A FEMINISM READING IN NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE’S BIRTHMARK AND RAPPACINI’S DAUGHTER

Abstract

This paper investigates the effect of the prevailing patriarchal oppression towards female characters in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short stories searching for identity through the lens of radical feminism, focusing specifically on authority and power. It can be seen that Hawthorne demonstrates how female characters struggle to define their lives as best as they can under male societal strictures in the early 19^th century. The rationale is that by understanding the effect of dominant patriarchal culture in two tales of Nathaniel Hawthorne reveals the motivation towards the quest of identity among women of the period can be better understood. Hence, Hawthorne’s short stories serves as an indication and polemic of what happens to women when they are not allowed to attain their own identity independently of the men.  This paper analyzes two famous short stories of Nathaniel Hawthorne namely Birthmark (1843) and Rappacini’s Daughter (1844). The result of this research reveals that Hawthorne has challenged patriarchal oppression through “death as a triumph”. In short, this research shows that Hawthorne in some ways exalts the rights of women to seek their own identity in society.

Keywords : Female identity, radical feminism, patriarchal oppression, authority, power and Nathaniel Hawthorne’s tales