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The Scarlet Letter:Self-redemptionAbstract:Hawthorne’s works, whether novels or short stories, Hawthorne can be seen often in a symbolic way, the community was ugly in a didactic way of ethics displayed in the reader's eyes.So "evil" in his work has always dominated, and Hawthorne's life is also exploring how to treat "evil" to the problem."The Scarlet Letter," Hawthorne's masterpiece as a profound reflection of Hawthorne's work reflects the core of Christian ethics: the common people sin and crime of this mercy and salvation.Based on the "The Scarlet Letter," characters and content of the re-excavation works in the salvation of Hawthorne to interpret.Key Words: The Scarlet Letter；Hawthorne；salvation；ethics.红字：救赎摘要：霍桑的作品 ,不论是长篇小说 ,还是短篇小说 ,都可以看出霍桑常常用一种象征的手法 ,把当时社会的种种丑恶用一种伦理说教的方式展示在读者的眼前。
兰州商学院长青学院本科生毕业论文（设计）论文（设计）题目：《红字》中海斯特的女性意识系另比_________ 外语系 ______________ 专业（方向）：英语（国际商务）______i2014 年—月—日《红字》中海斯特的女性意识【摘要】霍桑是十九世纪美国文学史上最具影响力的浪漫主义作家之一。
《红字》作为霍桑最重要的一篇小说，不仅对美国，而且对整个世界对女性主权意识的改变产生了深远的影响。
小说刻画了海斯特为争取自由幸福而勇于反抗传统社会习俗的叛逆者的形象，她的坚定的反抗意识贯穿文章始终。
本文首先简单介绍了《红字》作者霍桑，及小说产生的背景和其主要内容，之后具体讲述了女主人公海斯特女性意识逐渐产生的过程，结语中指出，因受霍桑个人经历和背景的影响，海斯特最终形成的女权主义是矛盾的、不彻底的。
［关键词］海斯特清教社会女性意识iiABSTRACTHawthor ne is one of the roma ntic writers of the nin etee nth cen tury America n literary history's most in flue ntial. "The Scarlet Letter" Hawthor ne as a novel the most importa nt, not only for America, but for the en tire world to cha nge the con scious ness of wome n's sovereig nty had a profo und impact. 17th-ce ntury no vels Bost on Purita n coloni zati on of North America un der the backgro und of colonial rule reflects the theocratic persecutio n of wome n to the heroine Hester adultery was discovered puni shed for clues to Hester as the represe ntative of wome n the character's inner world and discover the fate un fold gradually female sovereig n con scious ness discovery and An alysis. Hyster novel portrayed the courage to fight for freedom and happ in ess image rebel aga inst traditi onal social customs, and her steadfast oppositi on always con scious throughout the article, which laid the foun dati on Hyster dominant positi on in the no vel. This paper an alyzes the Hawthor ne Lan guage family backgro und, social backgro und, historical backgro und, and found him to shape the image of Hyster femi nism and the reas on is n ot completely in con tradict ion.[Keyword] Heist ? Joplin Puritan society Hawthorne feminist consciousness目录一、《红字》作者霍桑的生平简介 (5)二、《红字》产生的背景及其内容简介 (6)三、................................................................. 女性意识概述. (8)四、 ................................................................ 海斯特的女性意识在《红字》中的体现 (9)(一)潜伏在内心的女性意识 (9)(二)单身女人的顽强生活-- 女性意识的萌动 (10)(三)公开对峙前夫，不忍其恶行一一女性意识的觉醒 (11)(四)鼓励情人出逃----女性意识的成熟 (12)(五)海斯特胸前的红字在人们心目中的变化 (13)(六)对女权主义活动的引领 (13)五、结语 (14)《红字》中海斯特的女性意识一、《红字》作者霍桑的生平简介纳塞尼尔•霍桑(Nathaniel Hawthorne ，1804--1864 )为著名的美国小说家，生于马萨诸塞州塞勒姆镇，该地名是基督教圣地耶路撒冷的后半，足见当年早期移民的宗教情愫。
The Scarlet LetterAuthor: Nathaniel HawthorneSymbolism：The Scarlet Letter, A symbol of shame, but instead it becomes a powerful symbol of identity to Hester. The letter’s meaning shifts as time passes. Originally intended to mark Hester as an adulteress, the “A” eventually comes to stand for “Able.”The Meteor , 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 heavenThe Rosebush, Next to the Prison Door .The narrator chooses to begin his story with the image of the rosebush beside the prison door. The rosebush symbolizes the ability of nature to endure and outlast man’s activities.Pearl is a sort of living version of her mother’s scarlet letter. She is the physical consequence of sexual sin and the indicator of a transgression (evildoing). Upward American spiritCharacter analysis:Hester: disloyalty, betrayal, deception, sexual desire, adultery. Face, correct, redeem, purify. Praise, content, conformability.Dimmesdale: adultery, cowardice, hypocrisy, dishonesty, selfishness, too coward to confess, tortured by his conscience. Sympathetic, disfavor his hesitation, indecisiveness and cowardice. Chillingworth: revenge. Tortured by the desire of revenge, twisted and reduced to nothing. disgusted, think he committed greater crime.Puritanism in The Scarlet LetterPuritan background: setting, events, characters, thoughts, behaviors.Puritan doctrines: original sin, total depravity, predestination, limited atonement.Ralph Waldo Emerson1.NatureThe declaration of TranscendentalismAnalysis of “Nature”A long essay which has eight parts: the opening, commodity, beauty, language, discipline, Idealism, spirit and prospects. Our selection is taken from the opening. Taken as a whole, “Nature” expresses Emerson’s philosophy in a more systematic fashion than any other work of his.Meanings of natureI BeautyNature is beautiful. : the complete, mysterious, useful and moral beauty of nature. First, nature’s beauty lies in its completeness. Second, nature’s beauty lies in its mystery. cannot be manipulated. Only when he holds a sincere respect for nature, can man feel the mysterious beauty of nature. Third, nature’s beauty lies in its usefulness. Nature provides man without any benefitII Nature Is Divine●Nature is divine and has the eternal order which should not be violated. Influenced in a way byChinese ancient philosophy, Emerson believes that all the things in the world come from the same root---the Oversoul.