The Scarlet Letter and I Tituba Black Witch of Salem
Strong female characters emerge as victorious in Nathaniel Hawthorne'snovel, The Scarlet Letter, and Maryse Conde's novel, I, Tituba, Black Witchof Salem. In both novels, we witness females suffer humiliating anddegrading circumstances under the hands of Puritan societies. Despitetheir circumstances, these women remain true to themselves and refuse to In, The Scarlet Letter, Hester suffers great pressure to name the fatherof her child. She refuses to answer and, as a result, bears the weight ofboth sinners' transgressions. Hester's punishment is to stand on theplatform of the pillory in the town for three hours and she is alsocondemned "for the remainder of her natural life to wear a mark of shameupon her bosom" (Hawthorne 58). This scene allows us to see the importancethe Puritans placed on good behavior. Punishment was also used as adeterrent for others who may be considering similar crimes. The narrator expresses how Hester was never able to escape her "sin."For example, he states, "In all seasons of calamity, indeed, whethergeneral or for individuals, the outcast
The images these strong women impressed onTituba's memory allowed her to face death with courage and strength. I know why there is so much suffering" (178). In conclusion, Hawthorne and Conde present us with female charactersthat are strong and independent, which makes them targets for the Puritansociety in which they lived. The narrator depicts awoman who has suffered an immense humiliation that has allowed her tounderstand human suffering in a unique way. Similar to Hester, sherefuses to answer the question that the accusers are asking her. With the circumstance of Tituba, we see similar treatment. (95) Hester isnever able to escape her sin, even after years have passed. Hester becomes a pillar in the community for those who suffered from "thecontinually recurring trails of wounded, wasted, wronged, misplaced, orerring and sinful passion" (254). By allowingTituba's spirit to life in eternity, Conde illustrates the power of thehuman will. In addition, we are told, "Society was inclined to showits former victim a more benign countenance that she cared to be favoredwith, or, perchance, she deserved" (155). Perhaps hergreatest testimony of her strength can be seen in her efforts to tell herstory. When accused of practicing witchcraft, Tituba is beaten until she is"nothing more than a heap of suffering" (91). In theepilogue, Conde presents us with a woman that is strong and proud.
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