Protofeminism in The Scarlet Letter
Assignment
Name: Asha R. Dhedhi
Roll no: 02 (Two)
Semester: 03 (Part-2)
Year: 2020-2021
Paper No.: 11
Paper: The Postcolonial Literature
Enrollment No:
2069108420200010
Email ID:
ashadhedhi1806@gmail.com
Submitted to: Smt. S.B.Gardi Department of English
Introduction
Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel "The Scarlet Letter," a tale of adultery, betrayal and love becomes very important to study from the Protofeminism point of view. Because it was a time when the Feminism movement was still not there. And The feministic narratives or discourse written before the term Feminism was invented known as Protofeminism. So, Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel "The Scarlet Letter" which published in 1850 became more of Proto-Feminist text instead of Feminist narratives. So, Let's analyse The Scarlet Letter as Proto-Feminist novel.
What is Protofeminism?
"A philosophical tradition anticipating modern feminist concept before their arrival."
(From Wiktionary)
So, Proto Feminism is a term used to define feminism which is prevail in Society and even in literature before the feminist movement started. Protofeminism is also a term used to define women in a philosophical tradition that forecast modern feminist concepts, when the term feminism is unknown and still not in use. So, Feminist movement is largely prior to 20th century but Protofeminism is term used to define 18th or 19th century.
The Scarlet Letter as Proto-Feminist Novel
The Scarlet Letter remains perhaps the most notable work written by an American Author Nathaniel Hawthorne centered around the values and tradition of Puritan Society. And how a lady name dismantled these values by developing her relationship out of marriage. So, The text become an interesting topic study it from feminist point of view. And the text is written when the Man is in a superior position and women are oppressed within the patriarchal notion of Society. So, The Scarlet Letter is indeed a Proto-Feminist text, let's analyse the text with textual references.
In 'Hawthorne's Feminine Voices: Reading The Scarlet Letter as Woman' Suzan Last argues that…
"The narrative contains many passages that characterize the narrator as a champion of patriarchal values"
(Suzan Last)
Puritan Society is very conservative and traditional in its ways of living and within that particular society raising a voice against Man dominated Society became much more ridk8 as hard. So, with the use of distinctly Feminine narrative technique , the writer tries to dismantle the patriarchal world and it's values and this "narrative technique has the effects of creating a narrative big radical sympathy for women suffering under patriarchal oppression."(Suzan Last)
Suzan Last further lists out some of the differences between Feminine and Musculine discourse. Saying that Feminine discourse is time and again written from various perspectives, rather than from a 'one subjective discourse.' So, Feminine discourse does not follow typical structure like beginning-middle-end and It is open-ended which possess 'plurality of meaning.' So, When we look at The Scarlet Letter we find Feminine discourse and qualities. There is also much more ambiguity which does not allow readers to find any clear cut interpretation. They are free to do Whatever explanation they want.
There is no proper beginning in Novel, it seems it is starting from in-between and that raises so many questions about Why She is in prison.
"Hawthorne's use of an omniscient narration style allows the novel to reveal the contrasting perspective of several characters.
Hester Prynne stands alone apart from Puritan community. She is living in a Puritan Society but almost like a non-member of Puritan world. According to Puritan Society adultery is a crime but there she is alone who does not consider herself as a culprit or sinner even in the front of God. When Hester is called to make an interrogation in the Governor's Office regarding proving her mother was. She confidently defended herself and said to Reverend Mr. Wilson that….
"God gave me the child!...He gave her in requital of all things else which you had taken from me. She is my happiness! She is my torture, none the less! Pearl keeps me here in life! Pearl punishes me, too! She is the Scarlet Letter and so endowed with millionfold the power of retribution for my son!"
(Hester Prynne from The Scarlet Letter)
Hester in The Scarlet Letter is rather a Free independent spirit, who follows her own conscience instead of what Society attributes to her. The novel creates sympathetic sentiments towards Hester Prynne though she has committed sin according to Victorian Society. And readers at the end see her more as a heroin instead of heathen. And This sense of compassion and understanding for Prynne's character can be seen as 'The Scarlet Letter' as a more of Proto-Feminist Novel.
In (The Scarlet Letter) a much more profound sympathy with female oppression than is usually to be
found in male text.
(Suzan Last)
Hester as 'Free Lovers'
One article written by Jesse F. Battan named "You cannot Fix the Scarlet Letter on My Breast!': Women Reading, Writing and Reshaping the Sexual Culture of Victorian America" discusses the Reconstruction of gender roles within Victorian Society and this was brought by a group of Victorian women in the 19th century known as "Free Lovers." So, Battan compares these Hester Prynne with these Feminist women and states that…
"Throughout the last half of the 19th century it was precisely the kind of woman symbolized by Hester Prynne who would emerge as confident and discontented and as a prophet of regenerated emotional life."
