Hester Prynne In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter

What does it mean to be a feminist? A feminist is someone who believes in gender equality, and advocates for equal social, political, legal, and economic rights . The Scarlet Letter is a prime example of a feminist novel, as it demonstrates the unfairness of gender discrimination. The way Nathaniel Hawthorne portrays Hester shows that she is a strong female character, as she strays away from gender norms of the time throughout the novel.

Hester Prynne is the main character of the novel. She is convicted of the sin of adultery and has a baby as a result of her sin. She is subjected to public humiliation. Throughout this, she stays strong and tries not to let it bother her too much. She retains her independence and does not let the sin define

During the time period, girls were expected from a young age to conform to gender stereotypes. Pearl never does this, instead she connects with nature more than anyone in the novel. She also always had a strong attraction to the scarlet letter her mother wears. Pearl always questioned it, as seen when she asks if it is the reason Dimmesdale clutches his heart often. “‘Dost thou know, child, wherefore thy mother wears this letter?’ ‘Truly do I!’ answered Pearl, looking brightly into her mother's face. ‘It is for the same reason that the minister keeps his hand over his heart!’” (Hawthorne, 161) She was upset when she saw her mother without it, but she never knew what it meant, never knew that it was a symbol of shame, and the reader knows that Pearl does not know what the scarlet letter identifies her mother, and that goes along with norms of the time period. The quote, “Hester looked steadily into her little face; but though there was that singular expression which she had so often remarked in her black eyes, she could not satisfy herself whether Pearl really attached any meaning to the symbol.” (Hawthorne, 161) shows that Pearl has retained her innocence and does not know any meaning to the letter, just that she has always seen her mother wear it and associates the symbol with her