I do believe that Hester is a strong female character and a good representation of what it means to be a feminist. From the way she carries herself in this desperate time to her unwillingness to let Dimmesdale take the fall with her, she is the perfect example of feminism and poise. Poise isn’t always a word used to describe an adulteress but Hester’s ability to remain an amazing role model for her daughter and to stay calm and graceful throughout the book really earns her the title. In a sexist, controlling, god driven Puritan society Hester was able to survive and even thrive having committed one of the worst crimes of the time period. Only a woman with the upmost amount of grace and self-belief would be able to make the most out of that …show more content…
She is the strongest character in the story, both mentally and emotionally. While Dimmesdale was whipping himself over guilt and regret and Chillingworth let anger and vengeance control him, Hester was strong. She took care of Pearl and proved to be an excellent mother even with all of the stresses that others brought in. She took her punishment and thrived in her situation. Rather than allowing herself to fall victim to her circumstances and Puritan rule, she lived as a resilient woman who didn’t allow herself or her sexuality be controlled by the strict, unjust laws of the god driven Puritans. Throughout the novel Hester relied on no one but herself and her child. She fought those who tried to take Pearl away, she worked as a seamstress and was able to provide for herself and her daughter.
Unknown to the readers of the Scarlet Letter, a feminist movement was taking place when Hawthorne was working on the novel. The first convention for women's rights was held in 1848, two years before the book's publication. For the first time in America the patriarchy was being challenged by women, which eventually lead to a shift in female’s roles in society. Hester is considered to be one of the most important and complex heroines in American literature and certainly embodies the defiant spirit of those strong-willed feminist
With a strong female protagonist and two mentally weak males, it is hard to consider Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter anything but a feminist treatise. He obviously intended to put down not only Puritanism, which is an obvious aspect of the novel, but to establish a powerful, secure female in American literature. Hester proves, although she has sinned in the past, she can confront her mistakes, take care of herself and her child, and help others at the same time. She can withhold a position in society that many can respect because of her character something the males of the story obviously could not succeed at doing.
She is not a feminist because the patients view her as a cruel tyrant rather than an equal. Similarly, Hester is mistaken for an elite in her community. In a public gathering, Indians assume “that the wearer of this brilliantly embroidered badge must needs be a personage of high dignity among her people” (368). For the Indians to think this means that she actually is of nobility, and Hawthorne includes this account in his novel to portray this to the reader. The scarlet letter comes to mean much more than a punishment as it becomes part of Hester’s character when she defies cultural gender injustice. By the end of the novel, it reveals that she is someone greater than just an outsider. Although not admitted by the people of the Puritan culture, they view her as an honorable and admirable woman above the others, just as the Indians do. Because others see Hester and Ratched as greater than equals and their struggles as a fight for power rather than equality categorizes them as not
The narrator notes her change in morals and beliefs: “She had wandered… much amiss” (180). This passage describes Hester’s state of mind and morals after seven years with the scarlet letter. Compared to Dimmesdale, Hester is much wilder, yet also much better adjusted to the weight of her guilt. She has accepted what happened and uses that acknowledgment to shape her views. She has become stronger, more untamed, and more removed from society. Not only does society reject her, but her crime forces her to question morals and dive into her wilder nature. Religion and law no longer work as simple guidelines for her life. Her act is considered a sin, but out of it she got freedom, love, and Pearl. After being cast out, she now looks at society and its rules—the things most people conform to—from a more negative, outsider perspective. The letter gives her a chance to be independent and find what she believes in as opposed to what she's been told to believe in. She rejects society through both these rebellious views, and also through her actions upon coming back to the community. She helps women in the community by offering support and counselling. In such a male dominated society, this is an important step both towards feminism and away from the
...and was outside of the country, everybody hated her. Even though she knows that everybody hates her, Hester never gives up to be forgiven by people. Hester Prynne did many great things for people. She decorated people’s clothes and donated her clothes to the poor. She made money and supported her daughter, Pearl. Hester Prynne could have financial difficulties, but she did everything by herself. Hester Prynne is a very courageous brave woman unlike other women in 1850’s. Because of Hester Prynne’s characteristic, the book became a great feminist novel. Not only Nathaniel Hawthrone did not just make up the story throughout the fiction, but he reflected the real society during his time to a novel which is The Scarlet Letter. Hester Prynne’s role, a strong brave feminist, in the story is one of the best elements that brought The Scarlet Letter to a great novel.
