Feminsim In The Scarlett Letter

Feminsim is an idea that advocates equality of both men and women socially, politically, and economically. This is a word not used as highly as it was in history, as it is seen as agressive, unattractive, and even insulting. However, during the mid-ninteenth century, feminism was a powerful belief that almost all women, including some men as well, fought for and religiously practiced. Nathaniel Hawthorne, author of the novel The Scarlet Letter, created a character that is a symbol of this idea. During this novel, Hester Prynne resisted the unfair treatment, for the majority of the story, that many women faced during this period of time. When she recieves the horrible treatment after her affair, Hester stands up for herself and keeps her
dignity, though the people of the Purtan society are constantly attempting to rip it from her. She suffers through public shaming on the scaffold, insults, violence, and isolation, all the while keeping er head held high.
This can be seen when Hester fights back during her public shaming on the scaffold- she refuses to tell the magistrates and the people the name of her lover. "'Never!' replied Hester Prynne, looking, not at Mr. Wilson, but into the deep and troubled eyes of the younger clergymen. 'It is too deeply branded. Ye cannot take it off. And would that I might endure his agony, as well as mine!'" (Hwathorne, 47). Not only is she fighting back, but is accepting her punishment, and telling the Puritans that she is strong. She takes her A, and transforms it into an identity, giving way that this is who she is and she accepts it. In addition, readers can see the resistence when she stays in New England, despite the fact that society is treating her horribly. When Hester says that she is "...free to return to her birthplace, or to any other European land, and there hide her character and identity under a new exterior...", but yet decides to stay in a judging, dark community is a huge act of rebellioness (Hawthorne 54). She ignores the people's threatens and wishes of her gone being, and settles in a new home, settles into a new life. Nathaniel Hawthorne highlights this woman's bravery, but the question is- why? Just two years before the publication of this novel, was the first ever Women's Convention held
in Seneca Falls.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton's Key Note Adress explains the importance of women, and their lack of appreciation in the world. "The world has never yet seen a truly great and virtuous nation, because in the degradation of woman the very fountains of life are poisoned at their source. It is vain to look for silver and gold from mines of copper and lead" (Stanton, 1). Stanton explains that this country, the newly born United States, will never be great and powerful if its backbone is weak. The country was in a horrible state during these times, she says, because women are not appreciated as much as they should be. Hawthorne displays this message through the Puritan society and its negative aspects. He creates this community full of death and sadness, stating: "The founders of a new colony, whatever Utopia of human virtue and happiness they might originally project, have invariably recognized it among their earliest practical necessities to allot a portion of the virgin soil as a cemetary, and another portion as the site of a prison" (Hawthorne 33). This statment gives the readers a negative mindset towards the Puritan society, as their only concern is on death and punishment. Hawthorne is trying to exhibit his opposition to this community, as its treatment of people, and women
including, are horrific. Feminism can be seen today as well, for actress Emma Watson created a speech about equality among gender at the 2014 UN Address. This speech highlights the importance and women, and men as well, and equality for both genders. She continuously says that women should not be "submissive and controlled", rather strong and sensitive. Their voices should not be heard, but listened to as well. In The Scarlet Letter, this is seen through Hester Prynne's brave and resistent actions against the Puritan society. She is the role model for all women: she is intelligient as she chooses when to fight and when to submit, she is strong, and she is beautiful.