Scarlett Letter Feminist Criticism Essay Example for Free

Scar allowt Letter Feminist Criticism EssayWhile Hawthorne is influenced by stereotypes, The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne does serve to criticize patriarchy as he creates a plausible underworldgular who is immobile in the caseful of patriarchal opposition. Hester turns her punish custodyt into a life changing experience by becoming a better, stronger, and more in leechlike person than she was at the beginning of the novel. The way she great dealles her punishment does non make it right except it did make her a strong woman to be admired. It is when Hester takes on the tax of delivering the punishment all on her own that she shows she is a libber well efore her time.She does not do what is anticipate of women during the time in which the story takes place. Hester demonstrates that she is strong in the face of patriarchal oppression and the scrutiny of the confederacy in which she lives. Hawthorne writes But under the leaden inflictions which it was her doom to endure, she felt at moments, as if she must postulate to shriek out with the full powers of her lungs. (49) The towns people are watching Hester so disapprovingly that she is tempted to scream out at them, but Hester remains silent hile the whole town is looking mess upon her and her child child because of her sin of adultery.Hester would not let the people see her as nerveless or show how it humiliated her to be standing before the crowd with the letter A embroidered upon her bosom. It is here Hester shows such(prenominal) strength and courage, at a time when women were thought of as weak. Hawthorne continues to write, Speak out the name That, and thy repentance, may avail to take the scarlet letter off thy breast. N of all time Replied Hester Prynne. (58) It is here that Hester refuses to answer the Reverend Mr.Wilson, as is expected of her, when the head of church ask her to name thy babys father. Women were expected to obey men of authority and for Hester to refuse to name her babys father, shows that she is very strong even in the front man of authority and will not be submissive. She holds steadfast in keeping quiet and not engagement the babys father and therefore taking on the punishment all on her own, as she will not speak out the fathers name as demanded of her. It is through her calm down that Hester showed great inner strength and does not succumb to how she was feeling on the inside.Hawthorne tells us It may seem marvelous, that this woman should still call that place her home. and notwithstanding writes With the world before her,-unplowed by no sumptuary clause of her condemnation drop to return to her birthplace, or to any European Land. (67) Once Hesters labour is over she is free to leave town, but she stays and makes a home for her and her daughter pearl. Hester of her own free will did not flee when she was free to go. Instead of leaving where she would take a shit been free from judgments and ridicule, she chooses to stay and face her punishment.It is ecause Hester chooses to face her punishment alone and remains adamantly silent when asked to name her babys father, that she is strong in the face of patriarchal oppression and authority. Hester quietly takes up a productive place in the oppressive nightspot in which she lives. Hawthorne describes how Hester leaves for herself and her child by saying 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. (68) It is because of Hesters fine sewing skills that she is able to provide an income for her and Pearl.Hesters needlework is so delicate and beautifully through that women of court or those of wealth sought her out for their intricate embroidery needs. Hawthorne shows us how Hester is charitable when he says Hester bestowed all her superfluous means in charity, on wrenches less(prenominal) miserable than herself and who not infrequently insulted the hand that fed them. Much of her time, which she might readily pick up applied to better efforts of her art, she employed in make coarse garments for the poor. (70) This proves that even though the people in her community shunned her, Hester was kind hearted and willingly o do those less fortunate than her, even when they would insult her and talk among themselves behind her back. Hester did not have much in ways of means, but she selflessly gives her time and efforts to make clothes for the poor.Hawthorne tells us how Hester mothers her daughter Pearl when he writes In this little lonesome dwelling, with some slender means that she possessed, and by the license of her magistrates Hester established herself with her infant child. (68) Hawthorne further writes She early sought to impose a tender, but strict, control over the infant immortality that was ommitted to her charge. (76) Hester is mindful of her own faults in life that she is careful not to be too strict and to show devotion to her child. Sometimes not knowing how to mother, Hester would stand aside and let Pearl act on her own accord and let her become her own person. Hester with her sewing skills, her charitable deeds for the poor and raising Pearl on her own shows how she quietly takes up a productive place in the oppressive society in which she lives. Even though the towns people continued to look down on Hester, she did not let it stop her from living her life and helping others in need.Hawthorne creates a plausible individual in his substitution character, Hester Prynne as she is not the typical Puritan woman and goes against the grain and what is expected of her. Hawthorne shows us how Hester is self-reliant when he states What others might seek in vain, or because Hester really filled the gap which must otherwise have remained vacant it is certain that she had ready and fairly requited employment for as many hours as she sees fit to immerse her needle. (69) Hester shows that she does not need a man in her life to provide for her and her baby.She is self reliant, when women of her day were dependent upon their husbands to provide for all their needs. She works hard and works as long as she needs to provide the necessities that she and Pearl need all on her own. Hawthorn demonstrates Hesters bravery by standing up for herself when he writes I can teach my little Pearl what I have learned from this Answered Hester Prynne, move her finger on the red token. Women it is thy badge of shame Replied the magistrate. It is because of the stain which the letter indicates that we would transfer thy child to others hands. (92) Hawthorne further says God gave me that child Cried she.He gave her in requital to all else, when ye had taken from me. She is my happiness -she is my torture, none the less Pearl keeps me in life (94) Women were not to speak out against authority especially male authority, but Hester stands up for herself and defends why Pearl should n ot be taken away from her care. This shows great bravery and her doubtful love for her child. Hester shows personal strength everyday during her punishment when Hawthorne writes When strangers looked curiously at the scarlet letter,- and none ever ailed to do so,- they branded it fresh into Hesters soul so that, oftentimes, she could scarcely refrain, yet always did refrain, from showing the symbol with her hand. (72) When ever Hester was to walk into town those who did not already know her would stop and stare at the letter upon her chest. Even though Hester wanted to hide the shame of the letter she did not, she forced herself not to conduct the letter and to carry on. It is because of Hesters strong will that she is able to face her punishment everyday, wearing her sin bravely out in the open.She did not let it stop her from living her life and going more or less her daily routine or making a good life for her and her daughter Pearl. Women in Hesters day would have been too weak to venture into town all by themselves, instead they would have chosen to stay hidden, as to not having to face their sin. Also, they would not have walked with their heads up, instead would have kept their heads down as to not see the stares upon them, the fingers pointing at them or to hear words of insult enjoin at them. They would have been too weak to handle the daily scorn as bravely as Hester did.In conclusion one can see how Hester is a plausible individual who is strong in the face of patriarchal opposition and authority. Women during this time were seen as fragile, submissive, totally dependent upon and controlled by the men in their lives. Hester proves that she is neither of the above mentioned. She alone provides for her child, she was not dependent on anyone, she stood up for herself when threatened to lose Pearl, she did not submit when asked over and over again to name her babys father. What should have made Hester weak and shameful only made her a stronger, an d better erson who learned to be self-reliant.In the end Hesters good deeds and the way she carried her punishment turned her sinful letter A for adultery, into a forward-looking meaning among the people in her community. The letter A was now redefined by society as soul who was Abel capable and strong. The way Hester handled her punishment made her a strong and independent woman who defied the way a women was expected to be and act during patriarchal times, she showed us over and over again how she was a feminist before her time and in the end she finds favor with the women folk who now sought her out for advice.