Hester Prynne in is publicly humiliated, forced to wear The Scarlet Letter, for physically expressing her love with a man who is not her husband, an act a man in this period would be permitted, if not encouraged, to engage in. Despite this initial antifeminist action, Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter proves to be a tale of female empowerment. Nina Baym writes “Revisiting Hawthorne’s Feminism,” arguing for Hawthorne’s feminist sentiments as well as refuting other’s interpretations.
Baym explains that all of her conclusions about Hawthorne’s feminist ideals sprout from the assumption that Hester, not Dimmesdale nor Chillingworth, is the main character (543). Puritan/tradionalist interpretations as well as gay/queer interpretations are masculine centered finding Dimmesdale and Chillingworth the main characters. Puritan/tradionalist interpretations see The Scarlet Letter as a story of Dimmesdale fighting the temptations of Hester, while gay/queer interpretations see it as a love story between Chillingworth and Dimmesdale (544-546). Many feminists see Hawthorne’s writings as antifeminist all together, claiming Hawthorne felt threatened by “ emergent feminism… in fact, by any sign of women’s desire to improve their lot,” with his only goal being to silence women completely (545).
Once opposing views have been properly explained, Baym begins her argument. Within the first paragraph she powerfully states, “I grant too that if a feminist position must be manifested by plots wherein women live happily ever after on their own terms, Hawthorne fails (548).” While Hester is not blessed with a conventional happy ending, she does remain a valuable member of society. Hawthorne creates a world where women can live without men, though they might not prefer it (549). Nothing is more feminist than independency. Baym argues that Hester’s flaws only make her a stronger feminist character, expressing that feminism does not imply or require a perfect woman (550). While some feminist see Hester continuing to wear the letter as a sign of submission and weakness, Baym believes her resilience shows her strength, Hester not only wears the A, enduring its shame, but she changes its meaning (550).
Although Hawthorne recognizes and addresses the difference between the sexes, Baym argues that this recognition is necessary for social change; a wisdom that Hawthorne, too, possesses (551). Hester “rescues” Dimmesdale by revealing Chillingworth’s true identity, an extremely masculine act (553). Within the puritan/tradionalist perspective Hester is Dimmesdale’s unrelenting temptress, forcing him into a life of sin; however, Baym argues that it is Dimmesdale who manipulates Hester into leaving the town (554). After the use of many more specific examples from many of Hawthorne’s works Baym concludes her argument by suggesting the use of Hawthorne’s writing as inspiration to “reconstruct the social system” to create true equality between the sexes (556).
Baym’s arguments are solid and well articulated. While reading The Scarlet Letter Hester’s strength was constantly being proven; from the beginning when she nobly refuses to speak the father’s name, to when she “rescues” Dimmesdale, to her ability to “bounce back” from the loss of Dimmesdale and continue to be a productive woman in society. If Hawthorne wanted a weak female character, he would have burned Hester at the stake in the second chapter and the rest pf the story would be centered on a male character. Another feminist characteristic of Hawthorne’s piece is that despite Hester’s weaknesses, the men of this story prove to be much weaker. Hester accepts her punishment and improves her situation as best as possible, while in the background Dimmesdale is literally dying of guilt because he is too cowardice to come foreword and Chillingworth is possessed by a desire for revenge.
Hawthorne did create a “man-less” world for Hester. In doing so, he not only had her survive, but she became incredibly successful in her life pursuits (other than love, of course). She transforms her punishment into her blessing, her inspiration. Hawthorne addresses the difference in sex and shows that women are capable of being equals of men, if not surpassing men completely.
It is entirely possible that my gender has affected my thoughts towards this novel, though, generally, being a woman would create an anti-Hawthorne attitude. Bayne did not convince me of these feminist undertones, but she reinforced my beliefs with the equivalent of steel welding support.
WORKS CITED
Baym, Nina. “Revisiting Hawthorne’s Feminism” A Norton Critical Edition: The Scarlet Letter and Other Writings. Leland S. Person New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2005. 541-57
Hawthorne, Nathaniel. A Norton Critical Edition: The Scarlet Letter and Other Writings. Leland S. Person New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2005. 541-57
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