completed on 11/18/19

Historically, there have been three waves of feminism. The first wave took place between 1848–1920. First-wave feminism focuses on the strength of women and it emerged because women were tired of oppression and inequality. It also aimed to give women more freedom in the areas of family responsibilities, education, and the economy. This early brand of feminism was marked by the rise of women's rights conventions that started happening all over the United States, the first one being held in Seneca Falls, New York in 1848. In addition to the spread of such conventions, first-wave feminism also begins to appear in the literature at the time, and it is clearly a part of Nathanial Hawthorne's novel ​The Scarlet Letter​. In ​The Scarlet Letter​, Hawthorne's character Hester Prynne is the epitome of a first-wave feminist. What readers see in Hester is a woman who embraces the early feminist progressive ideas of Nathaniel Hawthorne's times of the mid-19th century. I explore three examples where Hester acts like a 19th-century feminist.

So, what kind of textual evidence can we find of first-wave feminism in ​The Scarlet Letter​? What we see are several different types of symbolic representation of feminism. One of the first symbols we see in the novel that represents the oppression of women is the scarlet letter A. In the 17th century when Hester's character lived, public punishment was often practiced. In Hester's case, she had a child with a man who was not her husband. At that time, having a child out of wedlock was considered the crime of adultery. Having the woman who committed that crime to wear the letter A on her clothes exposed her sin and showed the community that she committed adultery. This historical practice of the letter A shows that the practice of publicly shaming women is an example of unfair treatment. The scarlet letter represents a few meanings, shame and also personal growth. But for the character of Hester, she refuses to take on the associated shame when she is forced to wear the letter. In a move that is more like the first-wave feminism of Hawthorne's time more so than the Puritanical setting of the novel, Hester changes the meaning of something that is a stigma through her actions. For instance, Hester earns enough money by being a seamstress. When describing Hester's beautiful needlework, Hawthorne writes,

It was the art- then, as now, almost the only one within a woman's grasp — the needlework. She bore on her breast, in the curiously embroidered letter, a specimen of her delicate and imaginative skill, of which the dames of court might gladly have availed themselves, to add the richer and more spiritual adornment of human ingenuity to their fabrics of silk and gold (470).

In other words, Hester used her sewing skills to make the letter look beautiful. By making the letter stand out on her clothes, Hester shows that she is proud to have the A on her. She is not ashamed of her sin. This pride is an example of first-wave feminism. Hester defies society by not letting society's attempts to oppress her take her down. She does not let the A stop her from living and working, which is an example of an early feminist action. Her independence economically is one of the factors that allows her to be seen as a strong first-wave feminist figure, not an emblem of shame.

In addition to defying the stigma of the letter A, Hester was also a successful business-woman and made her own living. Hawthorne describes how the government officials would go to Hester when they needed a seamstress. He writes, "Her needle-work was seen on the ruff of the Governor; military men wore it on their scarves, and the minister on his band…" (471). Men who were in power wore her designs. Because powerful people supported her financially, she became more powerful and respected in the needlework industry. Despite her adulterous reputation, she still managed to support herself and her daughter, Pearl, because she was successful at needlework. Being able to support herself made her independent and more respected among her community. Her exemplary needlework skills gave her power. Being able to support herself economically helped her gain respect, which was part of what led to the change of the meaning of the Scarlet A. Both resisting the negative stereotypes of the letter A and running a successful business are examples of first wave feminist activity and the growing empowerment of women to support themselves.

It is useful to note that anytime Hawthorne talks about Hester in this way, he is reflecting on the feminism of his time. He transports 19th-century feminism into the Puritan world of the novel. But, clearly, the character of Hester shows parallels to Sojourner Truth. Truth was a women's rights activist. In her speech, "Ain't I A Woman?" at the Women's Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio in 1851, Truth exclaims, "I have as much muscle as any man, and can do as much work as any man…I am as strong as any man that is now." Here, Truth claims that women are stronger than men and that women have to be better than any man to be seen as strong. Clearly, Hester has to go above and beyond to show that she is strong and better than Chillingsworth and Dimmesdale. Both Hester and Truth are empowering feminism through their strength and actions. They transformed their identity even when stigmatized. Similarly to Truth, Hester is ​potent, determined, and hard-working, all of which are qualities of first-wave feminists.

Another way that Hawthorne uses 19th-century feminism to characterize Hester's actions is when she chose to wear the Scarlet A. In the conclusion of the novel, Hester returned to New England and chose to wear the Scarlet A, again, even when it was not necessary. People questioned her reasoning for wearing it again when she had earned her right to not wear it. Hawthorne writes,

But there was a more real-life for Hester Prynne, here, in New England, than in that unknown region where Pearl had found a home. Here had been her sin; here, her sorrow; and here was yet to be her penitence. She had returned, therefore, and resumed, -of her own free will, for not the sternest magistrate of that iron period would have imposed it, -resumed the symbol of which we have related so dark a tale (568).

