The Scarrlet Letter :: essays research papers

The Scarrlet LetterAs citizens of the united States and members of the most open society in the world it is difficult for us to picture a world where the phrases womans rights, equal opportunity, and religious freedom nurture little meaning. When the surface of American history is scratched, not necessarily late a past of limited rights for women is soon revealed. The challenge to any gen geological erator comes in painting a picture of this colonial past to some(prenominal) current readers and readers to come. Nathaniel Hawthorne In his book The Scarlet Letter successfully meets this task finished the character of Hester Prynn. Hawthorne describes a woman with independence ahead of her time and a social order unprepared to accept her.Hesters independence was promptly present at the novels beginning. The court has ruled as punishment for her adultery she must(prenominal) wear an A upon her chest, that to the colonist served as a reminder of the punishment they would plunk for if their sins were to be discovered, and to Hester a reminder of sin. Hester stands alone outside the court stick out as the close minded colonial eyes stare at her and the baby in her arms. Many women during this era of American history would account for a way to run. Hester shows little sign of uneasiness, with exception to her firm bobby pin on the infant. At the conclusion of this scene the reader knows that this is a gruelling woman trying to maintain dignity in a territory were a womans independence ranked right above blasphemy on the hierarchy of values.Throughout the novel Hester demonstrates her independence of living. Her husband never comes forward, and her caramel does the same. With everyone denying relations Hester is forced to live alone. She ascents the child by herself and is successful in her enterprise of sewing and hemming. Hawthorne informs us that this life vogue of isolationism is unique to her, and convinces us that an norm colonial woman could not survive under these conditions. At this smudge in the book Hester has shown her independence in dealing with lifes crisis, and in her style of living.The best way to understand a parents personality is to examine how they raise their children. This idea holds true when one examines closely the techniques Hester uses to raise Pearl. In this era of religious totality, independence of thought, and the teachings of those ideals commanded little