Women in the Scarlet Letter

Women in the Scarlet Letter

  • Submitted By: blaine
  • Date Submitted: 05/24/2008 2:29 PM
  • Category: Book Reports
  • Words: 649
  • Page: 3
  • Views: 1

Strong-willed, great, and loving; this is how Nathaniel Hawthorne viewed women in The Scarlet Letter. There is a theme, or motif, that runs throughout the novel. This motif is women, who are referred to throughout the novel. The genre of this novel is drama. Women are viewed, by Hawthorne, as a symbol of strength and are held up in instances throughout the novel by Hawthorne. Women are referred to throughout the novel, usually in a positive light. Looking at the upholding of women, the significance of the motif of women, and the references to women throughout the novel, it is clear that the motif of women affected the novel and showed Hawthorne's positive view of women. The motif of women ran throughout the novel and played a very influential role in the plot.

The motif of women enhances the mood and affects the reader in a significant manner. The motif of women has a may give the reader a positive feeling toward women, as displayed by Hawthorne, making the reader feel sorry for Hester. "It were wronging the very nature of woman to force her to lay open heart's secrets in broad daylight, and in the presence of so great a multitude." (Ch. 3). This gives the reader a sense of sympathy for Hester, showing how she has been wronged in being forced to give out her secrets to all. The purpose of this motif is to display to the reader the way Hawthorne viewed women, strong-willed and loving, they sometimes had to take care of children, as is Hester's case. The motif of women also develops empathy for the protagonist, Hester. This motif has a significant effect on the novel as a whole. The women in the novel were affected by the view the society had on women in general. There are many examples of the motif of women in the novel. "A woman must needs follow her own fancy touching the adornment of her person." (Ch. 14). This shows Hawthorne's view of women; they need to have space and freedom, they are strong-willed, loving people. Women...

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