论《红字》中的象征意义

毕业论文题目：论《红字》中的象征意义学院：外国语学院专业：英语班级：学号：学生姓名：导师姓名：完成日期：年月Contents Abstract…………………………………………………………………….…….( 1 ) Introduction…………………………..…………………………………………( 2 ) 1. Symbolic Meanings of Characters…………………………………...……..... ( 4 ) 1.1Symbolic Meanings of Hester Prynne.………..……...…………………...……( 4 ) 1.2 Symbolic Meanings of Arthur Dimmesdale……..………………….…….....…( 5 ) 1.3 Symbolic Meanings of Roger Chillingworth…………………..……………….( 6 )1.4 Symbolic Meanings of Pearl……………………………………………………( 7 )2. Symbolic Meanings of Objects.…...……………………………….…………..( 8 ) 2.1 Symbolic Meanings of Letter “A”…………………………………………..….( 9 )2.2 Symbolic Meanings of Meteor (11)3. Symbolic Meanings of Settings (12)3.1 Symbolic Meanings of Scaffold (12)3.2 Symbolic Meanings of Prison (14)3.3 Symbolic Meanings of Forest (15)3.4 Symbolic Meanings of Brook (16)3.5 Symbolic Meanings of Rose Bush (17)Conclusion (19)Bibliography (20)Acknowledgements (22)Analysis of the Symbolic Meanings in The Scarlet LetterAbstract:The Scarlet Letter is the masterpiece of Nathaniel Hawthorne who is the greatest American romantic novelist during the nineteenth century. The story doesn‟t take long to tell, nor is its plot very complicated. However it owns a deepgoing content and vivid language. It is regarded as the first symbolic novel in the history of American fiction owing to the conspicuous artistic characteristic of this novel——symbolism. This paper researches the symbolic meanings in The Scarlet Letter from three aspects of characters, objects and settings. At first, it analyzes the symbolic meanings of the four major characters, then makes a discussion about the changing symbolic meanings of the Scarlet Let ter “A” and the meteor. Finally, there is an analysis of the settings that are described in the novel like scaffold, prison, forest, brook and rose bush. Exploration of the symbolic meanings in The Scarlet Letter is conducive to enhancing the understanding of the novel and the social background of that time, and comprehending the profound thoughts of the author.Key words: Hawthorne;The Scarlet Letter; symbolic meaning论《红字》中的象征意义摘要：《红字》是美国十九世纪最伟大的浪漫主义小说家纳撒尼尔·霍桑的代表作，小说不长，情节简明，内容深刻，语言生动，丰富的象征手法是其突出的艺术特色，被称为美国历史上第一部象征主义小说。

本文将从人物、事物和场景三个方面来深入探讨小说中的象征意义。

本文首先对小说中四个主要人物的象征意义进行分析，然后分析不断变化的红字“A”以及流星在小说中的象征意义，最后逐一分析小说中出现的刑台、监狱、森林、小溪和玫瑰丛等场景的象征意义。

探讨小说《红字》中所蕴含的象征意义，有利于加强对作品和当时的社会时代背景的理解，并领会作者的深刻思想内涵。

关键词：霍桑；《红字》；象征意义IntroductionToday, Nathaniel Hawthorne is remembered as a writer of symbolic literature that, like the Romantic literature of his European counterparts. He was born on the fourth of July, 1804，in Salem, and graduated at Bowdoin College. Some of his ancestors were big shots in seventeenth-century New England, which was under the control of Puritanism and presided magistrate in the Salem witch trials. Hawthorne is a pious Christian, and is deeply influenced by the theology. He‟s so much indulged in the religious doctrine that people can find the reflection of the God almost everywhere in his works. Due to the influence of family background and environment, and based on the materials of the colonial New England, Hawthorne creates vivid and symbolic images in The Scarlet Letter successfully and tries his best to portray people‟s ideological conflict and psychological movement. His ideological content and artistic quality are best demonstrated in his masterpiece The Scarlet Letter which is the first symbolic novel in the development of American literature and makes Nathaniel Hawthorne become one of the greatest American romantic novelists at that time and build his reputation as a major American author. Since that time on, people began to take great interest in all aspects of his life and a great many biographical and critical studies had been written about him and his works.The Scarlet Letter recounts a simple but very move story that the heroine Hester Prynne who is a young, recently married woman. She is sent to start a new life in America while her husband remains in England. In America she falls into love with another man that minister in the town and gives birth to a baby. This beha vior is against for the puritan law, so she has been caught and asked to tell the truth. However, she does not reveal the name of her lover after a public trial, and she is sentenced to wear a scarlet letter “A” as a token of her sin throughout her lifetime. Unknown to her or her lover, her husband who is an aged English scholar stands among the crowd who condemns her. Hester‟s husband a cold-hearted man who decides to find the father of the baby, and takes actions of his plan to revenge. When finding the truth, he begins to torment Dimmesdale. In this situati on, he has to agree with Hester‟s escape plan. Butit fails. Finally, Dimmesdale, with Hester and Pearl, go to the scaffold. He admits that he is the father of the Pearl and dies. A year later, Chillingworth also passes away while Hester is acknowledged through