A Feminist Perspective On Hawthorne's Feminist Consciousness In The Scarlet Letter

Nathaniel Hawthorne is one of the most influential writers in American literature in 19th century. His novel The Scarlet Letter published in 1850 ensures his permanent fame in literature. In this novel Hawthorne sets his story in the 17th century American Boston under the rule of Puritan magistrates. Taking Hester's adultery being found and punished as a clue, Hawthorne depicts the characterization of the protagonist Hester and explores women's inner world and their fate. This thesis is to explore his feminist consciousness embodied in The Scarlet Letter by applying feminist critical theories and methodology. Feminist criticism is women-centered criticism, dealing with female images, female writing and female reading and trying to explore the distorted female images and their feminist consciousness in male-authored works. Feminist criticism also concerns female writers and their writings and encourages women themselves to create their own literature in their own language to subvert male-dominated culture. Recently feminist criticism turns to discussing and confirming women's value based on women's experience and their feeling about life. Hawthorne's living experience leads to the creation and success of The Scarlet Letter. Through the analysis of the text, especially the characterization of the protagonist Hester, we find that Hawthorne has feminist consciousness which is rare in other male writers. Hester, an adulteress, is cast off in the marginal place of the patriarchal society, but Hawthorne purposely put her in the center of his story, endowing her with a position of subjectivity. As to her disobedience and rebellion against the male-dominated society, Hawthorne offers his great sympathy, and shows his appreciation for her personal qualities. Hester is depicted as a feminist precursor whose rebellion and feminist thought bring about some social changes. It is Hawthorne's feminist consciousness that contributes to the successful creation of a rebellious woman Hester, which helps us understand the existing situation of women and causes people to attach great importance to women's experience and value.