●Emerson believes that man can find God in his own heart by direct contact with nature●Nature has permeated (penetrate) all aspects of human life. Spirit embodied in nature hasinfluence upon us. Nature inspires man and gives him\her power. Man should find the truth,goodness and beauty in his own soul and bring into play his potentiality as human being. Then, he will become himself “All that Adam had, all that Caesar could, you have and can do".For Emerson, the individual is potentially the most divine and any organization or existing idea can not limit the development of individual.III Nature Is ChangingEverything in nature is in a process---growing, withdrawing and falling into the ground. The flowing of nature comes from a force which impels it to develop. For instance, a river is always in constantly flowing. It originates from mountains, flows along great plains and ultimately converges into the sea. Transcendental philosophyNature symbolizes freedom, independence and change. These are Individualism elements which attend to significance of common life. Therefore Emerson's nature is the theoretical base of American Individualism---one of the characteristics of American culture. As the symbol of Spirit, nature helps to prove that man's soul is beautiful, divine and fluid. Man should pursue spiritual fulfillmentExcerpt from Nature: in Nature Emerson puts forward every phenomenon of the nature there was the spirit of the spirit of the nature.Here from this paragraph we could see that emerson found the beauty in the wildness nature rather than the village or something. “in the wildness, I find something more dear and connate than in streets or villages.” In the wildness of the nature, emerson can transcend physical body to the spirit of the God and he can become one part of the spirit.He emerges into the nature, and then he goes into the Oversoul. “I am part or particle of God.” “I am nothing; I see all”. This sentence clearly shows that emerson merges into the sporit. And in the nature we could get the eternal beauty.2.Self-Reliance①“The Confidence”. a man must show his opinion confidently and bravely in spite of different ideas.②“The Independence”. A man should keep himself firmly ; not be easily influenced by environment.③Keep personality, which is closely related to the confidence and the independence. a man must keep his personality and conform to his own principles.④“Showing no Sympathy to the Poor” shows that why the poor are poor is mainly due to their backward thinking. Showing help to this kind of people means doing harm to them.Comment: In Self-reliance, Emerson expressed the romantic idea of individualism, with an emphasis on being self-sufficient. He promoted relying on oneself rather than on established society. Emerson was known for his repeated use of phrase “trust thyself”. “Self-reliance” is his explanation---both systematic and passionate of what he meant by this, and why he was moved to make it his catchphrase. Every individual possesses a unique genius, Emerson argues, that can only be revealed when that individual has the courage to trust his or her own thoughts, attitudes, and inclinations against all public disapproval.Henry Wadsworth Longfellow1. A Psalm of Life①Love of nature, love for the past ②Trochaic tetrameter③constant theme for poets: The relationship of life and death. ④He expresses his pertinent interpretation to that by warning us that though life is hard and everybody must die, time flies and life is short, yet, human beings ought to be hold “to act,” to face the reality straightly so as to make otherwise meaningless life significant.2. My Lost YouthⅤ. Terms 10’New England PoetsThe new England poets were the representatives of imitation, authors like Irving, William Cullen Bryant, Henry wadsworth Longfellow etc. tried to imitate the forms and themes of their English brothers, such as Alexander Pope, Robert Burns, Thomas Gray, wordsworth and so on.Rip van winkleThis is one story in Washington Irving’s Sketch Book. It tells a story of a kind but hen-pecked man rip van winkle. The protagonist does not take care of his own family very well and just wants to live idly. But his wife does not want him to live the life like that and keeps talking to him. Unhappy at home, he enters in the mountain with his gun and dog. One afternoon, he meets some strangers looking people playing at nine pins. Out of curiosity, he drinks the wine and falls into sleep. When he wakes up, he finds his dog missing and his gun rusted. He has to go back to the village again. But can not recognize the village and the folks. Later his surprise, he has been slept for 20 years. And his wife has been dead and his children grow up. At the end of story, his daughter takes him home and he still lives the life as he was used to.Ⅵ.Comment 20’1. Comment on Moby Dick:a. Although the narrator sees insanity in Ahab, Melville’s emotional sympathy is with the deficient Ahab. He begins with a noble intention to crush evil, but in taking this to the extreme, he becomes evil himself. He is destroyed by his consuming desire to root out evil.b. Moby Dick is a symbol to represent cruel, brutal, malicious powers of nature. Nature is capable of destroying the human world. Nature threatens humanity & thus calls out the heroic powers of the human beings. So the power of the universe is both of blessing and curse. In this way, the author constructs a complicated statement about American view of nature.2. Compare: Emily Dickinson with Walt Whitman in their writing style.Similarities①Along with Emily Dickinson, Walt Whitman stands as one of the two giants of American poetry in the nineteenth century.