What Teenage Moms Can Learn From Hester Prynne Essay, Research Paper

In the novel The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Hester Prynne raises her love child, Pearl, as a single mom. Her courage, compassion, and considerate nature remain with her throughout her trials, political and emotional. She sets an example all teenage mothers should emulate. Hester faces punishment on her own, without the support of Pearl’s father; he, ironically enough, is one of the men condemning her. Many teenage mothers are similarly deserted by the father of their children. “With almost a serene deportment, therefore, Hester Prynne passed through this portion of her ordeal, and came to a sort of scaffold, at the western extremity of the marketplace” [sl24.html#g11]. Hester turns to sewing in an effort to support herself and her child. “Hester sought not to acquire anything beyond a subsistence, of the plainest and most ascetic description, for herself, and a simple abundance for her child” [sl05.html#g07]. Despite the ill treatment they gave her she continued to do this for them out of the goodness of her heart. Teen moms should learn to give back to the community as Hester did, not take from it.

Rising above her shame, Hester carved out a life for herself and Pearl. She bore her scarlet letter nearly always, removing it in a passionate fury but placing it back upon her bosom shortly afterwards. Through her strength Hester was able to support her daughter and give her a good life while dealing with her own guilt. That’s all a teen mom can hope to do.