Gender in The Scarlet Letter

Gender in the Scarlet Letter
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Gender in the Scarlet Letter
Just like in most of his works, Hawthorne in The Scarlet Letter compels the reader to discern his portrayal of gender relations in an implicit and analytical way. He stages the encounters of men and women united by various factors. Hawthorne further depicts the male characters as being anxious and possessing an aggression disguised as ambition or obsession for example, Chillingworth’s desire for revenge (Hawthorne, 2010). The men refuse the full human life offered by the women since they view it as complex. In such cases, the men yield the futile and meaningless lives that they have all along been looking for. Therefore, Hawthorne highlights the cultural construction of gender in The Scarlet Letter through his focus on humanity’s unrelenting struggle with sin, pride and guilt.
The Scarlet letter takes place in Boston, which was a Puritan society in 1600s. Strict moral codes were evident in the Puritan society. Hawthorne depicts a hypocritical society that is quick to judge others while they are not perfect. The situation is apparent in an instance where Hester is coming from prison and some Puritan women say that she deserves to die because of her adultery (Hawthorne, 2010). Therefore, the Scarlet A’ is more than punishment that encourages her consent for accepting the governance of communal morality. Her subversion comes the moment the society tries to impose morality on her. The scarlet letter rather than committing her to shame strengthens her resolve to decide her own definition of principles. Hester adapts to her situation by reconstructing her own perception of what womanhood entitles her. Hawthorne highlights Hester’s reinvention of her own strength, meaning and virtues.
Hawthorne further shows his repudiation of the male flight from women who evade the rigidity of the society, which seems to support and induce such poisonous evasiveness. Dimmesdale trapped by the rules of the society suppresses his desire to be with Hester and his child Pearl (Hawthorne, 2010). It thus follows that he cannot fulfill his obligations as a father and a lover. In a society that judges harshly, Dimmesdale is afraid to lose his status as a respected reverend. The society demands a reverend or a man of God to be chaste and so Dimmesdale must maintain his identity of presumed righteousness (Hawthorne, 2010). The fact that Dimmesdale cannot face up to the people and pay for his sin of passion drives him into a state of mental instability since he can no longer view himself as a complete man who stands up for those he claims to love.
Female sexuality according to Hawthorne is that possession and natural power that forms the basis for male horror or control and punishment, which becomes the secret goal of the male endeavor. It depicts a culture of the destruction of a gratifying and innate relation to humanity. It is clear that Hawthorne...