Prynne Hesters admirable traits (The Scarlet Letter)
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Prynne Hester’s admirable traits (The Scarlet Letter)
Outline
Introduction
1. Background of the Scarlet Letter’s author.
2. Summary of Prynne Hester’s character.
3. Thesis statement.
B.Analysis of Prynne Hester’s admirable traits.
1. Prynne Hester’s role in the community.
2. Prynne Hester’s actions that prove that she is admirable.
3. Prynne Hester’s admirable ideas
4. The puritan society view concerning Prynne Hester.
5. Life in the puritan society.
C.Conclusion
1. Reasons why Hester is a good role model.
A. Introduction
Nathaniel Hawthorne is credited for coming up with a novel based on emotional and mental truth. He wrote about the puritan society, which brought to the United States from England. The scarlet Letter is a novel about a young woman known as Prynne Hester. She lives in Boston in a puritan society in the 1600’s. She is accused and guilty of committing acts of adultery .Her punishment is having a scarlet letter around her chest. She has to carry the scarlet letter for the period she will be alive (Cañadas, 2006, 44).
This paper seeks to give an analysis of the admirable traits of Prynne Hester, as a woman living in the puritan society.
B. Analysis of Prynne Hester’s admirable traits (The Scarlet Letter)
To be admired by others is a process, which occurs without much effort, and Hester achieves this in many ways. Hester’s character is admirable and this is the reason why she is referred to as the United States first literature heroine. Some of the roles that make her admirable are that of a member of her community, mother, and a woman. During the time the novel was written, women had no say in society and were often stereotyped. Her character is influenced by the forces and other transformations, which affect her life (Cañadas, 2006, 44). Hester is an impetuous and strong-willed woman, who will do anything, to obtain what she wants. Her admirable character is due to the teachings and disciple instilled in her by her parents. Her parents were her guide in life, who ensured that even after they died, their teachings would be remembered. During her affair, her passionate nature is revealed .This shows that in everything she does, she ensures that she gives all her attention.
Through her actions of adultery, her true nature is revealed in many ways. This is because she is alienated and shamed due to her actions .She does not hide, but instead carries the burden of her sin. She did not dare to deny that she had committed the offense, she had been accused of. Hester becomes contemplative about many things in life. Social organization, morality, as well as human nature, are some of the queries she has (Johnson, 1995, 29). There are many tribulations, which affect her, and this make her character to become stronger than before. These questions filled in her mind, lead her to become a free thinker, as well as being stoic. Any woman will admire Hester’s character as she symbolizes a modern woman. Even the novel’s write author admires her, in order for him to write about her in such a way. In the puritan society, women were not to be heard, as they were viewed as inferior beings, when compared to males. Hester betrays the norms held by her society in order to let people know that women deserve their freedom.
Hester has admirable ideas and she makes sure that the society is aware of her intentions. Her independence is desired by many women, but they are too afraid to do anything concerning this matter. Her experiences in life make her be viewed as a mother figure, who is extremely compassionate. Her relationship with her daughter pearl is admirable and most women would love to have such relationships. Hester knows her character well, in that she is fully aware of the fact that she tends to be rash (Johnson, 1995, 31). This sort of behavior can make her loose her daughter, thus finds a solution for dealing with this problem. Her maternal nature is not limited only to her daughter, but also the society as well. Clothing and food are handed out to the poor by her, which shows that she respects the members of her society. She is not wealthy, but the little she has is shared with others.
The women in Hester’s society view her as a mother figure, who is a protofeminist. This means that the shame she experienced before is over as people view her in a completely different way. The women in her society believe that the reason why she was punished is as a result of the male sexism, in the society they live in. The women are suffering from the repercussions of living in a society which is sexist and Hester is their savior. Most of them seek Hester’s help by seeking refuge at her house. She is just like other women, but the only exceptional is her qualities and virtues. She proves to be a capable and intelligent woman in all her actions in life. The events in her life are responsible for making her an admirable woman (Johnson, 1995, 32).
Hester’s character is similar to that of an army knife belonging to a Swiss. In every situation she is in, she makes sure that something substantial comes about. This in turn makes her become extremely powerful, hence influencing many people she meets in her life. Her punishment is meant to be shameful, but she uses tact and innate talent to reverse this situation. She has the ability of transforming something shameful to an admirable one. Later on in life, she is seen as one of the heroines of the puritan society. Being alone and crossing the ocean, shows that she is courageous and adventurous (Wright, 2008, 45). Many women cannot do some of the things she has done, as they are extremely afraid. During the puritan era, women were expected to be married, in order to have children. Those who got children out of wedlock were shunned and viewed as sinners. In the history of the United States, the puritan era is extremely austere. Despite all this taking place, Hester is a single mother, who is completely self-sufficient. Through every means possible she is able to fend for her daughter and make sure that she is comfortable.
Despite being publicly shamed at Massachusetts Bay Colony, she does not leave, but instead faces the community. The scorning and ridicule from society does not seem to bother her as she remains strong in her character. Her charitable instinct makes her help those who are in need of her help. Her attitude and behavior make people want to know more about the scarlet letter. This is because they are beginning to doubt if she committed the offense she is being accused of (Wright, 2008, 45). Hester’s capability is admired by some of the men in her community. In the puritan society it is believed that evil does not affect good people and this is the case of Hester. Her good deeds protect her from being inflicted by misfortunes.
When Hester wrongs other people, her conscience is troubled as well as acute, and finds a way to ensure she obtains forgiveness. The scarlet letter is the source of all of Hester’s problems, yet she is determined to live her life the way she wants it to be. This shows her qualities of hard work and diligence. Hester can no longer be described as being a fallen woman, since she proves that people can influence the outlook of their identity (Sohn, 2005, 59). Even after she goes to England and comes back, she still has on, the scarlet letter. This means that she respects the law regardless of where she is. The law enforcers at Massachusetts see her honesty and tell her to remove the scarlet letter but she declines. She only does this when she believes it is the right thing to do. Pearl is influenced by her mother’s behavior as she is a good mentor and friend to her. Women are denied many things in the puritan society, but through Hester’s natural qualities, she achieves everything she desires .Her imagination and duty are virtues, which play a great role in her life. There are many other adjectives, which can describe her such as creative, impulsive, visionary and graceful (Reid, 2001, 258).
C. Conclusion
In conclusion, Hester’s character is extremely admirable and one cannot become tired of describing her. The puritan society did not value their women and those who did not follow the rules were severely punished. Hester is a woman, who proved that women have a right in society, and sexism rules should be abolished .Her actions are admirable and she is a good example to many women all over the world. She is indeed a great heroine.
Work Cited
Sohn, Jeonghee. Rereading Hawthorne’s Romance: The Problematic of Happy Endings. American Studies Monograph Series, 26. Seoul: American Studies Institute, Seoul National University, 2001.Print.
Reid, Bethany. “Narrative of the Captivity and Redemption of Roger Prynne: Rereading The Scarlet Letter.” Studies in the Novel 33.3 (2001): 247-67.
Cañadas, Ivan. “A New Source for the Title and Some Themes in The Scarlet Letter”. Nathaniel Hawthorne Review 32.1 (2006): 43–51.
Wright, Hardy. Hawthorne’s Haunts in New England. Charleston, SC: The History Press, 2008.Print.
Johnson, Claudia. Understanding The Scarlet Letter. New York: Greenwood Press, 1995.Print.29-35
