Essay On Hester Prynne
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a novel about romance, betrayal, sin, and one’s journey through difficulties. The story revolves around a strong, independant women in Hester Prynne, who was shunned from society for committing adultery. She permanently wear a scarlet A upon her chest as a symbol for her shame and Hester is often the subject of ridicule and used as an example in sermons. However, she has a very strong will and is has overcome many challenges in her life. Hester Prynne is a strong heroine figure, and the Scarlet Letter can be classified as a feminist novel. Feminism can be best described as G.D. Anderson once said, “Feminism isn’t about making women stronger. Women are already strong. It’s about changing the way the
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world perceives that strength”. It is all about equality for women and to express themselves and advocating for women’s rights. Hester and the book’s message is just that. Throughout the story, the way Hester helps out the poor and sustain herself, how she defends her child and is determined to protect Pearl at all costs, and why she decides to stay and eventually return to Boston all show her to be an inspirational female character.
Hester works as a seamstress and makes clothes for people as a means of supporting herself and Pearl. She is extremely talented at it and she has a taste for the “beautiful” in her workings and it has turned into quite the fashion among the townspeople even though it comes from a shameful source in their eyes. The story talks about Hester’s talents and abilities as “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” (Page 75). Even though she got paid somewhat little for it, it is still of great need of the town and Hester is still able to care for herself and her child. Hester works diligently on her craft and is very successful for it. Hester is independent, smart, talented, and resourceful, as well as being to hold her own even though she is shamed from the society. These are ideal qualities that one would have to be a hero. Hester also helps out the poor and those who are in need within the community. Even though the very same people who she helps scorn her, she still does it. “She had in her nature a rich, voluptuous, oriental characteristics… in all the possibilities of her life” (Page 77), all speak of her character and what kind of person she is.
One day, Hester and Pearl go into town to visit Governor Bellingham’s house to deliver some embroidered gloves, but more importantly, to discuss the future of her child. She has heard that the town officials have decided that Pearl is some kind of evil child and that it would be better if she stayed with another family. The townspeople has reasoned that Pearl should be taken away from Hester for her own sake, and given to a “better” parent. At first, Reverend Wilson teases Pearl by calling her a bird and a demon child, and when asked “Who made thee?”(Page 101), Pearl says that she has been plucked by her mother from the rose bush (Page 102). This answer does not bode well with the officials and then Hester, with her back against the wall, difiantly tries to protect Pearl and herself. Running through her head, are thoughts like “alone in this world, cast off by it, and with this this sole treasure to keep her heart alive… was ready to defend them to the death” (Page 103). Hester was ready to do whatever it takes to keep and protect Pearl from those who might harm her. She has an intense love and affection towards Pearl as a parent and doesn’t want to let her daughter go. Later, Hester says “God gave me this child… Ye will not have her! I will die first”. Hester Prynne raising her voice to almost a shriek, “I will not giver her up!” (Page 103). The motherly instinct drives her to defend her precious child, and with the help of Dimmesdale, she is allowed to keep her child. The determination and will to keep on fighting for what’s right makes Hester a person with unshakable resolve and intention.
Finally, near the beginning of the story, after Hester was released from prison, she could've easily left for her homeland with her newborn baby Pearl to escape the harsh townspeople, but nonetheless she decided to stay in New England even though she knows that staying there will cause her more harm than good.
She resolved, for her own personal reasons, that she will not leave because she feels like that she needs to repent for her sin by living it out and staying there, for her love and commitment she has for Dimmesdale, and also for Pearl. Pearl’s father was there and Hester felt like she need to raise Pearl in Boston. Hester, also wanted to prove to the townspeople that they could not hold her down and that they could not break her soul. In the text, it reads, “The chain that bound her here was of iron links, galling to her inmost soul, but she could never be broken” (Page 74). The commitment and drive to still be successful and not give up is what really sets Hester apart. She wanted to prove to everyone that they could not control her soul and that nothing they will do would break her. Later in the story, Hester also returns to Boston after she has left once with Pearl. This time, she has become an advocate for women and resumes her charity work. Eventually, the scarlet letter has its stigma and even become some sort of
legend. Melinda Gates once said “A woman with a voice is by definition a strong woman. But the search to find that voice can be remarkably difficult.” Hester is just that. Through her adventures of life and her remarkable character that she is strong and independant. From the way Hester helps out the poor and sustains herself, how she defends her child and is determined to protect Pearl at all costs, and why she decides to stay and eventually return to Boston all show her to be an inspirational female character. Hester Prynne is firm and moving female heroine character and the Scarlet Letter shows that.
world perceives that strength”. It is all about equality for women and to express themselves and advocating for women’s rights. Hester and the book’s message is just that. Throughout the story, the way Hester helps out the poor and sustain herself, how she defends her child and is determined to protect Pearl at all costs, and why she decides to stay and eventually return to Boston all show her to be an inspirational female character.
