December 12, 2012
The Scarlet Letter Being a woman during the 19th century was not a recognition with equal rights from the society. Women had to be obedient and respectful to those above them. Even from hardships that will influence the levels of women, it somehow changes the minds of people of how they look at rather than how they treat women. However Hawthorne distinguishes “Hester” as a loving mother, an independent woman, and a religious believer while adversity is stirring around her. Hester is characterized as a loving mother since Hester was on the scaffold holding her daughter. Pearl is loved so much, “Heretofore, the mother, while loving her child with intensity of a sole affection” (Hawthorne, 120) although Hester is in a situation where everyone believes she is the most sinful person at that time. When Hester replies,” She is my happiness! -- She is my torture, none the less! Pearl keeps me her in life!”(Hawthorne, 75) you can see that Hester adores and needs only Pearl in her life for Hester to be living. Also you can feel the love from Hester to Pearl, “answered her mother, with an asperity that she had never permitted to herself” (Hawthorne, 121) but still punishes her in a way so that she will be better. From the beginning and to the end of the story, it reveals that Hester had always loved Pearl no matter what she was going through and what she was going to go through. All her emotions were careful affections toward Pearl of worrying, caring, and concerning the actions of any motions. Hawthorne also portrays Hester as an independent woman from all what she had gone through. Even though Hester committed adultery, she does not give up and stands up for herself not for the sin she acted but for the pride she has inside as she, “stood fully revealed before the crowd, a glance that would not be abashed, looked around her townspeople and neighbors.” (Hawthorne, 35). Hester furthermore stands up for Pearl’s father and Hester’s lover, Arthur Dimmesdale and shows her autonomy by her words, “Would that might endure his agony as well as mine!” (Hawthorne, 45) . After Hester stood on the scaffold, she had been with Pearl making garments as a living. Her independence stands out when,