In The Scarlet Letter Hawthorne introduces the community by way of the prison house and the women of the community "being of mature age and church members in good repute." In the conversation that the women have about Hester their jealous hearts and vengeful attitudes are revealed. In this way he shows us that this community, although it was designed to be the perfect Christian community, interprets itself as something else. We can assume that Hawthorne shows us the bitchy ways of the women of the church, the ones who supposedly care for the sick and tend to the elderly, nurturing and comforting in a Christian-like manner, and the prison house to inform us that Puritan society has problems, the same problems that any society might have. We can begin to read Hawthorne from the romantic perspective and see society as the guilty party. Indeed, the author sets us up to see Hester as a heroine, a rose, even though a wild rose.
Reynolds, David S. “Hester and the Feminists of the 1840s.” Social Issues In Literature: Women’s Issues in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlett Letter. Ed. Elizabeth Des Chenes. Farmington Hills: Greenhaven Press, 2009. 57-66. Print.
..., Hester had enough pride in herself to not let the government of that time walk all over her undeservingly. When they tried to take Hester’s daughter she fought for the right to raise her because she believed she deserved it. Also, when her (ex)husband threatened her lover she did not roll over and give up. She tried to save her family by fleeing to the old world.
The Scarlet Letter, a classic American novel written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, contains a plot that follows the controversial life of Hester Prynne, the main protagonist of the story. Set in the mid 1600’s in Boston, Massachusetts, it represented the Puritan society and its ideals at that time. Its rich plot has enticed and enraptured readers for many years, while Historical elements have allowed readers to analyze and understand the content better. The Scarlet Letter is a piece of historical fiction that contains a real representation of the period in which it is set in and is mostly historically accurate, barring a few minor inaccuracies.
In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne is virtually banished from the Puritan society because of her crime. She was guilty for adultery with the town’s minister, Arthur Dimmesdale. However, the reader is kept in the dark that Dimmesdale is the child’s father until latter part of the novel. Although Hawthorne’s novel accurately depicts the consequences that Hester and Dimmesdale suffer from their sin, the novel does not accomplish the task of reflecting upon the 17th century Puritan gender roles in Hester and Dimmesdale. For one, the mental and physical states of Hester and Dimmesdale are switched. Hester takes on the more courageous role throughout the novel whereas Dimmesdale takes on the more sensitive role. In addition, Hester is examined in accordance to the gender roles set for today’s American women. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter is written in a manner that accurately depicts 17th century Puritan society, but does not accurately show gender roles.
In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s well known novel, The Scarlet Letter, extensive diction and intense imagery are used to portray the overall tone of the characters. In particular, Hester Prynne, the wearer of the Scarlet Letter, receives plentiful positive characterization throughout the novel. Hester’s character most notably develops through the town’s peoples ever-changing views on the scarlet letter, the copious mentions of her bravery, and her ability to take care of herself, Pearl, and others, even when she reaches the point where most would give up and wallow in their suffering.
She is able to defend herself as a woman and a mother, in spite of living in a male dominant society. Her influence upon Dimmesdale is so powerful, as he was able to convince the governor that Pearl should remain with Hester. Dimmesdale knows that he must defend Hesters rights as a mother, or he would risk exposure of himself. Hester dealt with her punishment with courage and strength, she did not give up. She loved Pearl and raised her as best as she could alone. She turned a very unfair into a victory because of her determination to see that things were set right in the end. Hester suffered tremendous humiliation for seven years while her “partner in crime” Dimmesdale got away with it and the townspeople adore
Hester Prynne, the heroine of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, exhibits considerable character growth both over the course of her life and during the events of the novel. Her view of herself and her perspective on the role of women in the world evolve as she learns from new experiences. She moves through the stages of self-centered happiness in her childhood, deep despair and depression as an adult, and a later more hopeful and selfless existence.
She continues to grow for the duration of the book. Starting out as a prideful and somewhat bitter young woman, she blossoms into a self-righteous, independent, and both humble and confident woman. She was once an shunned woman who had nothing, and no one, save a little devil child that seemed to only create trouble for her. However, Hester takes her punishment, and all of the seemingly awful attributes of her life and uses them as a fuel for her drive to improvement, and self-redemption. This redemption is not solely for her peers but for herself. She needs to reassure herself that she is, in fact, a strong woman, who is capable of preserving her image, and the character she wishes to
In contrast to the typical Puritan women in Boston, Hawthorne depicts the female protagonist of The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne, as physically discrete. Hester has a perfect figure, a rich complexion, dark hair, and deep eyes. She dresses in modest clothing, but the symbol of her sin, the golden embroidered scarlet letter, remains the focus of her attire (Bloom 219). Hester’s breathtaking features and the scarlet letter give her a sense of individuality.
Hester Prynne had outstanding character traits for a person that went through a rough time. She was very trustworthy and kept secrets that could have altered some outcomes in her life. Her unbelievable forgiving nature allowed her to remain helpful to the citizens of Boston and make them articles of clothing even with all the crude behavior she experienced. Hester was also brave, by committing to stay in the place of her sin. Hester is an outstanding