An Analysis of Feminism in The Scarlet Letter分析《红字》中(19)

分析《红字》中的女权主义

Wrenched and sinful as I am, I have had no other thought than to drag on my earthly existence in the

sphere where Providence hath placed me. Lost as my own soul is, I would still do what I may for other

human souls, I dare not quit my post, though an unfaithful sentinel, whose sure reward is death and

dishonor, when his dreary watch shall come to an end!(Hawthorne,1999:148)

Through the comparison of personalities between female and male characters, Hester and Dimmesdale, Hawthorne apparently subverts the symbolic order set by the patriarchy, showing his sharp feminist consciousness.

When talking about the feminist consciousness of Nathaniel Hawthorne, it is not right to ignore Hester’s femininity, because she is the miniature of Hawthorne in the real life. The analysis of Hester’s femininity can help us unveil the feminist consciousness of Hawthorne.

Hester’s femininity mainly includes her self-protection and self-reliance. Under the patriarchal system, women are totally deprived of quality and even compliant with the unfair treatment. However, Hester is an awakening woman who sees through the harsh oppression exerted on women and shows sympathy to them. She is endowed with a new value of life and a nature different from others. Even the letter A has turned to be glorious under her hand.

On the breast of her gown, in fine red cloth, surrounded with elaborate embroidery and fantastic

flourishes of gold-thread, appeared the letter A. It was so artificially done, and with so much fertility

and gorgeous luxuriance of fancy, that it had all the effect of a last and fitting decoration to the apparel

which she wore; and which was of a splendor in accordance with the taste of the age, but greatly

beyond what was allowed by the sumptuous regulations of the colony (Hawthorne, 1999:39-40).

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