Gender Roles In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter

For years—even with the doubt and ridicule of men—women have been a force to be reckoned with. Women like Hester Prynne in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter play an important role in society, and in the lives of people around them: ever present, but too often under-appreciated, and as a result have to rely on their independence to get by. The character’s battle with sexism and gender roles truly showcases her independence and strong will. Hester’s presence as a mother figure—while it would remain equally as important if Pearl had been born as a son—is exceptionally important to the growth of her daughter. Many times, Hester and Pearl fail to exhibit the infamous persona of poise, femininity and purity that is expected of women, and suffer
the consequences as presented by the Puritan society. The role of women, even as mothers, is so often taken for granted, and it becomes more of an uphill battle against sexism and gender expectations. Women like Hester are forced to assume independence when they are facing sexism and gender stereotypes.
She is forced into the world after her sentencing, completely alone aside from an infant Pearl. While the Puritans expected her to shy away from the crowd in shame, she instead takes the opportunity to exhibit pride, letting the world know that she will not be brought down by the unfortunate situation that she has been thrown into. Hester blows everyone away when she leaves the prison initially ashamed, but then:
“In a moment, however, wisely judging that one token of her shame would but poorly serve to hide another, she took the baby on her arm, and with a burning blush, and yet a haughty smile, and a glance that would not be abashed, looked around at her townspeople and neighbours” (Hawthorne
50-51).

Although Hester faces the grim scene alone, she realizes that it will do neither she nor her child any good to be ashamed. If she even blinks at the situation, then the men of politics and religion will have won, and she will have condemned her child to a life of torment. Hester faces these burdens with flawless independence. With her actions come consequences, however, albeit consequences that she refuses to willingly share with her suitor. Even her former husband, Roger Chillingworth, comes forth, explaining that he is going to deny the identity of ever being betrothed to her, though not explaining whether it is for her benefit or his own. What Roger is then faced with is a challenge, as Hester exudes the fact that she has no need for his support and quips, “‘Why not announce thyself openly, and cast me off at once?’” (Hawthorne 74). She makes a fabulous point with this statement. At this point, Hester has survived without Roger for two years. What difference, then, would it make to her if he were to publicly reject her when she has already been made a show of? The answer is: absolutely none. Hester then works through the novel continually exhibiting her independence, so much so that she single-handedly changes the meaning of the scarlet letter. The townspeople see her strength and perseverance that she developed completely on her own, and the story goes that:
“Such helpfulness was found in her—so much power to sympathize—that many people refused to interpret the scarlet ‘A’ by its original signification. They said that it meant ‘Able’; so strong was Hester Prynne, with a woman’s strength” (Hawthorne 158).
Hester—although without the aid of a husband or her lover, Arthur Dimmesdale—for seven years, has now abolished the idea that women are weak. Her independence shines over the stereotypes and opinions, and the people see her for the truly strong woman that she is. So, so long to the idea that women cannot live without men, for Hester Prynne stands against the stereotype, alone and proud. The importance of a mother figure, especially in the growth of a daughter, is nearly indescribable through words. When a child is developing, the mother is often the most present person in their life. Such is so with Hester and Pearl, as the reader rarely sees one without the other. Even in the infant stages, Hester’s first instinct is to clutch little Pearl and shield her from the evils of the outside world. From the moment Hester leaves the prison, child in arms, she commences the protective instincts of a mother: “It seemed to be her first impulse to clasp the infant closely to her bosom” (Hawthorne 50). Though it could be argued that Hester was doing this out of her own pride, it becomes evident throughout the novel that everything she does from this point on is to care for Pearl. Not only are the townspeople judging Hester for her actions, but they also hold an almost disdainful feeling towards Pearl, which Hester is fully aware of. Therefore, naturally she resorts to shielding her child from their eyes. Children are curious, and as Pearl blossoms into a young girl, it is apparent that she is no different. Though