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Scarlet letter novel analysis
Introduction to feminist literary criticism
Patriarchal society and women
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Throughout history, many societies have been controlled by a patriarchy where women were oppressed. This is a very common occurrence, especially in Puritan communities during the early settlement of America. Adrienne Rich, a feminist poet, discusses the inequalities in male dominated societies in her essay “When We Dead Awaken: Writing as Re-Vision.” Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter reflects the themes seen in Rich’s essay. In his novel, Hester Prynne challenges society’s expectations of women, yet is still confined in “a culture controlled by males.”
In Rich’s essay, one of the ideas she discusses is that men do not completely understand women and their needs, so because of this, they create problems in women’s lives. She also includes
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One of the problems Rich mentioned is the culture is controlled by male thought. The women seem to hate Hester a lot more than the men do, calling her a malefactress and a hussy and saying, “...they should have put the brand of a hot iron on Hester Prynne’s forehead…” (36). The cause of their hatred may have misogynistic roots, since women at the time were looked down upon for having many partners, even though men were praised for it. It is like Rich explains as a “specter of...male judgement...” For her official punishment, Hester is forced to permanently wear a scarlet letter ‘A’ on her clothes. But she embellishes the letter with gold embroidering, something that goes “greatly beyond what was allowed in the colony” (37). While Hester was ostracized, her male counterpart did not suffer from the town’s harsh judgement. In fact, the only reason she got punished was because she had a child, and the magistrates barely tried to look for the father. Despite that, Hester’s “scarlet letter was her passport into regions where other women dared not tread” (137).
Overall, Hester Prynne and Adrienne Rich both have similar, progressive ideals. Though in the end, Hester is a defiant and radical woman, she accepts the penance that was inflicted on her, showing how a society completely run by men can negatively influence the quality of a woman’s
First, there many instances, both literal and symbolic, which support the notion that the scarlet letter has a strong affect on Hester. As seen early in the novel, the public opinion of a seventeenth century puritan society can be quite narrow-minded. As Hester is first marched out of the prison, the women of the town scowl at her. "At the very least, they should have put the brand of a hot iron on Hester Prynne's forehead." (p.36) The initial opinion of the society is extremely cruel and Hester, who tries desperately to remain strong and undisturbed in the face of this mob anger, is by no means deaf. The cruel actions of the townspeople throughout the novel contribute to the ways in which the scarlet letter affects Hester. Yet, these affects of the scarlet letter on Hester can be defined more specifically when examined on the symbolic level. In many ways, Hes...
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.
The Scarlet Letter is full of many psychological and moral aspects, and most of them relate very well to things that are going on right now in the world. They all go hand in hand meaning that the aspects that were explained in The Scarlet Letter, can also be explained in the same way as they can be explained now. Although times were very different in the times where The Scarlet Letter took place, they are all relevant for what people have to say about certain things in today's world. The moral aspects of the Scarlet Letter are almost the same as moral aspects of today.
Unlike today, women in the 1850’s did not have rights to do many things. Women had limited freedom, but Hester Prynne stood up for her rights and beliefs. Not only she was a feminist character in book, but also the people and their cultures and religion made her that way. In the book, it says that she is beautiful, tall, thin, and dignified woman. She is also said to be good with decorating and making clothes and helps the poor by donating clothes to them. She is not a woman who just sins and be proud of herself. Throughout the story, Hester Prynne tries not to sin and penitent what she did and helps...
Throughout history, women have struggled with, and fought against, oppression. They have been held back and weighed down by the sexist ideas of a male dominated society which has controlled cultural, economic and political ideas and structures. During the mid-1800’s to early 1900’s women became more vocal and rebuked sexism and the role that had been defined for them. Fighting with the powerful written word, women sought a voice, equality amongst men and an identity outside of their family. In many literary writings, especially by women, during the mid-1800’s to early 1900’s, we see symbols of oppression and the search for gender equality in society.
