Primitive Strength in Primitive Strength in Hawthorne’s WomenHawthorne’s Women

Chrstine HerzogChrstine Herzog

A ReminderA Reminder

No need to give chapter title if you are No need to give chapter title if you are citing a book written by one single authorciting a book written by one single author

Background InformationBackground Information

The western cultural tradition of binary The western cultural tradition of binary opposition and its implied hierarchyopposition and its implied hierarchy

The feminists’ critique/ subversion of such The feminists’ critique/ subversion of such oppositionopposition

a) negating biological determinisma) negating biological determinism

b) Replacing hierarchy with differenceb) Replacing hierarchy with difference

c) laying bare the effect wrought byc) laying bare the effect wrought by

cultural constructioncultural construction

d) performance theoryd) performance theory

The Central IdeaThe Central Idea

The opposition between women and men in The opposition between women and men in Hawthorne’s worksHawthorne’s works

Thesis Statement (Thesis Statement (Reversing Value Reversing Value Hierarchy in Traditional Binary Opposition)Hierarchy in Traditional Binary Opposition)

The The primitive vitalityprimitive vitality of many of of many of Hawthorne’s women is frequently Hawthorne’s women is frequently symbolized by their association with symbolized by their association with Oriental, Mediterranean, Indian or other Oriental, Mediterranean, Indian or other exotic elements, but it is also portrayed exotic elements, but it is also portrayed indirectly by contrasting the women with indirectly by contrasting the women with idealistic, Faustian, science-possessed idealistic, Faustian, science-possessed men who wield men who wield unnatural powerunnatural power over them over them and reject woman’s earthiness.and reject woman’s earthiness.

General Outline: General Outline: Illustration by Various WorksIllustration by Various Works

I.I. ““The New Adam and Eve”The New Adam and Eve”

II.II. ““The Birth Mark” and “Rappaccini’s DauThe Birth Mark” and “Rappaccini’s Daughter”ghter”

III.III. The Scarlet LetterThe Scarlet Letter

I. “The New Adam and Eve”I. “The New Adam and Eve”

1.1. Intellectualism is related to sin and Intellectualism is related to sin and decay: decay:

2.2. The distinctive nature of man and womanThe distinctive nature of man and woman

1) man: intellect 1) man: intellect

2) woman: nature, tenderness and moral 2) woman: nature, tenderness and moral sensesense

II. “The Birth Mark” and “Rappaccini’s DII. “The Birth Mark” and “Rappaccini’s Daughter”aughter”

1.1. Male Characters:Male Characters:

1) Aylmer and Rappaccini 1) Aylmer and Rappaccini

---A) striving for ultimate control over nature---A) striving for ultimate control over nature

---B) scientific deviltry---B) scientific deviltry

2) The other male characters2) The other male characters

---A) Baglione’s jealous hatred---A) Baglione’s jealous hatred

---B) Giovanni’s poisonous mistrust---B) Giovanni’s poisonous mistrust

---C) Aminadab: the savagery under the---C) Aminadab: the savagery under the

guise of scienceguise of science

II. “The Birth Mark” and “Rappaccini’s DII. “The Birth Mark” and “Rappaccini’s Daughter”aughter”

2. Female Characters and their characteristics2. Female Characters and their characteristics1) Georgiana: 1) Georgiana:

---A) birth mark as a symbol of life-force---A) birth mark as a symbol of life-force---B) the stronger person when facing ---B) the stronger person when facing

deathdeath ---C) Georgiana as an Eve of Power: open---C) Georgiana as an Eve of Power: open and frankand frank 2) Beatrice: with more complex power2) Beatrice: with more complex power

---A) love and trust: fountain vs. artificial---A) love and trust: fountain vs. artificial shrubshrub

---B) the warm integrity of Beatrice---B) the warm integrity of Beatrice

II. “The Birth Mark” and “Rappaccini’s DII. “The Birth Mark” and “Rappaccini’s Daughter”aughter”

3. The contrast between women and men3. The contrast between women and men

1) heart vs. brain1) heart vs. brain

2) instinctual, primitive forces (women’s2) instinctual, primitive forces (women’s

life-giving forces) vs. Faustian life-giving forces) vs. Faustian

intellectual intellectual

III. III. The Scarlet Letter: The Scarlet Letter: Aboriginal and AwesomeAboriginal and Awesome

1.1. Hester as a symbol of the Other that threatens Hester as a symbol of the Other that threatens the Puritan communitythe Puritan community

1) Hester’s emergence from the prison 1) Hester’s emergence from the prison

2) The primitive forest2) The primitive forest

3) Pearl3) Pearl

2. Ambivalence: the image of Divine Maternity as a 2. Ambivalence: the image of Divine Maternity as a contrast to the threatening Othercontrast to the threatening Other

3. Conclusion: Romantic primitivism tampered by 3. Conclusion: Romantic primitivism tampered by suffering and faithsuffering and faith

1) Hester’s emergence from the pri1) Hester’s emergence from the prisonson

A.A. Wildness and passion in Hester’s Wildness and passion in Hester’s character: character:

a) the aboriginala) the aboriginal

b) the alien/ exoticb) the alien/ exotic

c) rich, voluptuous—the Oriental c) rich, voluptuous—the Oriental

2) The primitive forest2) The primitive forest

A.A. Moral wildernessMoral wilderness

B.B. Outlaw existenceOutlaw existence

C.C. Impulsive and passionateImpulsive and passionate

D.D. Natural dignity Natural dignity

E.E. Combative energyCombative energy

F.F. Never subjugated by human lawNever subjugated by human law

3) Pearl: The Most Splendid Image 3) Pearl: The Most Splendid Image for Hester’s naturefor Hester’s nature

A.A. The “demon-offspring” in Puritans’ eyesThe “demon-offspring” in Puritans’ eyes

B.B. Combining native audacity with the Combining native audacity with the reservereserve

C.C. Part of nature: April breeze, brook Part of nature: April breeze, brook nymph-childnymph-child

D.D. Pearl’s garment: looking as exotic as “a Pearl’s garment: looking as exotic as “a wild tropical bird”wild tropical bird”

2. The image of Divine Maternity2. The image of Divine Maternity

1)1) The flood of sunshine in the forest: The flood of sunshine in the forest: redeeming and healing loveredeeming and healing love

2)2) Pearl: image of love and liberationPearl: image of love and liberation

3)3) Hester:Hester:

---A. a Mary figure, divine mother, sister of ---A. a Mary figure, divine mother, sister of Mercy, nun, saint, angel prophetess, Mercy, nun, saint, angel prophetess, martyrmartyr

---B. The letter A: adulteress, angel of mercy ---B. The letter A: adulteress, angel of mercy

3.Conclusion: Romantic primitivism 3.Conclusion: Romantic primitivism tampered by suffering and faithtampered by suffering and faith

1.1. The Central symbol: the scaffoldThe Central symbol: the scaffold1) shame vs. elevation1) shame vs. elevation2) human vs. divine law2) human vs. divine law

2. Hester as a White Indian2. Hester as a White Indian1) knowledge vs. sexual power1) knowledge vs. sexual power2) awesome power of commitment vs.2) awesome power of commitment vs.

aboriginal freedomaboriginal freedom3) an example of new American Eve: she3) an example of new American Eve: she

builds community instead of destroying itbuilds community instead of destroying it