Hester works as a seamstress and makes clothes for people as a means of supporting herself and Pearl. She is extremely talented at it and she has a taste for the “beautiful” in her workings and it has turned into quite the fashion among the townspeople even though it comes from a shameful source in their eyes. The story talks about Hester’s talents and abilities as “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” (Page 75). Even though she got paid somewhat little for it, it is still of great need of the town and Hester is still able to care for herself and her child. Hester works diligently on her craft and is very successful for it. Hester is independent, smart, talented, and resourceful, as well as being to hold her own even though she is shamed from the society. These are ideal qualities that one would have to be a hero. Hester also helps out the poor and those who are in need within the community. Even though the very same people who she helps scorn her, she still does it. “She had in her nature a rich, voluptuous, oriental characteristics… in all the possibilities of her life” (Page 77), all speak of her character and what kind of person she is.
One day, Hester and Pearl go into town to visit Governor Bellingham’s house to deliver some embroidered gloves, but more importantly, to discuss the future of her child. She has heard that the town officials have decided that Pearl is some kind of evil child and that it would be better if she stayed with another family. The townspeople has reasoned that Pearl should be taken away from Hester for her own sake, and given to a “better” parent. At first, Reverend Wilson teases Pearl by calling her a bird and a demon child, and when asked “Who made thee?”(Page 101), Pearl says that she has been plucked by her mother from the rose bush (Page 102). This answer does not bode well with the officials and then Hester, with her back against the wall, difiantly tries to protect Pearl and herself. Running through her head, are thoughts like “alone in this world, cast off by it, and with this this sole treasure to keep her heart alive… was ready to defend them to the death” (Page 103). Hester was ready to do whatever it takes to keep and protect Pearl from those who might harm her. She has an intense love and affection towards Pearl as a parent and doesn’t want to let her daughter go. Later, Hester says “God gave me this child… Ye will not have her! I will die first”. Hester Prynne raising her voice to almost a shriek, “I will not giver her up!” (Page 103). The motherly instinct drives her to defend her precious child, and with the help of Dimmesdale, she is allowed to keep her child. The determination and will to keep on fighting for what’s right makes Hester a person with unshakable resolve and intention.
Finally, near the beginning of the story, after Hester was released from prison, she could've easily left for her homeland with her newborn baby Pearl to escape the harsh townspeople, but nonetheless she decided to stay in New England even though she knows that staying there will cause her more harm than good.
She resolved, for her own personal reasons, that she will not leave because she feels like that she needs to repent for her sin by living it out and staying there, for her love and commitment she has for Dimmesdale, and also for Pearl. Pearl’s father was there and Hester felt like she need to raise Pearl in Boston. Hester, also wanted to prove to the townspeople that they could not hold her down and that they could not break her soul. In the text, it reads, “The chain that bound her here was of iron links, galling to her inmost soul, but she could never be broken” (Page 74). The commitment and drive to still be successful and not give up is what really sets Hester apart. She wanted to prove to everyone that they could not control her soul and that nothing they will do would break her. Later in the story, Hester also returns to Boston after she has left once with Pearl. This time, she has become an advocate for women and resumes her charity work. Eventually, the scarlet letter has its stigma and even become some sort of
legend. Melinda Gates once said “A woman with a voice is by definition a strong woman. But the search to find that voice can be remarkably difficult.” Hester is just that. Through her adventures of life and her remarkable character that she is strong and independant. From the way Hester helps out the poor and sustains herself, how she defends her child and is determined to protect Pearl at all costs, and why she decides to stay and eventually return to Boston all show her to be an inspirational female character. Hester Prynne is firm and moving female heroine character and the Scarlet Letter shows that.