she grows fixated on the minister, she never directly asks Hester who her father is. Even when the Governor, among others, attempts to take the child away from Hester, Pearl protests and proudly states who she is: “‘I am Mother’s child,’ answered the scarlet vision, ‘and my name is Pearl!’” (Hawthorne 106). Pearl understands that her mother is the one who took care of her, and can confidently say that she is the child of her mother. This is a direct reflection of Hester’s parenting skills, having done it for quite some time now without aid and overcoming the barrier of Pearl not knowing who her father is. Furthermore, Pearl has grown so accustomed to the presence of her mother, and along with that the presence of the scarlet letter on her mother. Though not fully understanding the meaning of the embroidery, she does understand that it means something. Pearl cares for her mother and looks up to her strength so much that when Hester dares to remove her scarlet letter, Pearl throws a fit: “Not a whit startled at her mother’s threats any more than mollified by her entreaties, now suddenly burst into a fit of passion, gesticulating violently, and throwing her small finger... at Hester’s bosom” (Hawthorne 206). Though appearing silly and unreasonable to adults, it is very obvious that the absence of the “A” means a great deal more to Pearl than it does to anyone else. Seeing her mother with this symbol of true strength for years seems quite important when the very thing that vexes her is removed. Mothers influence their children from a very young age, the quirks in their personalities uncovering over time and the presence of a mother growing ever more important. The very air that hands about a woman, even in Hester’s case, is expected to be pure, elegant and feminine.
Even the women of New England have been brainwashed to believe in this criteria, going so far as to criticise Hester for her actions. Instead of banding together against the sexist treatment of women, the Puritan elders insult and ridicule Hester in front of everyone: “If the hussy stood up for judgment before us five, that are now here in a knot together, would she come off with such a sentence as the worshipful magistrates have awarded?” (Hawthorne 49). In their eyes, a letter worn on each piece of clothing Hester owns is much too kind. It is a prize that she has been awarded. She deserves the worst for failing to maintain her purity and oath to her husband, which oddly enough, is not the same expected for the men. Not one person questions why her husband left her for two years to fend for herself in the Puritan society. The expectation even stretches so far as to corrupt the innocence of a child. Pearl does not often like to wear dresses, and tends to fancy playing in nature and getting herself dirty, which is behaviour not suitable for a little girl. Even the language used to describe Pearl leads the reader to believe that she is looked down upon in society: “Pearl was a born outcast of the infantile world. An imp of evil, emblem and product of a sin, she had no right among christened infants” (Hawthorne 90). The juxtaposition of her personality mixed with the
method from which she was originated, leads the townspeople to believe that she is beneath them. Somehow, logically, Pearl must have inherited the impure qualities that her mother possesses. She was not born of feminine purity, and thus she can no longer be considered feminine and pure herself. Finally the men of the town have always been in control. For this reason, they often make decisions for their own benefit. Even Hester’s sentencing was influenced by the desire to maintain Hester’s womanly beauty: “...besides being beautiful from regularity of feature and richness of complexion, [she] had the impressiveness belonging to a marked brow and deep black eyes” (Hawthorne 51). While the sole purpose of the women is to have Hester’s elegant and beautiful exterior damaged and ruined forever, the men revel in the fact that she remains the definition of perfection, even when she exits through the prison doors. In conclusion, the importance of a woman showing off the essence of being a woman often trumps over all other tasks, including justice and treating others with respect. What does all of this—the expectations, the parenting styles, the disrespect and the independence—have to say about women like Hester? It says that they are strong, that they should not be ignored like they have been for so long. Hester is an iconic symbol of how influential, yet unappreciated women can be. She is put through the wringer, she is torn apart in every sense of the phrase, and yet she shines through as a phenomenal individual and an even more phenomenal mother. Women like Hester do not let the world silence them; they speak loud enough to break down walls so that those who are full of doubt are forced to hear their arguments. They are what make the feminine world go round, and they should not and will not be ignored.