Analysis Of Hester Prynne
In the novel The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Hester Prynne, the female protagonist, must cope with being named a sinner within a strict and judgemental seventeenth century Puritan society. Hester chooses to accept her punishment of wearing a scarlet letter ‘A’ on her breast but feels no remorse for her allegedly shameful and sinful act. Hester Prynne proves herself to be a strong, independent, modern heroine by refusing to conform to societal gender norms, while still earning the respect of the women around her and having an ultimately positive impact on her community. Hester lives in a society that is dictated by strict Puritan rules and that labels her as a sinner; she overcomes the disapproval of those around her, showing no
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Hester looks critically at the entire nature of society, concluding that in order to make existence worthwhile for womankind, “the whole system of society is to be torn down” (114), the nature of men must be “essentially modified” (114), and women must undergo “a still mightier change” (114). Hester recognizes that the treatment of all women, not just her, is systematically unfair throughout her society and can only be fixed with its complete upheaval and rebuilding of the existing tradition and gender norms. This kind of progressive thought is unusual, considering her time period, and displays Hester’s modern outlook on the role of women, making her among the first to recognize the inherent setbacks that women must overcome. While the change Hester wishes to see in society is not one that can happen within her lifetime, she spreads her belief in better days to come with other women, comforting and counseling them by assuring them that “when the world should have grown ripe for it...a new truth would be revealed, in order to establish the whole relation between man and woman on a surer ground” (180). Hester has been treated harshly by her society, by both men and women. Yet rather than blame those who wronged her and reflect their bitterness back towards them, she shares her experiences and the conclusions she has drawn from them with the women around her. Hester is taking the first step in moving towards a more equal society by spreading her ideological belief that men and women deserve to be treated the same
Hester looks critically at the entire nature of society, concluding that in order to make existence worthwhile for womankind, “the whole system of society is to be torn down” (114), the nature of men must be “essentially modified” (114), and women must undergo “a still mightier change” (114). Hester recognizes that the treatment of all women, not just her, is systematically unfair throughout her society and can only be fixed with its complete upheaval and rebuilding of the existing tradition and gender norms. This kind of progressive thought is unusual, considering her time period, and displays Hester’s modern outlook on the role of women, making her among the first to recognize the inherent setbacks that women must overcome. While the change Hester wishes to see in society is not one that can happen within her lifetime, she spreads her belief in better days to come with other women, comforting and counseling them by assuring them that “when the world should have grown ripe for it...a new truth would be revealed, in order to establish the whole relation between man and woman on a surer ground” (180). Hester has been treated harshly by her society, by both men and women. Yet rather than blame those who wronged her and reflect their bitterness back towards them, she shares her experiences and the conclusions she has drawn from them with the women around her. Hester is taking the first step in moving towards a more equal society by spreading her ideological belief that men and women deserve to be treated the same