Scarlet Letter Feminist

Gloria Steinem, a prominent American feminist and political activist, once said, “A feminist is anyone who recognizes the equality and full humanity of women and men” (www.goodreads.com). Unlike what many people think, feminism is not about putting down men, but rather, is the belief that women should have equal rights and treatments as men. As a spokesperson for the feminist movement during the late 1960s and early 1970s, Steinem has spoken about the idea of equality of women for years. During the 1840s, when The Scarlet Letter was written, women were seen as inferior to men, but Nathaniel Hawthorne had a different view. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter uses a strong female character, Hester Prynne, as a social critique for the treatment

Throughout The Scarlet Letter, Hester is constantly being tormented by her own feelings of guilt and the judgement of the rest of the community. Rather than crumbling when an obstacle moves into her path, she holds steady. While taking her first step out of her prison it is said, “But now with this unattented walk from her prison-door, she began the daily custom, and she must either sustain and carry it forward by the ordinary resources of her nature, or sink beneath it” (54). In other words, Hester knows that she must have endurance to move forward because the path ahead is going to be a lonely and challenging one. Even though women were seen as emotional beings, Hawthorne makes the statement that women are capable of working through hard times. Another time Hester’s inner strength is apparent is when it is stated, “Every gesture, every word, and even the silence of those with whom she came in contact, implied, and often expressed, that she was banished, and as much alone as if she inhabited another sphere, or communicated with the common nature by other organs and senses than the rest of human kind ” (58). This means that for several years, Hester has to endure public ridicule and social isolation. Overcoming this horrible treatment demonstrates Hester’s strength, which proves Hawthorne’s belief that women can be equally resilient to men when it comes to emotional strength. Finally, due to Hester’s endurance and helpfulness, her reputation