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Feminism in The Scarlet Letter Throughout The Scarlet Letter, the main character, Hester Prynne, is portrayed as a feminist woman. Unlike many Puritan women, Hester creates her own lifestyle and way of living without the help of a male husband. Hawthorne uses Hester's business success, assertiveness toward well respected men, and skills as a single mother to emphasize the feminist aspects of The Scarlet Letter. Though the community rejects her, Hester is able to establish a thriving business as a seamstress.
Since Hester's pregnancy with Pearl, the community has looked down upon her and thought of her as an insignificant part of their society. She was ridiculed by everyone and constantly reminded of her terrible act of adultery. Throughout this mental torture, Hester at times felt as if she were in her own world. 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. (p. 78) Hester continued to be an outcast in a society of hatred and used her extreme talent and skills to start her own business as a seamstress. This was a very unorthodox way for a woman to live. In the Puritan era, women never worked outside of the home and never had a separate income.
The man was always the supplier for the family, but Hester was different than all the rest. She went against all odds and under adverse circumstances, used her incredible skill as a seamstress to earn a decent living. Hester had such skill with the needle that even the cruelest most well known people of the community wore her needlework. Vanity, chose to mortify itself, by putting on, for ceremonials of pomp and state, the garments that had been wrought by her sinful hands. Her needlework was seen on the ruff of the Governor; military men wore it on their scarves, and the minister on his band; it was shut up to be mildewed and moulder away, in the coffins of the dead. (p. 76) It was this occupation that began to give Hester hope of a better life ahead. Raising her healthy, elf-like child, Pearl, in an isolated cottage without a husband to assist her, Hester proves herself as a caretaker and provider.
Hester shows her tremendous courage as a single mother by raising Pearl on her own. She dresses her little daughter beautifully and even spends time playing with her, showing no need for a male role model in Pearls life. Lonely as was Hester's situation, and without a friend on earth who dared to show himself, she, however, incurred no risk of want. She possessed an art that sufficed, even in a land that afforded comparatively little scope for its exercise, to supply food for her thriving infant and herself. (p. 75) Unlike the Puritan society where the husband owned the house and all of the property, Hester had her own cottage by the sea. Unafraid of the judgmental society, Hester takes control of her own home and provides Pearl with undying love and dedication. She is my happiness! -she is my torture, none the less!
Pearl keeps me here in life! See ye not, she is the scarlet letter, only capable of being loved, and so endowed with a million-fold the power of retribution for my sin? Ye shall not take her! I will die first! (p. 104) It is this love towards Pearl that keeps Hester striving to be a perfect mom. Hester proves her strong feminist qualities as she doesnt back down from the authoritative men of the community. Hester shows her never die attitude as she challenges important men in order to keep her child.
Woman, transgress not beyond the limits of Heavens mercy! said Reverend Mr. Wilson. That, and thy repentance, may avail to take the scarlet letter off thy breast. Never! replied Hester Prynne.
It is to deeply branded. Ye cannot take it off. And would that I might endure his agony, as well as mine! (p. 64) Hester stands up for herself and goes against the morals and rights of the community. She doesnt defer to the men as the Puritan women did, but instead stands up for her pride.
My poor woman, said the old minister, the child shall be well cared for! -far better than thou canst do it. God gave her into my keeping, repeated Hester. I will not give her up. Look thou to it!
I will not lose the child! Look to it! (p. 104) Hester proves to be a courageous woman by standing up for her thoughts and beliefs. She is an assertive woman that loves her daughter immensely, and risks her life to keep the pride of herself as well as the other woman of her community.
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Research essay sample on Hester Prynne Scarlet Letter