her integrity and attic faith of the life.In The Scarlet Letter, symbolism runs through the novel and plays a very important role, it revolves around one major symbol: the scarlet letter “A”. Mor eover, the characters and objects which described in the novel are all endowed with a deep symbolic meaning. Only by fully understanding symbolic meanings beneath the novel can the reader grasp the real meaning of Hawthorne‟s The Scarlet Letter. Thus the paper is divided into three parts to discuss the symbolic meanings of the novel. The first part mainly talks about the symbolic meanings of the four major characters: Hester Prynne, Arthur Dimmesdale, Roger Chillingworth and Pearl; the second part discusses the symbolic meanings of several typical objects, for instance, the scarlet letter “A” and the meteor; the third part analyzes the symbolic meanings of settings in the whole novel, such as the scaffold and prison, forest, brook and rose bush, which are examined to reveal their deeply symbolic meanings.1. Symbolic Meanings of CharactersIn The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne employs a lot of symbols. The symbols are just like the cell of the novel and connect with the work closely. The most revealing display of Hawthorne‟s symbolism lies in the use of characters.Hawthorne has created each of characters with one outstanding characteristic in mind, and has concentrated almost entirely on developing that one characteristic.Thus there is discussion about the symbolic meaning of the four major characters in the follwing part. Meanwhile,Hawthorne uses characters as symbols in his novel. The characters of Hester Prynne, Arthur Dimmesdale, Pearl, and Roger Chillingworth are all associated with sin. However, these four characters symbolize different aspects of sin.1.1Symbolic Meanings of Hester PrynneHester Prynne is the central and most important character in The Scarlet Letter. A young woman sent to the colonies by her husband, who plans to join her later but is presumed lost at sea. After approximately two years in America she committed adultery with Arthur Dimmesdale, a minister in Boston. She is a symbol of the acknowledged sinner in the Puritan society.In the Puritan‟s eyes, she represents guilt. However, as the protagonist of the novel, Hester is described as a youthful, beautiful, spirited, and proud woman, although when she first appears in the story, there is already a scandal attached to her name that is symbolized by the scarlet letter A.When she walks to the scaffold from the prison, she holds her head high and remains in full public view without shedding a tear. Hawthorne describes her as both a sinner and saint：It was no great distance, in those days, from the prison door to the market place.Measured by the prisoner‟s experience, however, it might be reckoned a journeyof some length; for, proud as her appearance was, she perhaps underwent anagony from every footstep of those that thronged to see her.....But, with almost aserene calmness, there fore, Hester Prynne passed through this portion of herordeal. (Hawthorne 2007: 18)Furthermore, Hester Prynne is a woman of strength and independence. Herrefusal to reveal the child‟s father leads her to suffer the public humiliation. Beyond that she decided to remain in Boston to suffer whatever humiliations the community has in store for her.Hester Prynne, therefore, did not flee. On the outskirts of the town, within theverge of the peninsula, but not in close vicinity to any other habitation, therewas a small thatched cottage. In this little lonesome dwelling Hesterestablished herself with her infant child. (Hawthorne 2007: 54)Her strength is seen in her rearing of her child alone, without family or friends, and her move to work out her penance by becoming a Sister of Mercy for the very community that scorns her.None so ready as she to give of her little substance to every demand ofpoverty;.....she was self-made Sister of Mercy, such helpfulness was found inher—so much power to do, and power to sympathize....so strong was HesterPrynne, with a woman‟s strength. (ibid. 146)Though her true charity is weak, she endures silently and with immense fortitude the humiliation visited upon her by the people she serves. She supports herself and her child as a seamstress.1.2 Symbolic Meanings of Arthur DimmesdaleThe Puritan world of The Scarlet Letter survives through convenient fictions. In the communal mind of the townspeople, Hester is the epitome of sinfulness, the minister is the embodiment of piety, but he also is a symbol of hypocrisy.Arthur Dimmesdale, the personification of "human frailty and sorrow ", is young, pale, and physically delicate man. He has melancholy eyes and a tremulous mouth. It shows us that he is a sensitive man. As an ordained Puritan minister, he is well educated, and he has a philosophical turn of mind. There is no doubt that he is devoted to God, passionate in his religion, and effective in the pulpit. Of the four major characters in this novel, who investigates the nature of evil and sin and is a criticism of Puritan rigidity and intolerance, Dimmesdale is the only Puritan. In Puritan terms, Dimmesdale's predicament is that he is unsure of his soul's status: He is exemplary in performing his duties as a Puritan minister and an indicator. However, he knows hehas sinned and considers himself as a hypocrite.The minister well knew-subtle, but remorseless hypocrite that he was!”