Nathaniel Hawthorne gave a light to women’s rights in the Scarlet Letter, with Hester Prynne's story of her struggle to find her place, in a time when her gender controlled her ability. It was unheard of for a woman to speak her mind in the slightest. Hester challenged this way of thinking and way of life within the story by making a vast impression on society during this time period.
Women were to spend their days taking care of the home and family. Simply an accessory to a man and didn't have much value alone. Times have definitely changed since then, however The Scarlet Letter still has a large relation to the modern day feminist movement. At the beginning of the book, Hester goes along with what everyone tells her what to do. She embroidered the scarlet “A” onto her clothing, to be reminded of her sinful measures. Then, stood in front of the whole town to be recognized by all as an adulterer and publically shamed. Women were taught to hide their personalities and to abide by what men taught them.
"Women derive pleasure, incomprehensible to the other sex, from the delicate toil of the needle" (Hawthorne, 76). Hawthorne implies that women cannot let their personal joys show. Ultimately, leading to the idea that women are seen as delicate on the outside, but on the inside have a strong voice that …show more content…
Which is why Hester Prynne served as a feminist icon, before it was a movement. Although many women did not act on their beliefs,to please society, it wouldn’t be unlikely that Hester was not the only one that felt she was worth more than how everyone treated her. Her and women like her shaped what is widely known today as the fight for gender equality. Through all of her obstacles, Hester served as an early figure of the feminist movement due, to her ability to break her culture's ideal model of a woman and reveal the true capabilities of a
Women were to spend their days taking care of the home and family. Simply an accessory to a man and didn't have much value alone. Times have definitely changed since then, however The Scarlet Letter still has a large relation to the modern day feminist movement. At the beginning of the book, Hester goes along with what everyone tells her what to do. She embroidered the scarlet “A” onto her clothing, to be reminded of her sinful measures. Then, stood in front of the whole town to be recognized by all as an adulterer and publically shamed. Women were taught to hide their personalities and to abide by what men taught them.
"Women derive pleasure, incomprehensible to the other sex, from the delicate toil of the needle" (Hawthorne, 76). Hawthorne implies that women cannot let their personal joys show. Ultimately, leading to the idea that women are seen as delicate on the outside, but on the inside have a strong voice that …show more content…
Which is why Hester Prynne served as a feminist icon, before it was a movement. Although many women did not act on their beliefs,to please society, it wouldn’t be unlikely that Hester was not the only one that felt she was worth more than how everyone treated her. Her and women like her shaped what is widely known today as the fight for gender equality. Through all of her obstacles, Hester served as an early figure of the feminist movement due, to her ability to break her culture's ideal model of a woman and reveal the true capabilities of a