②Pioneers of imagism③Part of American Renaissance④Influenced by transcendentalism⑤Thematically, they both extolled in their different ways and emergent America, its expansion, its individualism and its Americanness, their poetry being part of “American Renaissance”⑥Technically, they both added to the literary independence of the new nation by breaking free of the convention of the iambic pentameter and exhibiting a freedom in form unknown before: they are pioneers in American poetry.Differences①Whitman seems to keep his eyes on society at large; Dickinson explores the inner life of the individual.②Whereas Whitman is “national” in his outlook. Dickinson is “regional”③Whitman has the “catalogue techniques”, all-inclusive catalogue. Whereas Dickinson’s concise, direct, simple diction and syntax。
As I finished reading "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne in XX year, I found myself absorbed by its powerful, lingering themes and striking images.这一年，我读完了纳撒尼尔·霍桑的《红字》，感觉自己身临其境，深深被它强大而深远的主旨和惊人的画面所吸引。
The novel is set in Puritan Boston, where Hester Prynne,a young woman, is ostracized and forced to wear a scarletletter "A" on her dress as punishment for being an adulteress. As the story unfolds, we are introduced to Hester's former lover, Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, and the vengeful husbandof Hester, Roger Chillingworth. Through their journeys and struggles, Hawthorne tackles the themes of sin, guilt, redemption, and the human condition.小说的背景是纯洁主义的波士顿，在这里一名年轻的女子海斯特·普林因通奸被社会驱逐，被迫在衣服上佩戴着一个红字母“A”作为惩罚。
随着故事的展开，我们遇到了海斯特的情人，神父亚瑟·丹姆斯代尔，以及她的丈夫罗杰·钱林沃斯的复仇。
霍桑通过他们的旅程和斗争，探讨了道德、罪恶、救赎和人类的本质。
优秀毕业论文（设计）剖析霍桑《红字》中红字A所暗含的象征意义 Hawthorne’s employment of symbolism in The Scarlet Letter摘要《红字》一书使美国作家霍桑誉满全球。
该书采用的主要艺术写作手法是象征主义，象征主义不仅贯穿了小说的始终，同时也为其增添了经久不衰的魅力。
本文拟从红字“A” 、人物及场景这三个方面来重点剖析霍桑《红字》所暗含的象征意义。
本文先阐述红色的象征意义及红字“A”的多重含义。
然后着重分析场景的象征意义，例如绞刑台、监狱、野蔷薇丛、阳光、小溪、森林等场景的象征意义。
最后探讨小说中人物的象征意义，并深入研究霍桑象征意义创作的技巧。
霍桑对文学的影响远远地超越了他所处的时代。
《红字》这部意义深远的巨作，是十九世纪浪漫主义文学的优秀代表。
对人类挣扎的灵魂的刻画使霍桑成为世界文学史上的杰出人物。
关键词：霍桑；《红字》；象征；象征主义AbstractThe Scarlet Letter makes American writer Nathaniel Hawthorne known all over the world. The main artistic writing skill in this novel is symbolism, which not only runs through the whole novel, but also adds long-lasting charms to the book. This thesis attempts to expound Hawthorne’s employment of symbolism in The Scarlet Letter through the analysis of the scarlet letter “A”, the characters and the settings. It first explores the symbolism of the color red and the multi-layered meanings of the capital letter “A”. Then it concentrates on symbolic meanings of the settings, such as the scaffold, the prison, the wild rosebushes, the sunshine, the brook and the forest. Finally, it analyzes the symbolic meanings of the characters and further explores Hawthorne’s techniques—symbolism. Hawthorne’s influence on literature is far beyond his time, The Scarlet Letter is an excellent representative work of romantic literature of the 19th century, a masterpiece of profound and long-lasting significance. His portrayals of the struggle of human soul have made him an outstanding figure in the history of world literature.Key words: Hawthorne; The Scarlet Letter; symbol; symbolismTable of ContentsAcknowledgements (I)摘要……………………………………………………………………………………………….错误！未找到引用源。
The scarlet rose blossom on the humanity soil The Scarlet Letter(,1850) written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, tells the tragic love story between Hester Prynne and Dimmesdale, which takes place in the 17th century Puritan Boston. Nathaniel Hawthorne is a world-known American romantic novelist whose works often use symbolism and often have moral messages and psychological complexity. Like many of his other compositions, The Scarlet Letter centers on the inherent sin and evil of humanity. Through narrating the character’s fortune, it reveals the cruelty of the social laws, the deceptive aspect of the religion and the hypocrisy of the moral in the 19th when American capitalism enjoyed a boom.The story unfolds at the point view of Hester. The heroine Hester Prynne married Dr. Chillingworth, but there was no love between them and Chillingworth disappeared for years. During this time, lonely Hester committed adultery with a local Minster Dimmesdale and gave birth to their daughter Pearl. Hester was punished in public, being forced to wear a scarlet letter of ‘A’ which referred to adultery. Despite this, Hester refused to give her lover’s name away to protect him. At the same time, the husband Chillingworth came back and swore to revenge for the shame. Hiding his own true name, he found out the truth step by step. In this course, he tormented Dimmesdale mentally, leading to Dimmesdale’s admission on the identity of Pearl’s father, and also his death. Chillingworth himself passed away soon after because he possessed nothing except hatred. Differing