..... It washis custom, too, as it has been that of many other religious men, to fast-not,however, like them, in order to purify the body and render it the fitter medium ofgodly illumination, but rigorously, and until his knees trembled beneath him, asan act of apology. (Hawthorne 2007: 122)As a minister, Dimmesdale has a voice that consoles and an ability to sway audiences. His followers adore him and his parishioners seek his advice. As a minister, Dimmesdale must be above reproach, and there is no question that he excels at his profession and enjoys a reputation among his congregation and other ministers. Aside his soul, he does do good works. His ministry aims people at leading good lives. If he publicly confesses, he would lose his ability and reputation. So he hesitates to confess his sin. Dimmesdale‟s struggle is dark and his penanc e is horrifying as he tries to unravel his mystery.At the end of the story, the writer puts the moral which presses upon the reader from the poor minister‟s miserable experience into one sentence, “Be true! Be true! Be true! Show freely to the world, if not your worst, yet some trait whereby the worst many be inferred!” (ibid. 291)The town‟s idolization of him reaches new heights after his Election Day sermon, which is his last. In his death, Dimmesdale becomes even more of an icon than he was in life. Many believe his confession was a symbolic act, while others believe Dimmesdale‟s fate was an example of divine judgment.1.3 Symbolic Meanings of Roger ChillingworthRoger Chillingworth is a symbol of revenge and true evil. As his name suggests, Roger Chillingworth is a man deficient in human warmth. His twisted, stooped, deformed shoulders mirror his distorted soul. Hawthorne begins building this symbol of ev il vengeance with Chillingworth‟s first appearance in the novel by associating him with deformity, wildness and mysterious power.This figure was slightly deformed, with the left shoulder a trifle higher than theright.(Ibid.25)…By the Indian‟s side, and evidently sustaining acompanionship with him, stood a white man, wearing a strange disarray ofcivi lized and savage costume….There was a remarkable intelligence in hisfeatures,…V ery soon, however, his look became keen and curious. His facedarkened with some powerful emotion. (Hawthorne 2007: 26)From the description of his early years with Hester, the reader is told that he was a difficult husband. He ignored his wife for much of the time, yet expected her to nourish his soul with affection when he did condescend to spend time with her. Chillingworth‟s decision to assume the identity of a “leech,” or doctor, is fitting. Unable to engage in equitable relationships with those around him, he feeds on the vitality of others as a way of energizing his own projects. Chillingworth‟s death is a result of the nature of his character. After Dimmesdale dies, Chillingworth no longer has a victim. Similarly, Dimmesdale‟s revelation that he is Pearl‟s father removes Hester from the old man‟s clutches. Having lost the objects of his revenge, the leech has no choice but to die.Ultimately, Chillingworth represents true evil. He is associated with secular and sometimes illicit forms of knowledge, as his chemical experiments and medical practices occasionally verge on witchcraft and murder. He is interested in revenge, not justice, and he seeks the deliberate destruction of others rather than a redress of wrongs. His desire to hurt others stands in co ntrast to Hester and Dimmesdale‟s sin, which had love, not hate, as its intent. Any harm that may have come from the young lovers‟deed was unanticipated and inadvertent, whereas Chillingworth reaps deliberate harm.1.4 Symbolic Meanings of PearlPearl is one of the most complicated figures in the story. Throughout the novel, she develops with a dynamic symbolic meaning. She is the living symbol of the scarlet letter and acts as a constant reminder of Hester‟s sin. When Hawthorne first described Pearl, she is immediately drawn to the scarlet letter “A” on Hester‟s bosom.But the first object of which Pearl seemed to become aware was the scarletletter on Hester‟s bosom. One day, as her mother stooped over the cradle, theglimmering of the gold embroidery about the letter and putting up her littlehand, she grasped at it, smiling not doubtfully, but with a decided gleam.”