(Jesse F. Battan)
So, Hester resists against the so-called patriarchal notion like modern feminists, And Battan points out that Hester will never be able to fit in the so -called notion of 'catalyst' reserved for women in Victorian Society. According to stereotypical notions of Victorianism women should be pure and beautiful while Hester Prynne "stained with sin bowed down with shame or even burdened with a life-long sorrow." (Jesse Battan)
Hester as Independent Woman
There also one important characteristic of Hester's character which categorise The Scarlet Letter into Proto-Feminist text rather than fully Feminist.
Hawthorne characterizes Hester as an independent and intelligent woman but she is still held back because of her gender. She individually stands against Society and defied tradition and convention of society. She goes against societal rule by deciding not to give father's name to her daughter. She is firm on her decision and decides not to reveal father's name. The authorities can punish her but they cannot force her to reveal her secret.
Hester's reaction and acceptance of the punishment given to her can be seen as an model of Feminine Obedience, but within that she pursues to raise her child independently without any kind of dependency on others itself is an act of rebellion or radicalism. So, she pursued the status of being a single self working woman.
"The Scarlet Letter as her passport
into regions which other
women dared not tread."
So, Hester choose her personal liberation and independence can be seen as Feminist tendencies in the novel. She also asks Dimmesdale to leave New England and decide to start a new independent life with her daughter Pearl. While talking to Dimmesdale she tears off her Scarlet Letter and her Cap also can be seen as her rejection of Society's norm and society's attempt to tie her with stereotypical norms. So, Hester rejects all of the ways in which women are seen as an object within patriarchal control.
Now, the question arises is despite all of this rebellious behaviour why did she choose to come back into Society again at the end and also wear the Scarlet Letter ? Well the answer is She chose to wear Scarlet Letter at the end instead of Society's force. So, her act of voluntarily returning to New England and continuing to wearing the Scarlet Letter can be seen as her continuous self-determination to be Feminist. And by wearing a Scarlet Letter she wants to support other women who are struggling in Society.
Conclusion
Thus, To conclude it can be said by above given argument it is proved that The Scarlet Letter is a Proto-Feminist novel. Because the novel is written when the word feminism is unknown. And the first wave of feminism began around the 1920s in the United States. By 1920, women got the right to vote and the concept of 'The New Woman' developed by Henry James again who is a big fan of Hawthorne's work. To sum up we can say by portraying Hester as a protagonist who is a strong willed independence woman consciously or unknowingly Hawthorne paved the way for Feminism.
References
- Barlowe, J. "Rereading Women: Hester Prynne-ism and the Scarlet Mob of Scribblers." American Literary History, vol. 9, no. 2, 1997, pp. 197-225.
- Battan, J. F. ""You Cannot Fix the Scarlet Letter on my Breast!": Women Reading, Writing, and Reshaping the Sexual Culture of Victorian America." Journal of Social History, vol. 37, no. 3, 2004, pp. 601-624.
- Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. Bantam Classics, 2003.
- "How Feminism Faces the Scaffold in The Scarlet Letter." CR Fashion Book, 16 Mar. 2020, www.crfashionbook.com/culture/a31665588/the-scarlet-letter-feminism-nathaniel-hawthorne/. Accessed 5 Dec. 2020.
- Last, Suzan. "Hawthorne's Feminine Voices: Reading "The Scarlet Letter" as a Woman." The journal of narrative technique. 349-76 JSTOR. Web 26 Apr, 2014.
- MWESTWOOD. "Can Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter Be Read As a Protofeminist Novel? - ENotes.com." ENotes, www.enotes.com/homework-help/can-hawthornes-scarlet-letter-read-protofeminist-457880. Accessed 5 Dec. 2020.
- “Rereading The Scarlet Letter as a Proto-Feminist Text.” GradesFixer, 28 Apr. 2018, gradesfixer.com/free-essay-examples/rereading-the-scarlet-letter-as-a-proto-feminist-text/
- "The Scarlet Letter: Is Hester Prynne a Feminist? | SparkNotes." SparkNotes: Today's Most Popular Study Guides, www.sparknotes.com/lit/scarlet/central-idea-essay/is-hester-prynne-a-feminist/.
- 'What Does PROTOFEMINISM Mean?" Definitions.net, www.definitions.net/definition/PROTOFEMINISM. Accessed 5 Dec. 2020.
Post a Comment