from those male characters, although Hester was treated unfairly, she overcome discriminations and won the citizens’ respect for her tenacity, kindness and diligence, transporting the meaning of the world into “able” and “angle”. At last, Hester chose to be buried with her lover Dimmesdale, leaving “Black land, a red A word” on the tombstone.”Hawthorne is absolutely a master in Formalism, including repeated images, contrastive colors, and sets of words.All of them take shape implied meanings, which make the passage profound and veiled.Among all of the images, the letter A is the most significant one. The meaning of the letter shifts with the time going by. In chapter1 and chapter 2, it represents a kindof punishment of the religious society for disgrace. In the middle part of the novel, A becomes the symbol of Hester’s virtues: “There glimmered the embroidered letter, with comfort in its unearthly ray. Elsewhere the token of sin, it was the taper of the sick-chamber” “They said that it meant Able; so strong was Hester Prynne, with a women’s strength.”(p141 chapter 13)At the latter stage, the token of A goes further. It is promoted to a goddess figure. The emphasis is no long on her capacity, but on her elevated spirits. Alongside the letter A, there are many images used in the composition. For example, at the beginning, it was Hester who walks up the guillotine to accept the worldly judgment, while at last it is Dimmesdale who walks up the guillotine to acknowledge his guilty and accept spiritual judgment. The guillotine establishes her ignominy first and proclaims his salvation lastly.In the ending sentence: “Black land, a red A word” on the tombstone.” The colors of black and white form pair of contrast and the two colors run through the composition. “ such unsightly vegetation, which evidently found something congenial in the soil that had so early borne the black flower of civilized society, a prison. But no one side of the portal, and rooted almost at the threshold, was a wild rose-bush. “(p39-40) The Great Whore in Revelation is dressed in scarlet, riding a scarlet beast. The color scarlet, in the Bible also symbolizes guilt. The prison is black, which builds a gloomy atmosphere and indicates the injustice of the prison. The color of Dimmesdale’s cape is black too, under which is the scarlet letter, his biggest secret. The concealment of the guilt (black and scarlet) creates huge pain.Repetitive words bring about the intense feeling of oppression, adding to words expressive force. "He will be known" emerges many times, from citizens or from Chiligworth, easily being associating with a hidden snake which lives on the dark secrets.What’s more, the book also reflects author’s complex attitude and consideration on religion. Nathaniel Hawthorne is born in a Puritanism family, leading to his early research of Puritanism. However, he is not a completely Puritan. He keeps his doubt and confusion towards this religion.In his age, the Puritanism went to the extremes. They persecuted people who believed in different religions and oppressed the humanity under the banner of God. From the Hester’s rebellion against the Puritan dogmas and the sufferings Dimmesdale undergone, we can infer his strong criticism, but meanwhile he trusts religious superstitions, not getting rid of such concepts like “origin sin”, “salvation” “determined fate”. He sings for the power of the religion to purify people. For example, Hester, this brave tenacious woman, sometimes also feels afraid, upset, worried. She turns to God for spiritual relive more than one time. The belief warns her to keep the goodness.Nathaniel Hawthorne uses multiple literal decorations to reveal the psychological state of the characters, to mold their personalities, to show their virtues and vices. What is more valuable is his exploration about humanity. The Scarlet Letter is confession and salvation of guilty people with pure soul, those who blossom the beautiful rose in their life.The scarlet rose blossom on the humanity soil辛宇160144179电子信息。
红字读后感英文After reading the book "红字"（The Scarlet Letter）by Nathaniel Hawthorne, I am left with a myriad of emotions. This deeply symbolic and thought-provoking novel explores themes of sin, redemption, and the consequences of one's actions.Set in seventeenth-century Puritan New England, the story revolves around Hester Prynne, a young woman who is forced to wear a scarlet letter "A" on her chest as a symbol of her adultery. Through Hester's experiences, Hawthorne examines the impact of social norms and expectations on individuals and the dichotomy between public judgement and personal growth.One of the most striking aspects of the novel is its portrayal of Hester's transformation. Initially, she is depicted as a defiant and strong-willed woman. Despite being ostracized by her community and burdened by their judgement, she remains proud and refuses to reveal the identity of her fellow sinner, Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale. Throughout the novel, however, Hester's character evolves as she learns to accept her sin and its consequences. She becomes a symbol of resilience and inner strength. Furthermore, the character of Reverend Dimmesdale adds another layer of complexity to the narrative. As a respected religious figure, he