Feminist Critical Analysis of The Scarlet Letter

Feminist Criticism

"When one hears the words "feminist criticism", many picture women’s rights, feminist power and the criticism that feminists use when analyzing and studying others. Some people have the view that it is women reading into things and trying to figure out, many times for good reason, if they are being treated differently and why. However, feminist critique is quite the contrary:
“feminist perspective focuses on the taken for granted as normal roles and rules for men and women in society” (Sellnow, 2009, p. 89).

Feminist criticism examines how men and women are presented in artifacts. The human race has a certain common perspective, whether we acknowledge it or not, that determines how men and women are viewed. “ Feminist perspectives suggest that a dominant ideology controls what people believe as common sense. In this case, however, the dominant ideology focuses specifically on the privileging of men and a masculine perspective over women and a feminine perspective (Sellnow, 2009, p. 89).

Throughout the next several pages we will be analyzing a chapter from "The Scarlet Letter" written by Nathaniel Hawthorne (published - 1850). The two main themes that are used when analyzing with feminist criticism are patriarchy and masculine hegemony. In short, patriarchy describes how the family centers around the man, the head of the household. Whereas masculine hegemony describes that multiple masculinities are considered, but all forms, other than heterosexual masculinity are frowned upon. (Sellnow, 2009, p. 90)

Artifact Summary

Chapter II: The Market-Place

The Scarlet Letter was written by Nathaniel Hawthorne in 1850, but is set in Puritan settled Boston in the 1600 hundreds. It is about a young married woman that commits adultery and bears a child. This was considered to be very shameful, and punishable by the church centered community. The woman, Hester Prynne, gives birth to her child in prison and is made to wear a scarlet "A" on her dress. The A stands for adultery. She is ridiculed and embarrassed for her actions, and their consequences.
The chapter that we will be analyzing discusses when Hester Prynne is released from prison, with the infant, and is made to parade through the town’s people to the Market-Place. This section of the book depicts the reactions of the women and men of the community to Hester, the child, her punishment, and the scarlet letter on her dress.

Artifact Analysis

1. Which male characters might have viewers been encouraged to identify with and which not? Why?
The only male character that viewers may be encouraged to identify with was the man that slightly felt empathetic towards Hester Prynne. As the other women in the community were negatively criticizing her adulterous actions, he appeared to be the only one who felt somewhat sorry for her actions.According to one of the women amongst this conversation that took place in the market-place, Reverend Dimmesdale is one of the characters that we seem to be discouraged to identify with. It was said that he took it  “very grievously to heart” that the act that Hester Prynne committed could have taken place in his church. Another character that the viewers may be discouraged to identify with is the grim beadle that assisted with publicizing Hester’s scarlet letter to the public. The grim beadle made it a point to make sure that she was giving a “fair-sight” in front of the public, so that all that were present in the market-place could witness the embroidered “A” that was on her bosom (Hawthorne, 1850, p. 2).

2. Which female characters might female viewers be encouraged to identify with and which are not? Why?

   There were two particular female characters that female viewers may have been encouraged to identify with. The first character was the “hard-featured dame of fifty”. She believed that the judgment of Hester’s actions should have been left up to the women with good reputation in the church. She stated that if it were up to them, she would not receive as harsh as a sentence as the one the magistrates had given her (death). The second character was labeled as the youngest companion in the market-place in her community. As Hester was getting criticized for her scarlet letter, she was the only one that wished peace upon the negative remarks that were being made. She urged the people of the community not to let Hester hear these remarks, and explained to them that she has already experienced enough pain in her heart (Hawthorne, 1850, p. 2).

There were many female characters that female viewers may not have been discouraged to identify with. The first was a woman who believed that Hester deserved a greater punishment than what she received. She explained to her neighbors that the letter should have literally been branded on her forehead for all to see. This woman believed that the scarlet letter on Hester’s bosom was not a strong enough consequence, because of the fact that it could easily be hidden. Another female character who spoke directly after this woman stated that Hester should certainly die for what she did. She justified her belief by communicating to her neighbors that Hester had defied the Scripture, as well as the “statue-book” (Hawthorne, 1850, p. 2).  The third female character initially complimented her on her crafty skill with the needle (as the letter that Hester bared was exemplified superior stitching), but she seemed to take offense to the fact that Hester took pride in something that should be shameful. She stands up for the magistrates, and explains that what they meant for punishment, Hester transformed as a symbol of repletion(Hawthorne, 1850, p. 3). The final female character was described as “the most iron-visaged of the old dames. She recommended to her neighbors that Hester’s beautiful gown should be taken away from her.  She tells everyone that she would have been willing to offer a “rag” of her own. In a sense, it can be implied that Hester’s clothing and appearance should match the level of ugliness that the scarlet letter is perceived to the common people of this era (Hawthorne, 1850, p. 4).

