From the suffragettes who advocated for women’s right to vote in the early 20th century, to the “social justice warriors” on the internet today, feminism has always been an important idea in American culture. Despite being so prominent in daily life, many people have no idea what feminism actually is. This is because the definition of feminism has changed many times. These changes create four different “waves”. According to Pacific University, Fourth wave feminism, the most current definition, is a push for equality for women, with a focus on more marginalized women, such as women of color and women of the LGBT+ community. It also focuses on women being in control of their own lives, and advocates for reproductive rights and control over …show more content…
The first test, the Bechdel test, is one that the novel does pass. According to the Oxford Dictionary, in order to pass the Bechdel test, a story must have at least two named female characters, who have at least one conversation with each other, about something other than a man. The Scarlet Letter has two female characters, Hester and Pearl, who have several conversations that are not about men. The second test is an improved version of the Bechdel test, called the Mako-Mori test. According to The Daily Dot a story must have at least one female character, with her own narrative arc that does not support a male character’s story. One could argue that The Scarlet Letter does pass the Mako-Mori test, but its passing is dubious. Hester does have her own narrative arc, where she struggles over the years to find her place in society, raise her daughter, and redeem herself, but this all seems to lead up to the resolution of Dimmesdale’s narrative arc, where he confesses to his sins. Seeing as one might view Hester’s narrative arc as supporting Dimmesdale’s, some would argue that it does not pass the Mako-Mori test. The final test is the Vito Russo test which determines whether or not a book or film adequately represents people in the LGBT+ community. In order to pass, the story must have at least one clearly stated LGBT character, who is not solely defined by their …show more content…
Society shames Hester for her relationship with Dimmesdale, demeans Pearl for normal, yet unfeminine behavior, the novel does not pass all three tests for feminist works, and Hester does not actually take control of her own life, instead remaining mostly passive throughout the course of the novel. Though it would not fit today’s definition of feminism, The Scarlet Letter would fit earlier definitions of feminism very well. It serves as an example of how society has changed, and the goals of certain movements along with it. As Cecil Palmer said in episode two of the podcast Welcome to Night Vale, “That’s the essence of life isn’t it? Sometimes you go through things that seem huge at the time… while they’re happening, they feel like the only thing that matters and you can hardly imagine that there’s a world out there that might have anything else going on. And then the glow cloud moves on. And you move on. And the event is behind you.” Things of the past that seem important fade over time, until they are no longer relevant at all. Someday, the feminism that people believe in today will seem strange and outdated, but isn’t that the best thing about humanity? There is always room for growth and change in society, and groups will always work for the improvement of the world as a whole. So while The Scarlet Letter no longer fits the definition of feminism, it did spark changes that led to
Reading the Scarlet Letter reminds me of one of my own experience. When I was a fifth grade elementary student, two of my friends and I agreed to cheat on a geography test. On the day of the test, one of my friends was caught. The teacher found the cheat sheet where it showed the handwriting of the three of us. When he was asked who the other two is, he remained silent. The teacher said that he will be punished, standing in the corner of the classroom for one straight week, and it will be lighter if only he told our name. My friend still did not say a word, so he received the punishment. What he did was similar to what Hester Prynne does. In The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Hester Prynne is portrayed as a woman with remarkable strength of character through direct and indirect characterization.
