Examples Of Feminism In The Scarlet Letter

There is no one true definition of feminism. Feminism has many aspects, perspectives, and opinions. Many women get shamed on for being a feminist, through the eyes of other men. In today's society, it is hard to overall describe every aspect of feminism because it is so much more than rights for woman. Though one definition that could overall describe feminism is one who believes in equal rights for woman and is able to protect herself and has the courage to do so. Throughout the novel The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the main character Hester has been living with an A on her bosom ever since she had an affair with the town reverend. Feminism in the novel comes through from the characterization and actions of Hester. Hester was a
Hester was threatened and put in jail for not telling the town authorities, but as a woman she courageously had the self power to keep it a secret. As Chillingworth, Hester's husband, shows up in Boston at the town jail, Hester has fears that he will hurt her, Pearl, and Dimmesdale. She was scared of the fact that she didn't want anyone else to be blamed and then publicly shamed, Hester wanted the blame for the action she committed. When Chillingworth began to examine Dimmesdale, Hester made sure that Chillingworth would stop tormenting him and her daughter. Hester eventually told Dimmesdale in the hope that she would help protect him from the society. Hester tried so hard to protect his identity while keeping their love alive,"Be not silent from any mistaken pity and tenderness for him; for, believe me, Hester, though he were to step down from a high place, and stand there beside thee, on thy pedestal of shame, yet better were it so, than to hide a guilty heart through life" (70). Even though Dimmesdale thinks that confessing will save him from his sin and cleanse his soul, Hester has the ability to protect him so she can take the blame. The pedestal of shame of which Hester has been on for years now alone. Dimmesdale has chosen not to stand by her side for years, until he truly starts to
Walking about with the letter every day having all of the society dishonor her and judge her, proves that she took something and moved forwards with her life. Though it would always be there she didn't take the letter and hide. She protected her lover to make sure he wouldn't suffer. The society would constantly stare at her letter and directly criticize her, but Hester found a way not to care. As a woman Hester didn't have to focus on the shame, “While this passed, Hester Prynne had been standing on her pedestal, still with a fixed gaze toward the stranger; so fixed a gaze, that, at moments of intense absorption, all other objects in the visible world seemed to vanish, leaving only him and her” (65). Everything else vanished, for she was focusing on the important things. As a strong, independent woman Hester did not find it necessary to worry about how people were looking at her, she was focused on her personal life and her