is tormented by guilt and remorse for his secret sin. The internal conflict he faces between his commitment to his faith and his desire for redemption is depicted with great intensity. Dimmesdale's struggle serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of repressed emotions and the toll it can take on one's mental and physical health.The symbolism employed throughout the novel is masterfully done. The scarlet letter itself represents the public shame and punishment that Hester must endure. It is a constant reminder of her sin and an ever-present fixture in her life. Yet, as the story progresses, the letter takes on new meanings. It becomes a symbol of Hester's strength and resilience, a mark of individuality and defiance against societal expectations.Another significant symbol in the novel is the forest, which represents freedom and a departure from the rigid rules of the Puritan society. It is in the forest that Hester and Dimmesdale are able to express their true selves and escape from the judgement of their community. The contrast between the oppressive world of the Puritans and the liberating atmosphere of the forest emphasizes the themes of personal freedom and the individual's right to self-expression."The Scarlet Letter" is a timeless classic that continues to resonate with readers today. It raises profound questions about the nature of sin, guilt, and redemption. It also challenges societal norms and explores the complex interplay between public perception and personal identity. The characters are richly developed, and their struggles and triumphs are deeply moving. Hawthorne's skillful use of symbolism and his mastery of the English language make this novel a true literary masterpiece.In conclusion, "The Scarlet Letter" is a powerful exploration of sin, redemption, and the human condition. It delves into the complexity of human emotions and the consequences of our actions. Throughvivid characters and thought-provoking symbolism, Hawthorne presents a narrative that remains relevant and impactful. This book serves as a reminder that our mistakes do not define us and that true strength comes from accepting our flaws and growing from them.。
河南财经学院成功学院本科生毕业论文An Analysis of Symbolism inThe Scarlet Letter浅析《红字》中象征主义手法的运用河南财经学院成功学院毕业论文 (设计) 开题报告AbstractNathaniel Hawthorne is a great romantic novelist in America in the 19th century。
As a great romantic novelist，Hawthorne is outstanding in handling application of symbolism.The Scarlet Letter is Hawthorne’s most important symbolic novel，which is the best work of Hawthorne and one of the indubitable masterpieces of American Literature. And it is this novel that makes Nathaniel Hawthorne known all around the world。
In this work，Hawthorne uses the symbolism so skillfully that it enhances the artistic effects of his work greatly。
In The Scarlet Letter，symbolism runs through the whole novel. The most important symbol is the scarlet letter itself。
Not only does “A” ma nifest in various forms, but also it has changing meanings from “adultery" to“able", even “a ngelic" in the novel。
An Interpretation of Roger Chillingworth学校：徐州师范大学专业：商贸英语姓名：陈伟“The Scarlet Letter”as the Hawthorne’s masterpiece is a world-known tragic novel. It shows different characters vividly through delicate description and profound psychological analysis. Roger Chillingworth, one of the main characters in this long story “The Scarlet Letter,” is an ugly old man. To some extent, the image undergoes a declining transformation from God, to Satan, and finally back to human nature.At the beginning, it sounds offensive to say there are some factors of God in Chilingworth, at least not a born one. From the story, we know that he used to be “a pure and upright man,”“a wise and just man”. In the first few chapters, he seems to be flawless, who has absolute right to make judgment over other people. Latterly, he appears in the town when Dimmesdale is in poor health, and is hailed an angel by some townspeople, sent by God, just when a physician is badly needed. In front of him, other main characters are sinful, especially Hester Prynne and Authur Dimmesdale.Next, just describing Roger Chillingworth as Satan because of his kinds of evil behaviors, which plays a key role in this vicious transformation. He is the producer of “A”, the embodiment of evil. Form the name Roger Chillingworth, we can find some implied meanings. Chillingworth’s partial tone is “chill”, which just tell readers his personality. When Chllingworth knows that his wife has relationship with Dimmesdale and is also pregnant, psychological revenge occurs to him. In order to punish Dimmesdale, he losts his reason and kindness, and takes pleasure of punishing him, what he does makes him become more and more sinful. However, when Dimmesdale died, he has not been happy for that, just like losting sopporting point, “so that he is completely wilted and faded...like uprooted weeds being withered under the bright sunshine.”At last, after Chillingworth’s death, according to his testament, he bequeaths his considerable property to Hester’s daughter Pearl, e ven though she is not his own. Thisaction, I think, is confession to what he did previously, and representation of his return to human beings’ nature. Therefore, Chillingworth is not so selfish and evil in essence.From the transformation of kind, to evil, finally back to nature, we can see that the character of Chillingworth is not only a flat one, but also a complex one, which need us to read and analysis deeply.。