(Hawthorne 2007: 14)Beginning at infancy, Pearl serves as a reminder of her sin. Hawthorne shows this symbolic meaning in Chapter seven:Pearl and Hester go to the Governor‟s house and Pearl‟s attire inevitablyreminded the beholder of the token which Hester Prynne was doomed to wearupon her bosom. It was the scarlet letter in another form; the scarlet letterendowed with life! (Ibid. 70)Pearl is dressed in a scarlet dress with gold fringe exactly resembling the scarlet “A”on Hester‟s bosom. Pearl represents the scarlet letter not only symbolically but also literally. Hester says that Pearl is the living scarlet letter, and she causes Hester more anguish than the scarlet letter itself. Pearl is equally a symbol of sin for Dimmesdale. Dimmesdale is Pearl‟s father but he does not admit it publicly. In Pearl‟s eyes, until Dimmesdale acts as her father she will not accept him in her life. Acting like a father, Dimmesdale must acknowledge his sin publicly. “Will you stand here with mother and me tomorrow at noon?”(Ibid.132) Here Pearl is asking Dimmesdale to stand with them, and come open to the public. But Pearl laughed aloud and said, “You were not bold! You were not true! You would not promise to take my hand, and mother‟s hand, tomorrow at noon!”(Ibid. 138) while Dimmessdale answered no. To some extent, Pearl leads Hester and Dimmesdale to accept their sin. Pearl is a rebellious child and a reminder of her mother and father‟s sin. The real Pearl is the inquisitive, intelligent, and beautiful creature. She becomes the symbol for salvation in this novel. She contributes largely to the themes of the novel through her peculiar behavior.2. Symbolic Meanings of ObjectsIn The Scarlet Letter, most of the objects that are described have many symbolic meanings. The novel is filled with light and darkness symbols because it represents the most common battle of all time, good versus evil. A final example occurs in theway Hester and Dimmesdale can not acknowledge their love in front of others. When they meet in the woods, they feel that, “No golden light had ever been so precious as t he gloom of this dark forest.”(Hawthorne 2007: 199) This emotion foretells that they will never last together openly because their sin has separated them too much from normal life.2.1 Symbolic Meanings of Letter “A”In The Scarlet Letter, the letter “A”, the spirit of novel, builds up the framework and launches a close link between the human relationships. The letter “A”manifests in a variety of forms and places. The novel begins and ends both with the letter “A”with its conspicuous symbolic meanings. In the novel, the letter appears on Hester‟s gown, on Arthur‟s heart, in Pearl‟s hands as well as in the evening sky. Its symbolic meaning changes with the development of the novel.As time passes the letter‟s meaning on Hester‟s chest shifts also. This change is significant. It shows growth in the characters, and the community in which they live. In the course of the story, the “A”seems to encompass the entire range of human beings, from the earthly and passionate “adulteress” to the pure and spiritual “angel”. The letter A begins as a symbol of adultery. It then becomes a symbol of alone and alienations, and finally it becomes a symbol of able, angel and admirable.At the beginning of the story, the letter A, “is on fine red cloth, surrounded with an elaborate embroidery and fantastic flourishes of gold-thread”(Lodge 1987: 34), worn on Hester‟s bosom, is a symbol of her adultery against Roger Chillingworth. As a puritan punishment way of the adultery, it is her punishment to wear the letter “A”. The puritan treatment continues, because as Hester walks through the streets, she will be looked down upon as if she is some sort of demon from hell that commits a terrible crime. This letter is meant to be worn in shame, and to make Hester feel unwanted.Here, she said to herself, had been the scene of her guilt, and here should bethe scene of her earthly punishment…(Hawthorne 2007: 13 ) …ran before herprogress, turning their heads continually to stare into her face, and at thewinking baby in her arms, and at the shameful letter on her breast.(Ibid.18). ……and then and thereafter, for the remainder of her natural life, towear a mark of shame upon her bosom. (Hawthorne 2007: 31)Hester is a very strong and brave woman. Faced with such kind of punishment, many will leave Boston to seek a place where no one knows their great sin or they can emerge into another state where she could aloof from the law that condemns them. However, Hester chooses to stay, which shows that she has a lot of strength and integrity.Besides, the scarlet letter “A” also stands for Hester‟s lonely life in New England. After she is released, Hester lives in a cottage near the outskirts of the city.It had been built by an earlier settler, and abandoned, because the soil about itwas too sterile for cultivation, while its comparative remoteness put it out of thesphere of that social activity which already marked the habits of the emigrants.