Answer:
Yes, I agree that Hester Prynne can be taken as the first great modern heroine in American literature.
Explanation:
Nathaniel Hawthorne's main protagonist Hester Prynne in "The Scarlet Letter" is an adulteress convicted and imprisoned, shamed, and ridiculed by the Puritan society she's in. But despite all the inhibitions around her conviction, she did not falter but rather maintained her resolve and stayed true to her own self.
In order to go into the issue of "great modern heroine", let's first go to what makes one a heroine. A heroine is basically a woman who is independent, not swayed by other's opinions and beliefs, and courageous, the main character in a story, and above all, an achiever in her own terms.
Now, regarding Prynne, we know she is independent, brave, and manages to keep her identity amidst the furor of her sin. She did not give in to the taunts and insults, but make sure that she is who she is. Even when she was taken into the marketplace, she did not fear being seen, but she stepped out to be seen by everyone, courageously maintaining her character. She refused to reveal the father of her daughter, Pearl, despite many pressures, was perfect in working as a seamstress, and takes care of Pearl on her own. Living in a Puritan society, it will be unbearably difficult to be a woman and that too as a convicted adulteress. But she did not let that deter her. She maintained her resolve, kept to herself, and even make a living for herself in a society that puts women as the weaker sex. Most of all, she is the main protagonist of the story, with all things revolving around her character.
Thus, we can safely say that <u>it is agreeable to say that Hester Prynne can be seen as the ultimate, first great modern heroine in American literature.</u>