英语专业毕业论文《红字》赏析全英文（可编辑）浅析《红字》中象征主义手法的运用AbstractNathaniel Hawthorne is a great romantic novelist in America in the19th century. As a great romantic novelist, Hawthorne is outstanding in handling application of symbolism.The Scarlet Letter is Hawthorne's most important symbolic novel, which is the best work of Hawthorne and one of the indubitable masterpieces of American Literature. And it is this novel that makes Nathaniel Hawthorne known all around the world. In this work, Hawthorne uses the symbolism so skillfully that it enhances the artistic effects of his work greatly. In The Scarlet Letter, symbolism runs through the whole novel. The most important symbol is the scarlet letter itself. Not only does “A” manifest in various forms, but also it has changing meanings from “adultery” to “able”, even “angelic” in the novel. Besides, the name of the four major characters in the novel: Hester Prynne, Arthur Dimmesdale, Roger Chillingworth and Pearl also have their own symbolic meanings. Some other objects and natural surroundings that are described in the novel such as the jail, the forest, the rose bush and so on are all endowed with a deep symbolic significance. The author of the thesis will explore the usage of symbolism in The Scarlet Letter from the t hree aspects mentioned above and analyze Hawthorne’s skillful use ofsymbolism in The Scarlet LetterKey Words: the scarlet letter;symbolism;Hester Prynne;Pearl摘要纳撒尼尔?霍桑是十九世纪美国伟大的浪漫主义小说家。
作为一位伟大的浪漫主义小说家,霍桑对象征主义手法的运用可以说是独具匠心。
长篇小说《红字》是霍桑重要的象征主义代表作品,无疑也是美国文学浪漫主义时期最著名的作品之一。
也正是这部巨著使得霍桑誉满全球。
在这部作品中,作者巧妙运用了象征主义手法,加强了作品的艺术效果。
整篇作品象征主义手法贯穿始终。
其中,最重要的要数红字“A”本身的象征意义。
它不仅以各种各样的形式出现,并且其象征意义不断变化,从“通奸”到“有能力的”甚至“天使般的” 。
此外,小说中四个主要角色:海丝特,丁梅斯代尔,齐灵沃斯,珠儿也都有其各自的象征意义。
小说中描述的景物和场景,例如监狱、森林、玫瑰花园等等也都寓意深刻。
本文正是从以上这几个方面着手,探究作者在小说《红字》中对象征主义手法的巧妙运用。
关键词: 红字;象征;海丝特?普琳;珍珠AcknowledgementsThis thesis is the product of the author and the supervisor's three months of efforts. It has been repeatedly revised under the guidance of Professor XXX. It was the joint efforts of both the author and the teachersin Foreign Languages Department. I would like to express myheartfelt thanks to Professor XXX and the teachers who have helped the author in the process of the thesis writing. I will also give my thanks to my classmates and friends who have helped me revise the thesis. Last but not least, I will give my heartfelt thanks to my parents who have been always supporting and encouraging me.ContentsIntroduction 11 Various Symbolic Meanings of the Scarlet Letter “A” 31.1 The Change of the Symbolic Meanings of the Scarlet Letter “A”31.1.1 Adultery 31.1.2 Alone and Alienation 41.1.3 Able, Admirable and Angel 51.2 The Scarlet Letter and the Strictness of Puritan Society52 The Symbolic Meaning of the Four Main Characters 62.1 Hester Prynne 62.2 Arthur Dimmesdale 72.3 Roger Chillingworth 82.4 Pearl 93 The Symbolic Meanings of the Objects in the Novel 12Conclusion 15Bibliography 16IntroductionNathaniel Hawthorne was born in Salem in 1804. He was born in a prestigious New England family closely related with Puritan church; his ancestors attended the persecution of people belonging to different churches, such as Quakers. When he was born, his family declined. He was aware of his ancestors' misdeeds and thus "blackness of Hawthorne" formed. He thought that the reason of his family's decline is his ancestors' misdeeds. And he didn't agree with the optimism held by Transcendentalists towards human nature. He wrote lots of works on everlasting evil side in human natureHawthorne graduated from Bowdoin College. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Franklin Pierce, the 14th American presidents were his classmates. After graduation, he lived in seclusion and wrote. Later, he worked in the US Custom House. After Pierce became president, he was asked to be the consular in Liverpool and Italy.Hawthorne's masterpiece includes his short story collections: Twice-Told Tales; Moses from an Old Manse and novels: The Scarlet Letter;The House of Seven Gables; The Blithedale Romance; The Marble Faun.Hawthorne's writing skills can be summarized as follows: Hawthorne seems to be influenced a lot by the sin and evil in his sense. Hebelieves evil exists in human heart all the time. For example, in the novel The Scarlet Letter, the minister Dimmesdale tries to pretend how pure and pious he is. He wants to cover up the evil in his mind. Notonly Dimmesdale wants to do like this, but also all the people in the world, because we are only human beings. And the evil just likes a mark that exist s in our mind when we are born. And in Hawthorne’s mind, people who commit a crime must be punished, because people can get experience from this way. And also he supports people to tell the truth and not to offend. Nathaniel Hawthorne is a great romantic novelist in America in the 19th century and is considered to be the first greatest American fiction writer in the moralistic tradition. Hawthorne is outstanding in literature skill, especially in handling symbolism. His work---The Scarlet Letter is notable for its symbolism and is regardedas the first symbolic novel