Scarlett Letter Essay

Hester Prynne: A Feminist at Heart In literature woman are often seen as an evil temptresses and their actions seem to cause chaos in a previously untroubled society. This use of women as destructive forces is clear in the Bible, when Eve is announced as the cause of original sin. However, in The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne portrays the image of a woman who can make her own decisions without causing destruction to society. Throughout Hawthorne’s story he allows Hester to represent feminist qualities. A feminist is a person who believes women are equal to men socially, politically, and physically. Hester consistently demonstrates feminism by not allowing stereotypes to define her. Hester’s feminist attitude differentiates her from other woman of the Puritan era. While Hester revels in her strength she also associates with the idea that women are already gentle and kind. Although women are the ‘weaker sex’ it does not keep Hester from exuding incredible strength within herself and in her interactions with the members her community. Her feminist ideas automatically exclude her from society.
The sexual nature of Hester shows her feminist ideals. The sin Hester committed was not accepted by the Puritan standards, that sin was following her sexual desires. People in her society felt threatened by Hester’s sexual nature. They felt threatened because the morals they represented was not being followed. The consequence of the affair Hester has with Dimmesdale was Pearl. People in her community saw her sin as the worst and most unforgivable of them all and has created jealousy within the community. Women of the Puritan era were taught to be modest and shy regarding situations and issues which were sexual in nature; however, she does not share in the sexual values and practices which were deemed acceptable by the members of the community. Hester does not shy away from her sex appeal that she knows she has and does not try to be what is characterized as a proper lady; therefore, she follows her heart and sets her own rules. She does not throw away her mother duties when her child is the product of sin and she goes about her day while the town people wonder who the father of her child is. Hester sexual nature may cause a rise in the Puritan society, but she doesn’t stop demonstrating the feminist ideals which builds her into this independent woman.
Hester’s refusal to be labeled as the ‘damsel in distress’ symbolizes how she threatens social behavior. Women are commonly seen as passive and submissive; however, Hester carries none of these traits and when she is asked to tell who the father was she doesn’t. Hester knows that she committed adultery and gives birth to an illegitimate child, but she does not self pity herself or denies her love for her child. The ‘A’ on her bosom was supposed to bring self shame, but it does not quit do its

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