Kim 1

Matthew Kim

Ms.Jorgensen

English 10 honors

4 April 2019
The Scarlet Letter

Hester Prynne and Mr.Dimmesdale are a perfect example of gender equality. It shows

how the puritan society is based on where women are less powerful than men. I think Nathaniel

Hawthorne wanted to show that too.In the book it shows how the whole town looks down on

Hester because she did a great sin. Dimmesdale also has done a sin but he never accepted his

fate. Now that no one else knows he committed the sin, they think he is the angel and has

committed no sin.

Even if Dimmesdale would have said he was the one who created pearl, Hester still

would have been more punished than him. Just because Hester is a Woman and Dimmesdale

is the priest. In a puritan society they follow religion no matter what. An example from the book

is when Hester brings pearl to the Minister and the minister says she is unworthy of taking care

of Pearl. It wasn’t until Dimmesdale spoke up and said “ truth in what Hester says, and in the

feeling which inspires her, and gave her to an instinctive knowledge of its nature and

requirements, both seemingly so peculiar”(Hawthorne 94). This shows how when Dimmesdale

the Priest speaks up for Hester everyone else agrees with him and don't question it. Or when

they find his clothes up on the post where they shame people. They said that the devil was

trying to frame Dimmesdale and he has done no such thing.

Hester Prynne has also accepted the facts that people will not give her what she wants.

She basically isolates herself from everyone else and makes enough food for her and pearl.

Everyone in the town treats her badly and she doesn't have as much rights as men do. She
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creates a very stable and independent life for herself and pearl. This is how she will earn her

respect from the community. The difference is that Hester has to work for the respect she wants

and Dimmesdale didn't have to do anything to be respected. This just shows how the society

they are living in has a much higher power over women. When Hester is released from prison

she has to thrive on her own and raise Pearl while dealing with her ex-husband. She proves that

her will is stronger than anyone's and pushes past the Scarlet letter. Instead of hating it, Hester

embraces it and moves on.

In the analysis of the book information on how gender equality and feminism

were shown. This was a strong message showing how that whole community Hester

was in thought she was the sinner but she wasn't the only one. Dimmesdale would have

gotten away with it even if he admitted to the sin. Just because he is the priest and

Hester if a woman. Nathaniel Hawthorne.

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Work Cited

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​ 018, Vol. 113 Issue 3, p433-503. 71p.

Cade, Jason A. ​Northwestern University Law Review. 2

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