in American literature.The story begins in seventeenth-century Boston, which is underPuritan command. The husband---an old and ugly scholar, sends a young woman, named Hester Prynne, ahead to America. However, for many years,he himself doesn’t arrive. Obviously, it is possible that he has been lost in the sea. While waiting for her husband, Hester and a young local minister called Arthur Dimmesdale fall in love with each other. They commit a dultery secretly. Because of Hester’s Pregnancy, the secret is finally discovered. Hester and Dimmesdale love each other. But theirlove is forbidden in that strict society. It is sinful. Due to this fact,Hester is punished by society with a letter “A” on her chest, which is considered to be an evil, a shame.Hester is brave enough to face the cruel society. She is always with a mind of courage. She has been alone with her child for so long a time, with little communication. Hester has to wear the letter “A” day by day, seven years as for punishment and ill fame. However, Hester is a kind-hearted woman and is always ready to help other people in the community without expecting any thanks. Later, people in the town no longer view the scarlet letter A as a punishment, but rather as representing her great strength and bravery and they say it means “Able”.But Arthur Dimmesdale, his sin against Hester and Pearl is that he will not acknowledge them as his wife and daughter in the daylight. Heis too weak to admit his sins. He suffers from mysterious heart trouble, seemingly caused by psychological distress. What’s worse, he is an advisor to the townspeople about their sins.After Mr. Dimmesdale’s death, no one changes more in appearancethan Roger Chillingworth. All his strength and energy has been used to harm his patient. This unhappy man has made his aim in life to addto the suffering of the young minister. When the evil old man no longer has such a purpose, the devil takes him back to the hell.The Scarlet Letter is a cultural allegory, in which the author indirectly tells the future of Puritanism. The Scarlet Letter is asample in which American Romanticism adapted itself to American Puritanism. The theme of the story should1 Various Symbolic Meanings o f the Scarlet Letter “A”1.1 The Change of the Symbolic Meanings of the Scarlet Letter “A”In this novel, the scarlet letter “A” changes its meanings for many times.This change is very significant. It shows growth in the characters, and the community in which they live. At the very beginning, the letter “A” is regarded as a kind of sin or evil. Then with the development of the story, it becomes a symbol of alone and alienation of the female character Hester. Finally, it becomes a symbol of able, admirable and angel.1.1.1 AdulteryIn the novel, the letter "A", worn on Hester's bosom, is a symbol of her adultery against Roger Chillingworth. Putting the letter “A” on her bosom and letting her show to the public is the puritan way of treating her as a criminal, for the crime of adultery. Hester is looked down upon as if she is some sort of demon from hell that commits aterrible crime. This letter is meant to be worn in shame, and to make Hester feel unwanted.This is the common way to explain the symbolic meaning of the letter. The color of scarlet is the symbol of blood and desire. Hester and Dimmesdale cannot control their love for each other and become the criminals of God. A woman loses her purity and a holy minister ispunished for bringing shame to his holy occupation. Red should be regarded as the symbol of love and life, but under the control of the Puritan strictness, Hester has to wear the scarlet letter “A” in order to be regarded as a symbol of shame and punishment.“Here, she said to herself, had been the scene of her guilt, and here should be the scene of her earthly punishment…” (Brown,2002:123) Hester is ashamed of her sin, but she chooses to face the reality rather than escape from it. Many people may choose the way of leaving for some other places where nobody knows of her sin. However, Hester is brave enough to continue to live her life, which shows great strength and integrity of her.1.1.2 Alone and AlienationThe scarlet letter “A” also symbolizes Hester's lonely life in New England. Hester's social life is virtually eliminated as a result of her shameful past. She has to live in such a community regardless of others' ironical words and with great courage and ability“It had been built by an earlier settler, and abandoned, because the soil about it was too sterile for cultivation, while its comparative remoteness put it out of the sphere of that social activity which already marked thehabits of the emigrants.” Hester comes to have a part to perform in the world with her native energy of character and rare capacity." Chase, 1957, However, there was nothing that made her feel as if she belonged to it. Every gesture, every word, and even the silence of those with whom she came to contact, implied, and often expressed, that she wasbanished, and as much alone as if she inhabited another sphere, or communicated with the common nature by other organs and senses than the rest of human kind. She stood apart from moral interests… seemed to be the sole portion that she retained in the universal heart." Hester has no friends in the world, and little Pearl