Scarlett Letter Feminist Criticism
“The Scarlet Letter” Feminist Essay
While Hawthorne is influenced by stereotypes, The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel
Hawthorne does serve to criticize patriarchy as he creates a plausible individual who is
strong in the face of patriarchal opposition. Hester turns her punishment into a life
changing experience by becoming a better, stronger, and more independent person than
she was at the beginning of the novel. The way she handles her punishment does not
make it right but it did make her a strong woman to be admired. It is when Hester takes
on the task of owning the punishment all on her own that she shows she is a feminist well
before her time. She does not do what is expected 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 community 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 needs to
shriek out with the full powers of her lungs.” (49) The town’s people are watching Hester
so disapprovingly that she is tempted to scream out at them, but Hester remains silent
while the whole town is looking down upon her and her infant child because of her sin of
adultery. Hester would not let the people see her as weak 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 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.” “Never! 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 baby’s father. Women were expected to obey men of
authority and for Hester
While Hawthorne is influenced by stereotypes, The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel
Hawthorne does serve to criticize patriarchy as he creates a plausible individual who is
strong in the face of patriarchal opposition. Hester turns her punishment into a life
changing experience by becoming a better, stronger, and more independent person than
she was at the beginning of the novel. The way she handles her punishment does not
make it right but it did make her a strong woman to be admired. It is when Hester takes
on the task of owning the punishment all on her own that she shows she is a feminist well
before her time. She does not do what is expected 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 community 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 needs to
shriek out with the full powers of her lungs.” (49) The town’s people are watching Hester
so disapprovingly that she is tempted to scream out at them, but Hester remains silent
while the whole town is looking down upon her and her infant child because of her sin of
adultery. Hester would not let the people see her as weak 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 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.” “Never! 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 baby’s father. Women were expected to obey men of
authority and for Hester