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Hanna O-Lee

Mr. Bowler

English 10 Honors

04 Apr. 2019

Hawthorne as a Feminist

Nathaniel Hawthorne writes ​The Scarlet Letter​ in 1850 about a Puritan society, set in the

1640s, with dark sin buried deep beneath strict religious law and acceptable ways of life.

Contrary to the ideal femininity of the time, Hester Prynne represents an anomaly to social

perfection as a Puritan, as a woman, and as a person. From the beginning of her story as a

prisoner jailed for adultery, she experiences a long series of public humiliation and moral

repentance for her crime. Hawthorne portrays women in a negative light, as viewed through the

feminist theory lense.

Hawthorne fails to present a complete and well-rounded view of women throughout the

novel. The desired femininity at the time of a quite, delicate woman contrasts with the town’s

men-like women introduced as having “broad shoulders and well-developed busts…on round

and ruddy cheeks” (44). The physical features Hawthorne choses to highlight reflect his

incomplete perception of women, where strength is described as a masculine, not feminine, trait.

Strength, in this sense, is expressed through a well-built physical frame, instead of being

measured by actions. The Puritan era was also strongly influenced by superstition with a dislike

toward supernatural beings and witches, so Mistress Hibbins, who is seen as the witch of the

town, is completely contradictory to the perfect Puritan woman with “her ill-omened

physiognomy,” separating her from both the ideal woman and reality woman type (93). This
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negative connotation illustrates Hawthorne’s choice of diction and tone when addressing the

women, as opposed to when addressing the men. Although women are not given a complete and

justified portrayal in the novel, they still possess certain strengths and weaknesses to serve their

purpose in society.

Women’s weaknesses seem to be in their self-righteous nature. On the other hand, their

strength lies in their firm religious belief, for while the public is arguing about the magistrates’

decision on Hester Prynne’s punishment, the townswomen claim themselves to be justified for

demanding a harsher sentence since they are “church members in good repute” (44). This woman

uses their reputation as faithful churchgoers to reason why the scarlet letter does not serve as an

adequate retribution for the crime. Such statement encapsulates the notion of female sanctimony

above the authority of the men. In the midst of the dispute about Hester Prynne’s punishment, a

man in the crowd exclaims, “is there no virtue in woman, save what springs from a wholesome

fear of the gallows?” (45). By questioning their virtue, he retorts against their vivid

dissatisfaction towards the rightful authority of the religious council. In this way, Hawthorne

portrays a weakness in women’s judgemental attitude towards themselves, men, and sinners. As

a result of male superiority and the subsequent lack of female power, the women must acquiesce

with the rulings of the male jurisdiction.

The men seem to hold the political power of the society in the book. Faced with

discontent at the judges’ decision, the women are forced to comply with “such a sentence as the

worshipful magistrates have awarded” (44). Although the townswomen utilize their strength of

being self-righteous in the name of the church, they stand powerless against male political rule.

The lack of the female representation allows for the men to make all executive decisions for the
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town and decide amongst themselves what is best for society. In terms of moral power, the

magistrates, church/government, and townspeople hold the ability to persuade their fellow

Puritans to satisfy the desires of the majority; however, women at the hearing of Hester Prynne’s

release from jail argue that “the magistrates are God-fearing gentlemen, but merciful overmuch”

in their actions which aim to uphold moral law (44). The magistrates’ failure to meet the

women’s satisfaction in assigning an adequate punishment to the sinner and their decision in

giving Hester the scarlet letter anyway exactly represents the lack of female political

representation to take action on their opinions. The officials of the church and government are all

distinguished men, applauded for their purity and leadership while the townspeople, including

women with a small degree of moral authority or judgement, ensure the execution of higher

orders made by the governors and ministers. No official entity with political power includes

female representatives, for people in the 17th century are under the impression that the men are

the best suited for authority.

When examining ​The Scarlet Letter​ through the feminist theory lense, women are

portrayed in a negative light. Hawthorne illustrates an incomplete picture of women as he fails to

present them through a complete and well-rounded view, points out their weaknesses in their

self-righteous nature, believes their strengths to be their firm religious belief, and declares men to

hold the political power of the society. Most authors, including Hawthorne, present women in the

traditional feminine role where they take care of the household and children in complete

obedience to her husband. To create a more balanced and fair representation of women in

literature, women and strength should not be separate concepts. Female independence and
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individuality should be emphasized in order to highlight their political, economic, and social

lives outside the home where women and men live as equal members of society.
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Works Cited

Hawthorne, Nathaniel. ​The Scarlet Letter​. Edited by Paul Moliken, Amber Reed, and Lisa M.

Miller, Prestwick House, Inc., 2005.