Individuality: A Token Soon Repressed For centuries, females have been forced into limiting and objectified roles in the human race. The restricting standards of being morally righteous and accepting of the physical conformity expected of them prevent women from being individualistic. Women everywhere are faced with insane double standards, judgment, and unfair situations regarding education and careers. Not only do females deal with this, but they simultaneously put up with the expectations set by society. This is seen in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel The Scarlet Letter, where Hester Prynne’s originality is crushed by these expectations when being punished for a sin committed out of passion. In the novel “The Scarlet Letter,” author Nathaniel …show more content…
Hester’s resilience against the expected morals fall short as she loses the spark that once made her unique. Contrary to Hester’s former mindset, she now feels a “wild and ghastly scenery all around her, and a home and comfort nowhere. At times, a fearful doubt strove to possess her soul. . .” (150). Initially, Hester contained a sense of passion and drive which set her apart from the rest, but by allowing herself to feel the pressures of society, she represses that factor of individuality. There was no “fearful doubt” in Hester’s life when she was initially being punished and now, years later, she has repressed herself to the point of feeling agitation and discomfort due to her continuous rejection by the Puritans. Furtherly, it is observed that “her life had turned, in a great measure, from passion and feeling, to thought” (148). Hester previously held her emotions and fervor as highly important in her life, but now she sees intellect as morally acceptable. This relates her to the rest of her Puritan society, as for them, their morals are what they value