Reclaiming the Anti-Feminist Stigma in The Scarlet Letter

The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, revolutionizes ideas about gender through the portrayal of Hester Prynne, the self-empowered heroine of the novel. The 19th century novel demonstrates the ways in which a woman can be the agent of her own liberation. Meanwhile, characters like Dimmesdale prove the hypocrisy of the Puritanical society. These two characters cause a duality that elicits a sense of criticism. Since there is such a clear distinction between the motivations of Hester and Dimmesdale, Hawthorne asserts the idea that one position is superior to the other. Hester’s intrepidity to disrupt social order by reclaiming the stigma of the scarlet letter, all while maintaining her title as the protagonist, confirms Hawthorne’s stance as a progressive-feminist author.

Sacvan Bercovitch notes in “The A-Politics of Ambiguity”, Hawthorne “depends on our interpretation” of the scarlet letter to determine whether or not the scarlet letter has “done its office” (456). However, this isn’t to say that Hawthorne doesn’t strategize a way to influence our view. By making Hester redeemable through her character traits our tendency to sympathize with her “leads us, as it did Hester, into conflict”, and it is imperative to recognize this as an intentional tactic by Hawthorne (Bercovitch 459). Conflict surrounds the entirety of the plot and our interpretations because “conflict forces us to take active positions in active oppositions” (Bercovitch 459). By taking positions we are inherently making the point that there is a scale that differentiates these characters. Looking for the most obvious sign, gender resonates as a huge component that sets our protagonist apart from Dimmesdale. The women that scorn her are used to resemble the unconscionable woman with no morality, while Hester symbolizes the exact opposite. Hawthorne is suggesting that submitting to society’s expectation, as the matrons have, perpetuates an injustice. Therefore, they only highlight the power that Hester epitomizes.

The complexity of Hawthorne’s goals is explained in “Revisiting Hawthorne’s Feminism”, by Nina Baym, who stresses the difference between the “true woman” and “true man” (573). Hester embodies virtuous characteristics which stem from love. The initial reason she doesn’t give up Dimmesdale as Pearl’s father is because she loves him. She doesn’t get caught up in bitterness over the fact that she is being punished alone, because she is more concerned for his well-being. The same could be said when Hester comes clean to Dimmesdale about Chillingworth’s identity. She can’t stand back and watch him disintegrate before her eyes, even though Dimmesdale left her alone to take the brunt of the heat to save his own reputation.

Dimmesdale’s reputation and status seems to be of more importance to him, even though the guilt is taking an emotional and physical toll on him. Baym refers to the scene in the forest where Dimmesdale pleads for Hester’s help saying, “Be thou strong for me! Advise me what to do” (119). The repetition of the word “me” shows selfishness on Dimmesdale’s part. He is so wrapped up in his own troubles that he fails to see the effects of his actions from a larger perspective. Hawthorne juxtaposes Dimmesdale’s disconnect with Hester’s sympathetic nature. Contrary to what gender roles normally imply, here we see Dimmesdale needing to be rescued by a woman. This insinuates that a man’s ego hinders his ability to enforce social change.

The fact that the power to challenge social constructs lies in the hands of Hester highlights how Hawthorne disputes the Puritanical belief that women are a weaker force. This parallels the life of Anne Hutchinson who also brought attention to her feminist ideologies despite it going against what was deemed acceptable. Similarly to Anne’s efforts, Hester is able to break through barriers by embracing her independence. Society has marked her with the scarlet letter, because of her adultery, to bring her shame. However, unlike Dimmesdale, Hester lives in the truth of her sin and accepts the punishment. As Baym notes, this gives new meaning to the letter “to signify something entirely different-able, admirable” (563). Hester is capable of handling the stigma and wrath of public opinion which only makes her stronger. With this newfound strength Hester becomes a character of great courage. This is exemplified when the governor wants to take Pearl away from her and she exclaims, “Ye shall not take her! I will die first!” (Hawthorne 72).

Hester is fiercely protective of those she loves and is willing to risk her livelihood for them. This is why Baym declares that “people look up to her” (574). Despite her adultery, Hawthorne demonstrates another side of Hester, reminding the reader that placing brash judgement on someone is not of our authority. The persecution of Hester should have never been in the hands of the Puritan magistrates. Hawthorne implies that such power lies solely in the hands of God, which is why although the contrived stigma by man does not withstand time, Pearl’s existence does.

Similarly to the stigma that surrounds Hester, Dimmesdale’s fate meets its end because he was unable to admit to his fragmented truth (Bercovitch 464). He paraded around preaching one way of life but was living another. This type of hypocrisy tied with his Puritan faith leads the reader to believe that Hawthorne is provoking the readers disapproval. Meanwhile, Hawthorne uses Dimmesdale to showcase the importance of Hester. The outcome of Dimmesdale’s actions takes a tragic turn because he does not see that same value in Hester. Instead of standing by her, his weakness makes him the victim. His rejection of Hester doesn’t affect her in the same way, because Hester is still able to thrive, proving she never needed a man to begin with.

Contrary to Dimmesdale, Hester becomes “the agent of her own domestication” (Bercovitch 461). She ends up playing an integral part in the community by helping others deal with sorrow. She refers to the badge and says, “this badge hath taught me,—it daily teaches me,—it is teaching me at this moment,—lessons whereof my child may be the wiser and better, albeit they can profit nothing to myself” (Hawthorne 71). Living by this notion, she exemplifies how her experiences have given her a purpose. Through all of the struggles she has faced, she is able to raise Pearl and teach her valuable lessons about triumph. She doesn’t shield Pearl from the harsh realities of society, because as we see with Dimmesdale concealing the truth does not lead to prosperity. Even dressing Pearl in bright red, resulting in a connection to the letter she wore, Hester is showing Pearl how to never shy away from who she is, and walk with pride no matter what people thought.

Hawthorne crafts Hester in a way that doesn’t diminish the mistakes she has made, but at the same time celebrates her humanity in making them. As Bercovitch clarifies, the scarlet letter doesn’t restrict Hester, because she “has learned how to restrict herself” (461). The message that Hester relays is that she is the one in control, as she chooses to wear the symbol according to her own conditions, and returns to New England on her “own free will” ( Hawthorne 154). This is an important sentiment to note as Hawthorne concludes that Hester has become successful by becoming the “vehicle of social change” (Bercovitch 463).

The desire to protect the progressive change that Hester leads becomes prevalent in the conclusion of the novel. Hester is left assuring women that there would be a “brighter period, when the world should have grown ripe for it, in Heaven’s own time, a new truth would be revealed, in order to establish the whole relation between man and woman on a surer ground of mutual happiness” (Hawthorne 155). Hawthorne leaves us with the notion of change and promise and hints at an equality between genders. The only way to reach an enriched life is to value a woman’s happiness just as much as a man’s, because just like Hester, her contribution to society can make all the difference.

Works Cited:

Baym, Nina. “Revisiting Hawthorne’s Feminism.” Nathaniel Hawthorne Review 30 (Fall & Spring 2004): 32-55

Bercovitch, Sacvan. “The A-Politics of Ambiguity in The Scarlet Letter.” Nathaniel Hawthorne Review 22.2

Hawthorne, Nathaniel, and Leland S. Person. The Scarlet Letter and Other Writings. 2nd Norton Critical Ed., W. W. Norton et Company, 2017, 2005.

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