She is not a feminist because the patients view her as a cruel tyrant rather than an equal. Similarly, Hester is mistaken for an elite in her community. In a public gathering, Indians assume “that the wearer of this brilliantly embroidered badge must needs be a personage of high dignity among her people” (368). For the Indians to think this means that she actually is of nobility, and Hawthorne includes this account in his novel to portray this to the reader. The scarlet letter comes to mean much more than a punishment as it becomes part of Hester’s character when she defies cultural gender injustice. By the end of the novel, it reveals that she is someone greater than just an outsider. Although not admitted by the people of the Puritan culture, they view her as an honorable and admirable woman above the others, just as the Indians do. Because others see Hester and Ratched as greater than equals and their struggles as a fight for power rather than equality categorizes them as not
The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, contains many profound characters. The townspeople intrigue the reader because they gradually evolve throughout the book, as would any solitary character. In the beginning of the novel, they are generally rigid and judgmental towards Hester, because she has committed adultery. Throughout the novel, they slowly allow Hester and her daughter into their community, but still look at them with suspicion and doubt. Finally, in the end of The Scarlet Letter, the town forgives her of her sin, and she cautiously finds her place in society. Hawthorne uses the strict Puritan townspeople as a criterion by which all societies can be measured. The townspeople, as with any individual character, possess a certain depth that develops with knowledge.
The narrator notes her change in morals and beliefs: “She had wandered… much amiss” (180). This passage describes Hester’s state of mind and morals after seven years with the scarlet letter. Compared to Dimmesdale, Hester is much wilder, yet also much better adjusted to the weight of her guilt. She has accepted what happened and uses that acknowledgment to shape her views. She has become stronger, more untamed, and more removed from society. Not only does society reject her, but her crime forces her to question morals and dive into her wilder nature. Religion and law no longer work as simple guidelines for her life. Her act is considered a sin, but out of it she got freedom, love, and Pearl. After being cast out, she now looks at society and its rules—the things most people conform to—from a more negative, outsider perspective. The letter gives her a chance to be independent and find what she believes in as opposed to what she's been told to believe in. She rejects society through both these rebellious views, and also through her actions upon coming back to the community. She helps women in the community by offering support and counselling. In such a male dominated society, this is an important step both towards feminism and away from the
...and was outside of the country, everybody hated her. Even though she knows that everybody hates her, Hester never gives up to be forgiven by people. Hester Prynne did many great things for people. She decorated people’s clothes and donated her clothes to the poor. She made money and supported her daughter, Pearl. Hester Prynne could have financial difficulties, but she did everything by herself. Hester Prynne is a very courageous brave woman unlike other women in 1850’s. Because of Hester Prynne’s characteristic, the book became a great feminist novel. Not only Nathaniel Hawthrone did not just make up the story throughout the fiction, but he reflected the real society during his time to a novel which is The Scarlet Letter. Hester Prynne’s role, a strong brave feminist, in the story is one of the best elements that brought The Scarlet Letter to a great novel.
The image that is usually placed with feminism is that of a rabid, bra-burning, lesbian running around disclaiming the patriarchy. It could be that of a mid-century housewife complaining about how her only career choices are between teacher and secretary, or even of a woman with a sash and banner walking in front of the White House; preaching about her right to vote. However, this isn't necessarily the case. Ever since the rise of the internet, in the late 20th Century, feminism has had a revival causing it to grow in popularity and spread across forums everywhere. Women are joining this “third wave” movement to bring an end to the societal injustices that still plague the gender today (qtd. in Haslanger et al.). Feminism currently represents much more than it did in its infantile stage, having evolved to include relevant issues that affect every woman in today’s subordinating world. Issues such as rape culture, slut shaming, abortion and the wage gap have all been adapted into the feminist agenda with the hope that, as a united force, women could bring change to a misogynist society. The bra burning days are over, and feminism is on a rise, bringing light to issues that need to be addressed.
As Third Wave feminism is currently unfolding before us, and its aims encompass a wide array of complex issues, it is often hard to describe what Third Wave feminism is. The feminist theories, mainly associated with First and Second Wave feminism attempt to describe the power imbalances that are found in society, and while doing so expose other oppressions, such as discrimination based on race or sexual orientation. As this essay attempts to place a clear definition to Third Wave feminism, feminists are concurrently trying to deconstruct old definitions and open it up for women to determine what feminism means to them. In other words, no clear definition on what is meant to be a feminist is sufficient, as the Third Wave is about equality and freedom for all citizens, regardless of sex, class, race or sexual orientation.
