Gender Roles In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter

For years—even with the doubt and ridicule of men—women have been a force to be reckoned with. Women like Hester Prynne in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter play an important role in society, and in the lives of people around them: ever present, but too often under-appreciated, and as a result have to rely on their independence to get by. The character’s battle with sexism and gender roles truly showcases her independence and strong will. Hester’s presence as a mother figure—while it would remain equally as important if Pearl had been born as a son—is exceptionally important to the growth of her daughter. Many times, Hester and Pearl fail to exhibit the infamous persona of poise, femininity and purity that is expected of women, and suffer
She is forced into the world after her sentencing, completely alone aside from an infant Pearl. While the Puritans expected her to shy away from the crowd in shame, she instead takes the opportunity to exhibit pride, letting the world know that she will not be brought down by the unfortunate situation that she has been thrown into. Hester blows everyone away when she leaves the prison initially ashamed, but then:
“In a moment, however, wisely judging that one token of her shame would but poorly serve to hide another, she took the baby on her arm, and with a burning blush, and yet a haughty smile, and a glance that would not be abashed, looked around at her townspeople and neighbours” (Hawthorne
Even the women of New England have been brainwashed to believe in this criteria, going so far as to criticise Hester for her actions. Instead of banding together against the sexist treatment of women, the Puritan elders insult and ridicule Hester in front of everyone: “If the hussy stood up for judgment before us five, that are now here in a knot together, would she come off with such a sentence as the worshipful magistrates have awarded?” (Hawthorne 49). In their eyes, a letter worn on each piece of clothing Hester owns is much too kind. It is a prize that she has been awarded. She deserves the worst for failing to maintain her purity and oath to her husband, which oddly enough, is not the same expected for the men. Not one person questions why her husband left her for two years to fend for herself in the Puritan society. The expectation even stretches so far as to corrupt the innocence of a child. Pearl does not often like to wear dresses, and tends to fancy playing in nature and getting herself dirty, which is behaviour not suitable for a little girl. Even the language used to describe Pearl leads the reader to believe that she is looked down upon in society: “Pearl was a born outcast of the infantile world. An imp of evil, emblem and product of a sin, she had no right among christened infants” (Hawthorne 90). The juxtaposition of her personality mixed with the