawthorne’s legacy can still clearly be seen in its use in schools today, as well as its lasting popularity with readers. As the novel has persisted throughout literary history, its themes, symbolism, and characters have been examined under many different lenses. It is arguable in our present day circumstances that Hester and her role in the novel still represent and uphold the innate feeling of what is known today as feminism.

Written at the start of the feminist movement, The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne holds close ties with both the cause and the ideology behind it. By the definition of feminism as the empowerment of female rights, Hawthorne effectively uses the adulteress Hester Prynne as the symbol of women rights as she develops, matures, and expands her rights within Boston. During the colonial era, women were viewed as property, nothing more than just submissive mothers, and this view was constantly fueled by society and reinforced within families. Hawthorne's romance follows Hester's life as she suffers under the physical manifestation of her sin of adultery: the scarlet letter. Even when Hester faces ridicule, isolation, and suffering, she is still able to retain her dignity and character, as she refuses again and again to give up neither the name of her lover or her love itself. Hester falls in love, bears a child, is ridiculed for the history of the child, raises her child in isolation, experiences the suffering of her lover, faces the desperation of a lost cause, then experiences the ultimate pain, the loss of her lover. In the end, she is buried next to her lover after a lifetime of sacrifice for the improvement of the society that caused her so much pain. Through Hester's disunion with communal beliefs and strength of character invested in the active role she played within her story, Hawthorn effectively advocates the feminist movement throughout his romantic novel, as