Feminism In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter

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What is feminism? Feminism is the support for political, social, and economic between men and women. A majority of the feminist fight for the rights of all women, no matter who you are. There have been three waves of feminism movements since the late 1840's. For example during the second wave of feminism which fought for the equality for women and end of sexism. There are many more movements of feminism to come even as time passes and society advances. Novels often display real life issues that are in society. In the Scarlet Letter written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, feminism viewpoints can be visible throughout a majority of the novel, but are not addressed with the main character Hester and even her daughter, Pearl. Women who submit to the hidden written rules of society and the roles of women are less prone to be judged for questioning the responsibilities of women in society. To begin, feminism can be illustrated through Hester's action to become independent. She becomes a seamstress, although Hester was humiliated in front of the whole town and ridiculed for being an adulterer, "She possessed an art that sufficed, even an in a land that afforded comparatively little scope for its exercise, to supply food for her thriving …show more content…
Hester takes off her A, "She had not known the weight until she felt the freedom" (139)! Hawthorne highlights that Hester is able to achieve happiness without the Scarlet Letter. The symbol of the red letter "A" which she was forced to wear for her sin after seven years of her punishment. There is a liberation from her punishment. Underneath the negativity of the Scarlet Letter, there is an integrity. A personal achievement caused Hester to forgive herself as a sinner and move on. Hester was able to move on while Dimmesdale could not accept the sin that he committed years ago. A woman's liberation lets Hester break free from the chains which were holding her down for many