Throughout the course of history, the concept of women being subordinate to men has always existed. However, in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, a woman named Hester Prynne tries to break prejudicial notions against women in a patriarchal society. In the story, Hester commits the crime of adultery and is sentenced by the government to wear a scarlet letter as it symbolizes ignominy. Since she lives in Puritan New England, the people do not value women a lot, her actions becomes a sight of public scrutiny. Yet, with her strength as a woman, she is able to not only survive the situation, but also reverse as she later becomes an important member of their community. In a feminist perspective of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter,
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.
At the beginning of the Scarlet Letter Hester Prynne is labeled as the “bad guy”. The townspeople demand the other adulterer’s name, but Hester denies this revelation. She does not reveal it because she knows that the information will crumble the foundation of the Puritan religion and the town itself. “‘But, Hester, the man lives who has wronged us both! Who is he?’ ‘Ask me not!’ replied Hester Prynne, looking firmly into his face. ‘That thou shalt never know!’(Hawthorne 52). Hester knows that finding out that the father of the child, the Minister that is leading the town, will diminish credibility for the church and for Dimmesdale, the Minister. During her punishment, Hester decides to move out near the woods and make a living as a seamstress. Hester is regarded as an outcast from Boston, but she still gives back to the society that shuns her. ‘“Do you see that woman with the embroidered badge?’ they would say to strangers. ‘It is our Hester, —the town's own Hester, —who is so kind to the poor, so helpful to the sick, so comfortable to the afflicted!’”(Hawthorne 111). Her acts of kindness, helping the sick and comforting the afflicted, toward the society that makes her an outcast shows the inner goodness of a person. Throu...
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.
Written in 1850, The Scarlet Letter stood as a very progressive book. With new ideas about women, main characters’ stories intertwined, and many different themes, The Scarlet Letter remains today as a extremely popular novel about 17th century Boston, Massachusetts. Not only was the 19th century a time for the abolition of slavery movement but it was also the beginning of the first wave of feminism. Women such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, and Lucretia Mott catalyzed the women’s rights movement. These prominent women believed that a woman’s role was no longer in the house and that women should be afforded the same opportunity as men. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s sympathy for women is evident in a feminist reading of his novel The Scarlet Letter.
Throughout the novel, the harsh Puritan townspeople begin to realize the abilities of Hester despite her past. Hester works selflessly and devotes herself to the wellbeing of others. “Hester sought not to acquire anything beyond a subsistence of the plainest and most ascetic description, for herself, and a simple abundance for her child.
As an adulterer, many Puritans were not up to the idea of associating themselves with Hester, which also meant it would be very hard for Hester to find a stable job. Because she had to figure out a way to sustain her and Pearl's life, so she turned to her wonderful skill of embroidery that was on display with the scarlet letter, and she soon started to amass popularity. Hester, with her skill of embroidery, was able to interact with the whole community because of her well respected work. The work allowed her to touch all parts of the community, and people began to notice her resiliency and strength through this situation. Her propriety became that of a generous and sympathizing figure. That is why her A starts to represent her being "Able", rather than an "Adulterer". She also displayed her strength through her acts of charity to those of lesser privilege. She used her crafting skill to make clothing for the poor and she would donate them, but the usual response of one in need was not present, because the poor started to denounce
Hester Prynne is one of the believable characters. It seems that Hester, like many women will wear there nicest clothing, “on the breast of her gown…an embrace embroidery and fantastic flourishes of gold thread appeared the letter A…a splendor of occurrences with the taste of age, but was greatly beyond…” when given the knowledge of being seen by many people. Hester also did this to make a point to the puritans that no amount of punishment they put upon her they could not bring her down. Hester is also believable by her beauty. It says in the text “a young woman… with a figure of perfect elegance… and a face which besides being beautiful from regularity…” that Hester was indeed a beautiful woman among many manly ones. The only way this can be believable is the thought that there is not one beautiful woman among all the unsightly women that lived in the colony. Hester is also argued to be believable by the fact of her keeping a secret for so incredibly long. The book stated that Hester kept the secret, “if in all these seven years…” for seven years. The important part of this is that no one knew of the secret. But what makes this believable is the idea that a woman will sacrifice her own happiness to save her loved ones, which is what she was doing, keepin...
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.