I think it can be said that Hawthorne, for his time, took a mostly pro-feminism stance in The Scarlet Letter, as he made his lead character a female who not only survives, but ultimately thrives in, a society in which she socially does not belong.
Consider first, what the Puritan society viewed as the woman's role. When you look at evidence from history and details in the story itself you can see that the Puritans valued several things for their women: adherence to Biblical rules/boundaries; married to one man; child-bearers and child-rearers; mild mannered and subservient to men in public (which created critical gossip w/other women in whispers); housework and feminine hobbies were acceptable, even for pay, but women did not do hard labor (note also that Hester Prynne was never called upon to embroider/sew anything having to do with a wedding). Women were not active in government, could not be religious leaders, and did not have an identity outside their husbands (consider Hester Prynne's original marriage to Chillingworth).
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First, she was a single mother who was successful at raising her child. She attempts to give Pearl proper "catechism" but ultimately raises a child who can think independently and stand up for herself. She was the most successful/sought out seamstress in her colony, and was able to make an actual living off of her skill. Therefore, she did not need a husband, either for her livelihood nor for a father to her child. She ornately decorated her scarlet letter, and bore it until the day she died. It is as if Hawthorne wishes to present Hester as a woman who deeply desires to do things the "right way" (she accepts that she has sinned and deserves the punishment) but sees the hypocrisy in society and wishes to rise above
This quote shows how the narrator can describe Hester. The narrator can tell the reader what a character looks like, or can explain occurrences, thoughts, and actions of the character also. “Hester Prynne, gazing steadfastly at the clergyman, felt a dreary influence come over her, but wherefore or whence she knew not; unless that he seemed so remote from her own sphere, and utterly beyond her reach.” (218). This description tells Hester’s feelings, as Hawthorne uses many descriptions in the narrative, to describe the feelings of characters. “Much of the marble coldness of Hester’s impression was to be attributed to the circumstance, that her life had turned, in a great measure, from passion and feeling, to thought.” (150). Hawthorne’s narrative descriptions are what makes him such a great writer, and helps him characterize the main characters of his stories.
Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter unfolds the tale of Hester Prynne, who brought forth a child through adultery and battles a life faced with the consequences of her sin. Throughout her life, Hester is consistently reminded of her affair as she wears a scarlet letter representing “A” for adultery, experiences alienation, and encounters hostility from the Puritan community. However, Hester is not the only individual who suffers with consequences of adultery as both her significant other, Dimmesdale, and daughter, Pearl, endure miserable lives of shame, guilt, and rejection. Hawthorne demonstrates that the revelation of the truth can allow one to gain a sense of freedom.
Hester Prynne of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, strong, confident woman who remains determined to keep her love life hidden from society. Despite the criticism, even threats delivered from the town couldn’t affect the loyalty and bravery of Hester keeping her secret. Her ability to endure public shame and isolation exemplifies her strength of character.
It was said that “thou shall not commit adultery” and she did.The punishment was too lenient. To what the biblical and legal punishments that were available at the time.Hester Prynne is guilty of more than one crime. Hester refused to do a lot of things that were ordered from the judge, and decided to do it her own way, and that was what caused her to be guilty and now she’s waiting to get her punishments for all the crimes committed. Hester Prynne is guilty of defying the judge, she’s also guilty of committing adultery and disrespecting the punishments that were given to her.
Hester Prynne, the central character in Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, is a truly unique one. She is unique in how she defies traditional gender roles, and she "challenges the male-centered outlook of authors." (Napikoski) She challenges by being a woman obviously, which seems to exhilarate feminists, because you know, "Feminism is all about burning bras. And hating men. And being a witch, lesbian, and communist all lumped into one." (Shmoop Editorial Team.)
