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Jahina Somo
Mrs. DiChiara
English 10 5th Period
9 December 2013
Hester Prynne: Saint or Sinner
Is feminism an issue that many writers address in their writings? Nathaniel Hawthorne
writes his novel The Scarlet Letter during a feminist revolution. Hawthorne portrays character
Hester Prynne as a true feminist in his historical fiction novel The Scarlet Letter. Although
Hester is thought of as a sinner, the book goes on to create her into the story’s heroine through
refusing to tell the father of her child, decorating the A on her chest, and sacrificing her dignity
to make Pearl, her daughter, happy.
One way Hawthorne portrays feminism through Hester Prynne is her refusal to reveal the
identity of her lover. In the novel, Hester is taking part in her punishment by standing on the
scaffold in the middle of town square while being interrogated by the town’s people and the
clergymen. Hester Prynne states, “Never! It is too deeply branded. Ye cannot take it off. And
would that I might endure his agony, as well as mine” (Hawthorne 64). Hawthorne choosing to
let Hester not identify the child’s father is a tremendous amount of feminism. In a feminist
literature article, a noted critic states, “Hester’s silencing becomes an impetus to female
creativity” (Encyclopedia of Feminist Literature).
Another way Hawthorne portrays feminism is the way Hester Prynne decorates her
punishment as if she is proud. In the novel, Hester Prynne is walking through the town square to
step onto the scaffold and the town’s people see the scarlet letter for the first time. The town’s
women murmur, “If we stripped Madam Hester’s rich gown off her dainty shoulders; and as for
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the red letter, which she hath stitched so curiously, I’ll bestow a rag of mine own rheumatic
flannel, to make a fitter one!” (Hawthorne 51). Hawthorne gives Hester an elaborate scarlet A on
her dreary clothing. In a feminist literature, article a noted critic states, “She chooses the toneless
puritan garments and accessorizes with a scarlet A, forgiving mark of the fallen woman that is
her burden for life” (Encyclopedia of Feminist Literature).
The last way Hawthorne portrays feminism is showing how Hester sacrifices her dignity
to make Pearl happy. Hester Prynne is talking to the Governor about whether she will be able to
keep custody of Pearl. Governor Bellingham exclaims, “Nay, we might have judged that such a
child’s mother must needs be a scarlet woman, and a worthy type of her Babylon!” (Hawthorne
100). Hester sews for rich families to take care of Pearl. A feminist literature states, “She
outlines the costumes of upper-class women with embroidered collars, jabots, gloves, and cuffs,
all personal adornment that she denies herself” (Encyclopedia of Feminist Literature)
Most people believe that Nathaniel Hawthorne’s book The Scarlet Letter is a way to
mock the puritan lifestyle. Others may believe Hester Prynne is a true sinner. Nathaniel
Hawthorne portrays Hester Prynne as a true feminist in his book The Scarlet Letter. Although
Hester is thought of as a sinner, the novel goes on to create her into the story’s heroine through
refusing to tell the father of child, decorating the A on her chest, and sacrificing her dignity to
make sure Pearl was happy.
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Works Cited
Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. New York: Bantam Dell, 2003. Print.
Snodgrass, Mary Ellen. "Hester Prynne and Feminist Literature." Encyclopedia of Feminist
Literature. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2006. Bloom's Literature. Facts On File, Inc. 5
Dec. 2013.