is the only companion of her lonely life. In other people's eyes, Hester is a criminal and most of them regard communicating with her as a shameful thing. Therefore, the scarlet letter “A” is also a symbol of alone and alienation.1.1.3 Able, Admirable and Angel“The letter was the symbol of her calling. Such helpfulness isfound in her so much power to do and power to sympathize - that many people refuses to interpret the scarlet letter ‘A' by i ts original signification.” Rubinstein, 1988, We can see that the meaning of the scarlet letter “A” changes from adultery to being able, angel and admirable. At the beginning, people living in the town looked down upon the woman because of her crime. But later, they find that Hester is soskillfully in needlework and she always help the poor and sick without expecting any return or thanks. She is unselfish and always ready to help others considerately and patiently. People in the town then realize her nob le nature and change the view on her. “Do you see that woman with the embroidered badge? It is our Hester ? the town's own Hester ? who is so kind to the poor, so helpful to the sick, so comforting to the afflicted!” Hawthorne, 1994 The people in the townsoon begin to regard the letter “A” as a badge served to ward off the evil. This is a kind woman who should not shoulder the shame and be looked down upon by others. Hester is an angel sent by God to the people in the town. And she should win the respect and sympathy of others instead of being punished by having to show her crime to the public by wearing the scarlet letter. People and the author of the novel really admire her pure nature and ability.The three changes in the scarlet letter are significant; they showthe progressive presentation of her sin, her lonely life, and herability. Hester is an admirable woman who experiences more emotional torture than most people go through in a lifetime.1.2 The Scarlet Letter and the Strictness of Puritan SocietyThe Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne uses the scarlet lettersto symbolize he harshness of Puritan society, showing how they branded sinners for life. Although Puritan society is unforgiving towards the sinful scarlet letter, their strictness improved the bearers of the sin.The scarlet letter was also an example of how Puritan society will always remember the sin. “When strangers looked curiously at thescarletletter-and none failed to do so, they branded it afresh intoHester’s soul.” Hawthorne, 1994 A letter “A” but freshly green, instead of scarlet was created by her, showing how Hawthorne made a jest at the punishment Puritans put upon Hester. And the scarlet letter was also a toy to Pearl, something that she enjoyed. Hawthorne uses thescarlet letter to depict his feelings of the exaggerated emotions of the puritans and their dramatic punishments. The author of the paper thinks that the symbolism in this novel is used quite skillfully. The technique Hawthorne uses makes his novel more artistic.2 The Symbolic Meaning of the Four Main Characters2.1 Hester PrynneHester Prynne is one of the most important characters in The Scarlet Letter. Hester is the symbol of love, beauty, kindness and truth. She was described by Hawthorne like this: “Th e young woman was tall, a figure of perfect elegance on a large scale, she had dark and abundant hair, so glossy that it threw off the sunshine with a gleam, and a face which, besides being beautiful from regularity of feature and richness of complexion, had the impressiveness belonging to a marked brow and deep black eyes…” Harold, 1990:104 It is true that Hester is beautiful and attractive in appearance. But the most precious part of the character liesnot only in her kindness toward other people, but also in her great courage of facing her love. Her love for the minister Dimmesdale is pure and true. This is the reason that she refuses to speak out the name of her partner in sin, but takes over all the punishment by herself. Instead of running from the hostile colonists, Hester withstandspeople's insolence and pursues a normal life. She proves her worth with her uncommon sewing skills and provides community service. Hester's sin gives her “sympathetic knowledge of the sin in other hearts.” Eventhough the people she tries to help “often reviled the hand that was stretched forth to succor them.” Xia,1996:34 She continues her services because she actually cares. At last, the colonists come to think of the scarlet letter as “the cross on a nun's bosom”, which is not small accomplishment.Hester is the homophone of the word haste. At first, she getsmarried to Roger Prynne, an ugly man who gives his best years to feedthe hungry dream of knowledge. Not having got the news about her husband who should have arrived by ship from England, she falls love with Arthur hastily and gives birth to Pearl, for which she is condemned to wear on the breast of her gown the scarlet letter "A", which stands for adultery.However, the author of the paper thinks that it is natural and understandable. Hester has the freedom to pursue the true love of her deep heart and the happiness of the life. The punishment of puritan society is somehow too harsh on a woman who is led by human instinct.She doesn'tlove her husband and when she falls in love with Dimmesdale, sh。
