Hester Role In The Scarlet Letter

Hester’s Role as a Feminist

In The Scarlet Letter, an American Romantic novel written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Hester Prynne is depicted as a strong, empowered female character. Because of this, the novel has received a plethora of feminist literary criticism, mainly focusing on Hester’s role as a feminist in a male-dominated society. According to many literary critics, her rebellious nature, independence, and womanliness are of much importance in determining Hester’s role as a feminist.

Perhaps Hester’s most prominent feminist characteristic is her “rebellious spirit” (Wang 894). One instance in which she exhibits this is when she refuses to name the father of her illegitimate child. While she stands on the scaffold

As she does not want to reveal the guilty party, she firmly declares, “‘I will not speak!’’’ (Hawthorne 49). By refusing to comply with the minister’s orders, Hester directly goes against the Puritan theocracy. Her persistence in not revealing the father’s identity exhibits how she values her “individual rights” and uses them to retaliate against the community (Wang 894). Thus, Hester’s statement demonstrates her “determination to stand alone despite the opinion of society” (Wang 894). Nina Baym concurs, stating that Hester represents “passion, self-expression, freedom, and individualism against ideas of order, authority, and restraint” (403). Additionally, Neal Houston agrees that Hester has a “strong and rebellious nature” (238). Hester’s defiance towards the will of the community reflects her compassion, as well. She cares enough about Dimmesdale to take all the blame for herself. If she had revealed Dimmesdale as the father, she would have permanently tarnished his high reputation in the Puritan society. Thus, her actions not only demonstrate

Perhaps the most significant example of this is her raising of Pearl. Without the help of others, Hester is able to give Pearl a happy childhood. She also provides Pearl a comfortable living situation by working as a self-employed seamstress. When Hester hears rumors about the possibility of Pearl being taken away from her, she decides to advocate for herself. She takes Pearl to Governor Bellingham’s mansion and, when he questions her custody of the child, she remarks, “‘God gave her into my keeping, . . . I will not give her up!’” (Hawthorne 78). Yamin Wang views her statement as proof that “the femaleness is not the weak, but to the opposite, the strong, who is able to find out methods to rescue themselves” (Wang 896). By living independently of the “mainstream of Puritan life,” Hester and Pearl find that the “outcome of their alienation” is a good one (Houston 238-39). Thus, Wang and Houston agree that Hester’s independence plays a crucial role in her development into a strong, feminist character and role model for Pearl. Not only does Hester raise Pearl without the financial assistance or moral support a man, but also without the help of family or friends, as she is isolated from society. Thus, Hester tackles the many obstacles of raising a child completely by herself. As she has come this far without the help of others, she deserves the right to keep custody of Pearl. Her unique perspective on