(Ibid. 53)Hester‟s social life is virtually eliminated as a result of her shameful history. Hester comes to have a part to perform in the world with her native energy of character and rare capacity.However, there was nothing that made her feel as if she belonged to it. Everygesture, every word, and even the silence of those with whom she came tocontact, implied, and often expressed, that she was banished, and as much aloneas if she inhabited another sphere, or communicated with the common nature byother organs and senses than the rest of human kind. She stood apart from moralinterests…seemed to be the sole portion that she retained in the universal heart.(Ibid. 59)Hester has no friends in the world, and little Pearl is the only companion of her lonely life, so the scarlet letter “A” also is a symbol of “alienation”.With the story‟s development,the scarlet letter “A”changes its meaning into being able, angel and admirable. After years of Hester‟s helping, serving, and sympathizing with them, “many of the townspeople refuse to interpret the scarlet letter …A‟ by its original signification, and now they believe that the scarlet letter …A‟ meant “Able” stand for her ability to her beautiful needlework and for her unselfish assistance to the poor and sick. In addition, “the letter was a symbol of her calling.”(Hawthorne 2007:148) At this point, a lot of townspeople realize what a noble character Hester possesses.Do you see that woman with the embroidered badge? It is our Hester —thetown‟s own Hester—who is so kind to the poor, so helpful to the sick, socomforting to the afflicted! (Ibid.179)The townspeople soon begin to believe that the badge is served to ward off evil, and Hester grows to be quite admirable amongst the people of the town. Hester overcomes the shame of her sin through the purity and goodness of her soul. Unselfishly offering her time and love to those who need her most proves that she is not worthy of the punishment which has been put on her.These three changes of the scarlet letter are significant; they show the progressive possession of her sin, her lonely life, and her ability. Hester is a strong and admirable woman who goes through more emotional torture than most people may do in a lifetime.2.2 Symbolic Meanings of MeteorBesides the most obvious symbol is the scarlet letter “A”, the meteor is also an important symbol in the novel. As Dimmesdale stands on the scaffold with Hester and Pearl in Chapter twelve, a meteor traces out an “A” in the night sky. Just as the novel says,But before Mr. Dimmesdale had done speaking, a light gleamed far and wideover all the silent sky. It was doubtless caused by one of those stars (meteor)which a person watching at night may so often observe burning out to waste,in the vacant regions of the atmosphere. (Ibid.134)To Dimmesdale, the meteor implies that he should wear a mark of shame just as Hester does. “The meteor is interpreted differently by the rest of the community, which thinks that it stands for …Angel‟and marks Governor Winthrop‟s entry into heaven. But …Angel‟is an awkward reading of the symbol. The Puritans commonly looked to symbols to confirm divine sentiments.”(Melissa 2003:37) In this narrative, however, symbols are taken to mean what the beholder wants them to mean. The incident with the meteor obviously highlights and exemplifies two different uses ofsymbols: Puritan and literary.3. Symbolic Meanings of SettingsAnother of Hawthorne‟s techniques, one that so effectively immerses us in the atmosphere of his story, is his use of settings. The entire novel takes place in and around the small colonial town of Boston, Massachusetts. As Hawthorne describes it, the town is situated precariously between the sea and the great “wilderness”of unsettled America.3.1 Symbolic Meanings of ScaffoldThe scaffold is an important symbol of the difference between Hester‟s and Dimmesdale‟s situations. It helps to establish an ironic contrast between her public torments and his inner anguish.The twenty-four chapters of The Scarlet Letter are closely knitted together by means of the scaffold scenes which appear three times, almost symmetrically, in the beginning, the middle, and the end of the book, each time bringing the four major characters together. The whole story gradually reached its climax through these three scaffold scenes. The scaffold can be said to constitute the framework for the whole novel, and from another perspective, it hints a “Crime and Punishment” theme.The first time “scaffold” appears in the second chapter, Hester wear s the scarlet letter “A” and was alone with her little Pearl in her hands on the scaffold for three hours‟ public humiliation. Meanwhile, a crowd of townspeople has gathered to watch her humiliation and hear a sermon. The novel has just kicked off at that time. It is the starting date that Hester is punished by the religious precepts. Her husband, Roger Chillingworth, has just returned and is in the outskirts of the crowd. Her lover, Arthur Dimmesdale was in the crowd as well, but he didn‟t tell the truth that he was that adulterer owing to his cowardliness.Hester Prynne passed through this portion of her ordeal, and came to a sort ofscaffold, at the western extremity of the market place. It stood nearly beneath theroof of the Boston‟s earliest church, and appeared to be a fixture there.