I, your well-respected minister, intrude on your time with well-wishes. In this time of trials and tribulation I beg of you to not resort to bitterness, but to resort to God’s word. Widow Hester Prynne has been a standing member of our society for two years now, earning her place as a wonderful seamstress. Up until the time of her sin Widow Hester was a reputable member of our community, and I beg of you now to not change your opinion on her. In a moment of weakness Widow Hester sinned, and now I rouse you to support her. As the Bible says in Psalms chapter sixty-eight verse five “He is a Father of the fatherless, and a Judge of the widows, even God in his holy habitation”. Instead of tearing Widow Hester down, I encourage our community to
In the novel The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne a recurring symbol is the scarlet letter “A” that is worn by Hester and is supposedly imprinted on Dimmesdale’s chest which symbolizes sin and how it is inescapable to everyone. Hester Prynne is the only character that wears the “A” outwardly all throughout the novel, even when she doesn’t have to. After she leaves the colony and then comes back again in the end, she voluntarily wears the scarlet letter, the symbol of her sin: “On the threshold she [Hester] paused,--turned partly around... But her hesitation was only for an instant, though long enough to display a scarlet letter on her breast” (Hawthorne 233). After Dimmesdale and Chillingworth died, Hester had no ties to Boston so she
Nathaniel Hawthorne’s,The Scarlet Letter, conveys Hester Prynne’s struggles against the oppressive Puritan society of the 1630s, which leads to the illumination of her progressive feminist views. Hester’s sin of adultery leaves her shunned from her pious New England community, but the extreme consequences that she encounters highlight the notion that she recognizes women as possessing equal capabilities and strengths as men. Hester evinces feminism throughout Hawthorne’s novel, without ever truly mentioning it, but her sense of independence is surely prominent due to the manner in which she handles criticism for being an adulteress. Overall, Hawthorne’s development for women’s role in society is blatantly apparent through Hester Prynne’s
After read the Scarlet Letter After I read the Scarlet Letter, I am so much touched. Maybe most of you think that Hester Prynne and Arthur’s love would be shamed, because adultery was not allowed even until now. However, to be honest, I admire the heroine very much. I think Hester is a super-woman. Even though she was fall in love with Arthur who was a young and talented pastor when she had been get marriage with Roger, at that special time Roger was caught by Indians and had been disappeared for two years. I think we could understand her that his husband was such a deformed old doctor, and he almost ruined Hester’s youth. If I were Hester, I absolutely would choose the young and hearted pastor. Love is such a wonderful thing that
In “The Scarlet Letter,” Hester represents one of the important, strong, and a proud character because she comes out as the first and the most powerful female leader. Hester believes that all women have the same right as man, and she stood for her rights in order to defend all females. According to the letter, women in 1850s were not treated like the way they were supposed to be treated as a woman. However, it has been said that, these women knew their places, and they did not have right to step out of their comfort zones.
One mistake defined how people looked at Hester Prynne for the rest of her life. She was forever marked with the scarlet letter. Adultery was her sin, an "A" was her letter. In the book The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorn, Hester Prynne was publicly shamed for adultery to her husband who was sought to be dead. Her lover remained a mystery to the public. Hester did not go a day without the reminder of her sin because her daughter, Pearl, was the living embodiment of the scarlet letter, the meaning of the "A" changed three times throughout the novel, and it followed her beyond the day she pasted away.
In the scarlet letter the main character Hester Prynne committed the sin of adultery that in the puritan society was completely unacceptable and usually those that did were punished or even sentenced to death. Hester Prynne was condemned to wearing the letter “A” that was a symbol of her being an adulterer and had to stand on the scaffold in front of the town for 3 hours as her punishment. Hester’s sin is represented through her daughter pearl that is a physical constant reminder of the sin she has committed along with the “A” that she wears upon her bosom. Hester acknowledges what is she has done and acknowledges the guilt with pride to the people. “SCARLET LETTER so fantastically embroidered and
Hester recognizes a man in the crowd and he recognizes her as well, hence the title. She is struck with horror and holds Pearl very tightly, to the point the baby cries in pain. The man asks about Hester, he also vows that the “other “man will be known. The title also services to show Hester refusing to reveal her partner in sin, when questioned about it.
“When you are guilty, it is not your sins you hate but yourself” from One Minute Wisdom by Anthony de Mello. Hester Prynne, a beautifully strong and humble woman who has no shame for the sins she has committed, isolates herself from the rest of society and covers up her beauty after being released from jail. Distanced from everyone else, Hester goes on to raise her child, Pearl, who she believes that God gave to her for a reason. Throughout the novel, the author utilizes Hester Prynne in order to connect to the main theme of the psychological effects of guilt and sin by remaining beautiful and composed on the outside even with her punishment,yet internally, she constantly struggles with the aftermath of her sins. Hester Prynne possesses
The Scarlet Letter is solely revolved around this red letter that the main character Hester wears. The letter “A” that is pinned to Hester Prynne originally stands for adultery, but as Hester becomes more involved in the community, much of the town forgets Hester's original crimes and claims that it stands for angel instead. Everyone has their own take on Hester and her letter. The letter “A” has different connotations for different characters and evolves through the novel.