The purpose of the scarlet letter is not fulfilled according to the author, Nathaniel Hawthorne. It was put upon Hester’s bosom to claim her unholiness but instead the "punishment" served as a way for Hester to grow stronger. The townspeople were the first to see first introduction of Hester. She was looked down on since the branding of the letter “A” upon her bosom. She was a "figure of perfect elegance" compared to the Puritan women of "brief beauty" (Hawthorne pg.: 55, 57). Right from the start, Hester appears to be different from those around her, suggesting a rebellious attitude to the traditions and customs of the time where church and state were still considered to be the central government at the time. She was different from others due to her nature of her being. Hester wasn’t like all other women. If another woman were to be branded an adulteress, that woman would have probably try to keep her sin away from the townspeople and forever keep their peace. Hester on the other hand, had the bravery and boldness in her that did not frighten her to show off what she did wrong. She may have had the intention that...
Nathaniel Hawthorne’s ‘The Scarlet Letter’ was considered by many as the controversial novel of its time, given its themes of pride, sin and vengeance. It was also set in a time when very few were thinking about the equality of of men and women, but Hawthorne managed to bring gender-based inequality to light through the novel’s male-dominated Puritan setting and by reversing the gender roles of characters, such as Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale.
The Scarlet Letter, a classic American novel written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, contains a plot that follows the controversial life of Hester Prynne, the main protagonist of the story. Set in the mid 1600’s in Boston, Massachusetts, it represented the Puritan society and its ideals at that time. Its rich plot has enticed and enraptured readers for many years, while Historical elements have allowed readers to analyze and understand the content better. The Scarlet Letter is a piece of historical fiction that contains a real representation of the period in which it is set in and is mostly historically accurate, barring a few minor inaccuracies.
With a strong female protagonist and two mentally weak males, it is hard to consider Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter anything but a feminist treatise. He obviously intended to put down not only Puritanism, which is an obvious aspect of the novel, but to establish a powerful, secure female in American literature. Hester proves, although she has sinned in the past, she can confront her mistakes, take care of herself and her child, and help others at the same time. She can withhold a position in society that many can respect because of her character something the males of the story obviously could not succeed at doing.
Multiracial Feminism: Recasting the Chronology of Second Wave Feminism introduces ideas by Becky Thompson that contradict the “traditional” teachings of the Second Wave of feminism. She points out that the version of Second Wave feminism that gets told centers around white, middle class, US based women and the central problem being focused on and rallied against is sexism. This history of the Second Wave does not take into consideration feminist movements happening in other countries. Nor does it take into consideration the feminist activism that women of color were behind, that centered not only on sexism, but also racism, and classism as central problems as well. This is where the rise of multiracial feminism is put to the foreground and a different perspective of the Second Wave is shown.
The Scarlet Letter uses a strong female character, Hester Prynne, as a social critique for the treatment
The Role of Women in the Novel The Scarlet Letter Women are perceived to be the weaker sex in the society but in them possess an ultimate potential and plenty of power. According to Hawthorn in the original novel The Scarlet Letter, narrates a story about Hester Prynne, a woman who has subjected ill treatment by being a mother of a child whose father is unknown to the Boston settlement society (Hawthorne). As the story unfolds in the novel, Hester Prynne is taken from the prison to the scaffold to stand judgment before the magistrate because she is accused adultery. The women in the entire Boston society suffer significantly on the gender-based challenges and constant manipulation from all members of the community.
Advocate for Women’s Rights and Self-identity In the novel The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne reveals that women have absolute potential, strong personality and the ability to explore and transform the entire society. Nathaniel Hawthorn narrates a story about Hester Prynne; a woman who has subjected the ill treatment and discrimination for being a mother of a child whose father was unknown to the Boston settlement society. As the story unfolds in the novel, Hester Prynne is taken from the prison to the scaffold to stand judgment before the magistrate because she is accused of adultery. From the novel, Hester Prynne by being a woman is exposed to an inquiry to affirm and confess the name of the biological father of her daughter Pearl.