(Hawthorne 2007: 18)The unhappy culprit sustained herself as best a woman might, under the heavyweight of a thousand unrelenting eyes, all fastened upon her and concentrated ather bosom. It was almost intolerable to be borne.……But, under the heavyinfliction which it was her doom to endure, she felt, at moments, as if she mustshriek out with the full power of her lungs, and cast herself from the platformdown upon the ground, or else go mad at once. (Ibid.20)The second appearance of the scaffold is in the Chapter twelve. As a much-admired brilliant young minister, Dimmesdale hides the feeling of sin, which makes him very painful. In the covering of darkness, Dimmesdale has made his way to the scaffold to perform a silent vigil of his own.Walking in the shadow of a dream, as it were, and perhaps actually walking inhis sleep, Mr. Dimmesdale reached the spot, where, now so long since. HesterPrynne had lived through her first hours of public shame. The same platform orstand, black and weather-stained with the tread of many culprits who had sinceascended it, remained standing beneath the balcony of the meeting-house. Theminister went up the steps. (Ibid. 126)There was a furious inner world struggle in Dimmesdale‟s mind, a struggle between his cowardliness and his consciousness. Although there is no public punishment by the religious precepts, he quietly accepts the punishment on his soul. So far we have seen Dimmesdale‟s conscious attempt to deal with his guilt, but now we go deep into his subconscious. In his spiritual torture, he cries out with a shriek of agony to confess his sin that is heard by Hester and Pearl as they journey to their home from the bed of the dying Governor Winthrop. Hawthorne described it as follow:Hester silently ascended the steps, and stood on the platform, holding little Pearlby the hand. The minister felt for the child‟s other hand, and took it. The momentthat he did so, there came what seemed a wild rush of new life, other life than hisown, pouring like a torrent into his heart, and hurrying through all his veins, as ifthe mother and child were communicating their vital warmth to his half-stillsystem. The three formed an electric chain. (Hawthorne 2007: 132)The third scaffold scene is at the end of the novel, when New England is being held a grand celebration. All conflicts in the entire story were resolved, including the conflict between Hester and Chillingworth; the conflict between Dimmesdale and Chillingworth; the conflict between little Pearl and her father Dimmesdale and the result of Dimmesdale‟s own inner world struggles. After making the last sermon, Dimmesdale goes onto the scaffold to confess his sin, and ultimately he is punished.He turned towards the platform, and stretched forth his arms. “Hester,” said he,“come here! Come, my little Pearl!”… “Hester Prynne,” cried he, with a piercingearnestness, “in the name of Him, so terrible and so merciful, who gives megrace, at this last moment, to do what — for my own heavy sin and miserableagony —I withheld myself from doing seven years ago, come here now, andwrap your strength about me! Y ou, Hester; but let it be guided by the will whichGod has granted me! This wretched and wronged old man is opposing is with allhis might! —with all his own might, and the devil‟s! Come Hester, come!Support me up this platform!” (Ibid.286) ……While the minister stood, with aflush of triumph in his face, as one who, in the crisis of acutest pain, had won avictory. Then, down he sank upon the platform! ……Old Roger Chillingworthknelt down beside him, with a blank, dull face, out of which the life seemed tohave departed. (Ibid. 292)Hester and Dimmesdale were finally together facing the people while little Pearl kissing her father seems to break a spell. In this powerful scene, Dimmesdale regains his soul, Pearl gains her humanity, Chillingworth loses his victim, and Hester loses her dreams. Public humiliation and penance are symbolized by the scaffold, the only place where Dimmesdale can go to atone for his guilt and escape his tormentor‟s clutches. The collective community that watches, at beginning and end, is a symbol of the rigid Puritan point of view with unquestioning obedience to the law.3.2 Symbolic Meanings of PrisonThe prison has rich symbolic meanings. Foremost it is a symbol for the Puritanical severity of law. The description of the prison indicates that it is old and。