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Marko Farkas

Ms. Jorgensen

English 10H

2019 March 7

Gender Inequality in The Scarlet Letter

Gender inequality is a very important aspect of “The Scarlet Letter.” Throughout the

book, a multitude of examples of men holding more power and the higher positions of society

are presented to show the inequality of the Puritan culture from that time. Hester is subject to

discrimination because of her gender many times during the book, resonating gender inequality.

Feminist ideas are also featured throughout the book, such as independence and strength.

Firstly, feminist ideas are present in the book since the the introduction of the main

protagonist, Hester Prynne. She is severely punished for adultery, singled out and humiliated,

while her secret lover who shared the affair kept his dignity and position. As stated by

Dimmesdale, her lover, “ Wondrous strength and generosity of a woman’s heart! She will not

speak” (Hawthorne 59). Dimmesdale, a clergyman high in Puritan society, admits her strength as

a lone woman, while cowering in his position, not having the courage himself to come forward

being the great man and “angel” every person sees him as. This is also an example of how

society is discriminant and flawed, preying on the lone woman who had the strength to come out

and admit her sin while praising the high positioned man who has just as much fault and blame

as Hester. Later in the story, Hester moves to a shack, separated from society, secluding herself

to be independent. She raises a difficult child on her own, Pearl, who is looked at as a child of

the devil, showing the idea of independence of women. Later on in the story, after witnessing her
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helpfulness and aid, citizens of New England begin to call her able, also going along with the

ideas of feminism and how women are just as able as men, or in this case, significantly more

able, for Dimmesdale grew weaker and sank into insanity.

Hester is also subject to discrimination, which can be tied to her gender. Her punishments

were too severe, and she was looked down upon by the entirety of the town for over 7 years. In

contrast, as Dimmesdale, the accomplice to her sin, worsened and became unstable, he was

looked upon as great and an angel. This shows the flawed perception that society has on two

different genders, and also how men were treated better during the puritan times. Men hold all of

the high positions in this puritan society as well, giving confirmation of discrimination in “The

Scarlet Letter.”

In conclusion, Hester Prynne is a character that combines traditional feminist ideas and

behaviors with free thinking and rebellious traits. She can be seen utilizing female strength when

she faces the consequences head on, continuing with her life. She demonstrates independence

when she secludes herself in the shack by herself, raising her child by herself while Dimmesdale

cowers in the shadows growing weaker. Raising Pearl was no easy task, especially alone, as she

was described to be the child of the Devil, always rebelling, questioning, and ultimately

saddening or depressing hester occasionally. As Pearl is raised, she shows more feminist ideas,

such as not having to conform to society based on gender, which is essentially what Pearl does.

Hester is proven to be a good feminist model of independence and self reliance, reflected by her

actions and Pearl herself, showing gender inequality in “The Scarlet Letter.”
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Works Cited

Hawthorne, Nathaniel. ​The Scarlet Letter.​ Everbind Books, 1989.