In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne is one of the first feminists in literature. She has committed adultery and is sentenced to wearing a scarlet ‘A,’ signifying her sin, as her punishment. This ‘A’ brings her shame and judgment from the community, allowing everyone to know of her illegitimate relations. However, as a feminist figure, she accepts this punishment as one from herself. She understands what she has done, and by accepting it, she becomes a strong willed, free woman. In The Scarlet Letter, Hester Prynne is a strong, independent, self-sufficient, and caring woman in the seventeenth century, making her a pioneer as one of literature’s first feminists. Hester displays independence not seen in other Puritan women.
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As one of literature’s first single mothers, she is able to care for herself and Pearl without the support of a husband. In fact, “she possessed an art that sufficed…to supply food for her thriving infant and herself” (Hawthorne 78). Hester was able to find a way to earn an income, through the art of needlework, to support her daughter. Women of the seventeenth century did not receive incomes nor did they work; they relied on their husbands to bring money into the household. Hester must become self-sufficient because she does not have a man to earn an income. This was a very uncommon situation because a woman who did not have a husband had her family for support. Hester had neither; she had to create her own support system. Her ability to support herself and her daughter truly displays her ability to be …show more content…
In a time before feminism was an accepted concept, Hester was a pioneer, who rejected the subordinate role of women in society. She left a legacy, teaching other women and her daughter Pearl about the concept of feminism. Hawthorne was also a pioneer by creating Hester as one of literature’s first feminists. As a writer during a time when women still had the subordinate role in society, he rejected the standards of society and fashioned this strong, independent woman. Both Hester and Hawthorne are literary pioneers. They opened the doors for modern feminism, introducing women as a resilient and able
As one of literature’s first single mothers, she is able to care for herself and Pearl without the support of a husband. In fact, “she possessed an art that sufficed…to supply food for her thriving infant and herself” (Hawthorne 78). Hester was able to find a way to earn an income, through the art of needlework, to support her daughter. Women of the seventeenth century did not receive incomes nor did they work; they relied on their husbands to bring money into the household. Hester must become self-sufficient because she does not have a man to earn an income. This was a very uncommon situation because a woman who did not have a husband had her family for support. Hester had neither; she had to create her own support system. Her ability to support herself and her daughter truly displays her ability to be …show more content…
In a time before feminism was an accepted concept, Hester was a pioneer, who rejected the subordinate role of women in society. She left a legacy, teaching other women and her daughter Pearl about the concept of feminism. Hawthorne was also a pioneer by creating Hester as one of literature’s first feminists. As a writer during a time when women still had the subordinate role in society, he rejected the standards of society and fashioned this strong, independent woman. Both Hester and Hawthorne are literary pioneers. They opened the doors for modern feminism, introducing women as a resilient and able