Feminism

In The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, feminism is a major issue shown throughout the novel. Hawthorne effectively demonstrates feminism through the role Hester Prynne has in society. To demonstrate female autonomy Hawthorne conveys the rebellious actions through Hester.

The Scarlet Letter was written in 1850 which was an important time in history. It is has been criticized time from time and is a big discussion in feminism. Many argue that it began the movement for many woman rights. This literary work mainly consists of ideologies during Puritan times and the roles women had in society. This society during this time was mainly around the middle of the seventeenth century and the people and the culture were highly religious. Their religious views were as harsh as to publicly humiliate those who have been accused of sin or witchcraft, such as this novel, in which they punished Hester Prynne by forcing her to wear an embroided “A” a symbolic figure for adultery. One can say that there was not many roles women had, other than taking care of the living back home, during Puritan times. The most important place this book conveyed was that of Hester Prynne’s.

The role Hester Prynne has in The Scarlet Letter but also in modern society has been criticized by many including the author himself. Many can say that Hester Prynne was the symbolic figure of sin and temptation shown through her “crime” of committing adultery with a puritan minister by the name of Dimmesdale. But, that is of the characters of the novel who claim to know Hester Prynne’s act of adultery and humiliate her by demanding that she wear an A for of course, adultery. This was the symbol of shame and disgrace that this group tried to corruptibly force on her ...

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...t is said to be their role through the character Hester Prynne. She is disguised as the ‘temptress’ or ‘sinner’ because of a mistake, and is accused, humiliated and shows in the modern world the burdens and obstacles a woman does have to endure. She represents the central theme of the book and the injustices her society gave her which also happens in today’s society. For example, the numerous fights given back by woman to have equal rights as men can be displayed by the obstructions society gave during the Puritan times.

You can say Hester Prynne is the most outstanding figure by the way she does not fit in society but by the way she is persistent with the obstacles she faces. The way one could perceive the fact that this novel is great and timeless is in the way Nathaniel Hawthorne characterizes Hester Prynne and also the position, and function of everyday women.