Feminism is “the advocacy of women’s rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes” (dictionary). The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is illustrated as a feminist novel. “Heater Prynne, is a woman of strength and independence, uncommon for her time, is depicted by Hawthorne in a number of ways after her ordeal on the scaffold. (Johnson)” She goes through the pain and suffering of being an outcaste from the town living separately from them with her daughter raising her alone. They are isolated living between nature, freedom, and the Puritan village. The people wanted her to stay away because she had gone against their beliefs and committed adultery, because of that they feel just to punish her because of it. Although Hester was living in a Puritan society, she followed her own rules and …show more content…
This is supposed to be a punishment of shame and humiliation, so everyone would know and see what Hester did and she would walk around knowing it every day too and feel disgraceful that she sinned, but Hester embraced it.
“The letter was the symbol of her calling. Such helpfulness was found in her, - 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 ch. 13 pg. 111).”
She walked around wearing the letter proudly on her chest and did not believe she should be punished or judged based on her decisions she makes in her life. Even after she is told that she can take the letter off her clothes Hester leaves it on and is proud of it. “You may have told me I had to wear this badge, but I will decide when I want to take it off (Johnson).” Hester is strong-minded and will not let someone tell her what to do she will wear her sin proudly because she doesn’t care what the people around her