3. Are certain characters portrayed as more or less desirable than others? If so, what are their characteristics and behaviors?

Hester Prynne, although branded with her scarlet letter, is described as a very desirable person.

"The young woman was tall, with a figure of perfect elegance on a large scale. She had dark and abundant hair, so glossy that it threw off the sunshine with a gleam; and a face which, besides being beautiful from regularity of feature and richness of complexion, had the impressiveness belonging to a marked brow and deep black eyes. She was ladylike, too, after the manner of the feminine gentility of those days; characterised by a certain state and dignity, rather than by the delicate, evanescent, and indescribable grace which is now recognised as its indication” (Hawthorne, 1850, p. 3)

First, the author uses very visual language to make it known that her time in prison had not dampened her beauty, a very important and desirable female trait (especially in literature). Then he continues to describe how she holds her shoulders back, proudly displays her child, and strolls to the gallos with her scarlet letter elaborately shown.

The stitching on her letter also makes her character very desirable. Sewing skills were much admired during the Puritans's time, causing quite a juxtaposition between the symbol of the  letter and the quality of her stitching. 

"She hath good skill at her needle, that's certain," remarked one of her female spectators; "but did ever a woman, before this brazen hussy, contrive such a way of showing it? Why, gossips, what is it but to laugh in the faces of our godly magistrates, and make a pride out of what they, worthy gentlemen, meant for a punishment" (Hawthorne, 1850, p. 3)?

4. Do the subject positions tend to support patriarchy and/or masculine hegemony or do they purport another worldview?

The majority of the subjects appear to support masculine hegemony, or the belief that stronger men dominate weaker ones and women. Their conversations indicate bitterness in the release of the adulteress Hester Prynne, and do not make much mention of the child’s father. Their banter back and forth in disgust of a strong and proud woman, which is illustrated and enhance in their repugnance of her beautiful stitching.

The one male in this chapter who shows the slightest bit of remorse for Hester, remains quiet, indicating he knows his place in this society, and allows the stronger males to enforce their chosen punishment.
I do not think this chapter is necessarily against women as it highlights and reinforces the role they expected to play in the masculine society. The strong men are to remain strong, the weaker men remain quiet, and the women are to remain in their place. The women spectators emphasize this by voicing their opinions on how Hester Prynne should be punished. This illustrates how women also support this society.

Conclusion

The Scarlet Letter was very interesting to analyze as an amazing piece of literature that has transcended time. It was interesting to look at from a feminist criticism point of view because the novel was written and set in at a time much different than ours. During the 19th century women were not viewed as first class citizens. Men were allowed to do things that women barred from, and women were ostracized for things that men light-heartedly took for granted. What I found most interesting from our analysis is how strong Hester Prynne is portrayed, much to the dismay of the townspeople. She does not shy away from her wrongdoings yet embraces them, and holds her head high literally and figuratively through her embellished stitching. Although men did not view women as equal citizens, Hester Prynne certainly understood the amount of intelligence and bravery that she was bestowed with, regardless of the mindset of her Puritan society.
 

Question we pose for our readers:

There is a lot more discussion among the women, moreso than the men. Why do you think the women are more vocal during this poignant part of the story? How does the silence of the men support a masculine hegemony worldview?

References

 
Hawthorne, N. (1850). The Scarlet Letter. Retrieved November 28, 2011 from: http://www.pagebypagebooks.com/Nathaniel_Hawthorne/The_Scarlet_Letter/II_THE_MARKET_PLACE_p1.html
Sellnow, D. (2009). Chapter 6: Feminist Perspectives. The Rhetorical Power of Popular Culture, 89-114.