place. The Salem Witch Trials were a series of prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts. There were many reasons as to why this occurred. Economic, racial, and religious divisions greatly influenced this mass hysteria. Women’s increasing power in terms of wealth and education also largely factored into this crisis. During the 1690s, class divisions arose between poor farmers and wealthy merchants in Salem (194). This conflict gave poor farmers motive to accuse…
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Dictionary, feminism can be defined as “the advocacy of women's rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men” (Merriam Webster). However, it can also simply be defined as having pride in one’s own abilities and person. Throughout the novel, Hester Prynne, faces a power struggle between what society tells her to do and what her heart tells her to do. As readers, we see that the answer is not always clear when dealing with society or heart, however in this instance, the result is…
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modern times just as in the past, society scorns girls who do not shy away from their sexuality. Society sees girls’ sexuality as taboo and young ladies are not socially permitted to live a sexually active life or flaunt their promiscuity. A young girl becomes pregnant while she still attends high school. Not only does society judge the girl for being sexually active, it judges only her, not the father of the child. This case happens all to often, where society punishes girls for thier seuxality…
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relevant in today’s society as it relates to women. One of the themes in this novel includes the role that women play in society and how it has changed over the years. In the period that this book takes place women play a lesser role in society than men. Since this time, women have developed their own voice in society similar to the main character Hester Prynne. Hester is a strong independent female and we could learn from her courage. Hester Prynne is forced by the Puritan people to wear a letter…
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American Women's Museum Anne Hutchinson is what we consider a modern-day feminist. She questioned church leaders and challenged the authority men had over society. Anne Marbury was born in 1591, in Alford, Lincolnshire. Her parents were Bridget Dryden and Francis Marbury. Francis was a spiritual preacher in the Church of England. He complained about the poor teaching of the English clergy so he was imprisoned multiple times. Anne married William Hutchinson in 1612, and they had more than a dozen…
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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…
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17th century. Mrs. Hutchinson crossed the Atlantic Ocean from England to start a new life with her husband in the New England Puritanism settlement fronted and governed by John Winthrop, an inspirational Puritan leader. The Hutchinson’s embarked to New England to escape what most English Puritans felt like was the eroding of England, as they knew it. Upon arrival to this new settlement, she began questioning many aspects of the social order composed and maintained by John Winthrop and his followers…
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the struggles of being a woman in a Puritan society. She realized that in a Puritan society, women were not meant to speak their mind and have strong opinions. With this poem she acknowledges her role as a woman in society even if she doesn't agree with it. Anne Bradstreet shows her recognition of men's supposed superiority in that time period with this line: "Men can do best, and women know it well" (40). Regardless of her acknowledgment of her role in society, she uses her poetry to convey her…
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publish her poetry, her writing which follows what was expected in Puritan woman in the seventeenth century. The introduction of new ideas, cultures, and industry changed not only others views on America but the views that society holds itself. Crevecoeur focuses on the role that religion plays on the American people where as Bradstreet did as well. Although Bradstreet in her writings respects the standards and expectations of her Puritan culture she introduces discussion of ideas contrary to the standards…
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emigrate out of England and to the new world. Oliver Cromwell: Oliver Cromwell was an English officer and proclaimed and convince Puritan. He served in England as a paramilitary leader in the English civil war. Once the civil war ended, he became Lord Protector of the Commonwealth in 1653. He is significant to the American Experience because being a massive Puritan leader of the Commonwealth, his power and influence over the Commonwealth…
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