In other words, Hester chose to wear the symbol because it is a defying act against society. Again, this act of defiance is a clear expression of Hawthorne exploring feminism. Hester uses free-will and free-will is empowering. Part of the struggle of feminism is that women had to be better than men. In order to be seen as equals, women had to go above and beyond what men do. Hester is even stronger than men. Like in the quote above, Hester outplays society in the game of hypocrisy and equality. Wearing the A is an act of protest against men. She wore the A by choice, not force, which shows her independence, strength, and courage in an act of defiance in the face of oppression, stigma, and shame. The scarlet A has become a part of Hester's identity. Not only is Hester not ashamed, she has worked to redefine the meaning of the A.

Other parallels to first-wave feminism between Hester's strength and courage can be seen in the work of 19th-century feminist Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Hester shows parallels to Stanton in terms of her strength and actions to be independent. Stanton was a women's rights activist who primarily worked to earn women the right to vote. In the "Declaration of Sentiments," Stanton writes, "Such has been the patient sufferance of the women under this government, and such is now the necessity which constrains them to demand the equal station to which they are entitled." Here, Stanton claims that women want free-will and equality. Hester advocated for equal rights and freedom of choice by her actions of wearing the Scarlet Letter. Both Staton and Hester were strong and made their own choices independently. Elizabeth's husband Henry Stanton was opposed to the women's suffrage movement where Elizabeth was a leader. Because of their disagreements on the topic of women's rights, Elizabeth often had to choose her work over her husband. Hester acted similarly to that and chose to work and raise Pearl alone rather than with help from a husband. These similar actions demonstrate strength and bravery. Stanton helps readers understand Hester and her opinions on marriage better. Hester also chose her work and herself and her daughter over Chillingsworth and Dimmesdale, which is an example of a first-wave feminist action. By continuing to wear the A by choice and working hard, Hester proves that she is free-willed, unconventional, and self-sufficient. Like Stanton, Hester was able to make her own decisions.these virtues are that of early feminist leaders. All of those qualities appeared when Hester returned and continued to wear the scarlet A.

Last but not least, a way that Hawthorne uses 19th-century feminism to characterize Hester's actions is when Hester raised her daughter, Pearl, by herself. Pearl grew up to be successful and happy. Hester raised her without the help of a man. When the government threatened to take Pearl away from her, Hester exclaims, "God gave me the child. He gave her in requital of all things else, which she had taken from me. She is my happiness! … Thou shall not take her! I will die first!" (487). This scene shows Hester's forward-looking 19th-century feminism because she raised a child all on her own without the help of a man. She also did not get married. She was resilient, brave, and strong, similarly to 19th-century author Fanny Fern.

Hester demonstrates parallels to Fern because of her strength and lack of dependence on men. Fern writes in her passage, "Aunt Hetty on Matrimony," "'Now girls,' said Aunt Hetty, 'put down your embroidery and worsted work; do something sensible, and stop building air-castles. And talking of lovers and honey-moons. It makes me sick; it is perfectly antimonial. Love is a farce; matrimony is a humbug, husbands are domestic Napoleons" (894). Both Hester and Fern are strong and are not dependent on husbands. They both teach their children to be resilient and self-sufficient. Although Fern did marry, after her first husband died, her father forced her to marry again, even though she did not want to. Her second marriage was a disaster because her husband was abusive. Fern showed strength and courage by moving out and taking her children with her, which was seen as a scandal during her time. In comparison, Hester also walked out on two men, Chillingsworth and Dimmesdale. Hester and Fern both liberated themselves from society's typical stereotypes in terms of family responsibilities. Hester's actions connect to what Fern thought about the falsity of marriage and men. Like Fern, Hester is a prime example of not needing a man. Hester is strong-willed, virtuous, and she is always better than the men around her, all qualities of a first-wave feminist.

In conclusion, by the end of ​The Scarlet Letter,​ the symbol of the Scarlet A no longer represents shame. Over time, the Scarlet A "…meant Able; so strong was Hester Prynne, with a woman's strength" (514). ​She was just as strong and able as any man and people gained respect for her ableness, strength, independence, and courage. This change of the meaning of the Scarlet A highlights Hester's personal growth and the growth and respect of acceptance of women in society. ​Hester's feminist actions show parallels to women of the 19th century, such as Sojourner Truth, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Fanny Fern. They are strong, independent, and are always courageous. Hawthorne incorporates the actions of Hester to mid-19th-century feminist ideals, so we can see that Hester's actions demonstrate feminism.

Works Cited

Elizabeth, Stanton C., ​Declaration of Sentiments​. Printed at the Gazette Office, 1841. Levine, Robert S. ​The Norton Anthology of American Literature​. 9th ed., B, W.W. Norton &

Company, 2017. ​Aunt Hetty on Matrimony. ​Fanny Fern, pp. 894–5. Levine, Robert S. ​The Norton Anthology of American Literature​. 9th ed., B, W.W. Norton &

Company, 2017. ​The Scarlet Letter. ​Nathaniel Hawthorne, pp. 451–569.

Levine, Robert S. ​The Norton Anthology of American Literature​. 9th ed., B, W.W. Norton & Company, 2017. ​Speech to the Women's Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio, 1851, ​Sojourner Truth, pp. 787.