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论霍桑《红字》中的象征手法摘要：美国著名作家霍桑的《红字》被称为美国第一部象征主义小说，在这部优秀的作品中，作者运用了丰富的象征手法，深化了小说的主题，增强了作品的感染力以及表现力。
对于作者如何熟练地运用象征手法，值得我们深入探讨。
本文主要从红字“A”、场景、人物、人物名字、鲜花等方面，对象征手法的运用进行分析，旨在为相关研究者提供借鉴。
关键词：《红字》霍桑象征手法寓意霍桑是美国浪漫主义作家之一，其长篇小说《红字》发表于1850年。
1848年正好在纽约召开了美国第一届妇女权利大会，会上提出了男女平等、财产权等问题。
因此，这部长篇小说内容涉及婚外情以及激进的女性主义思想，大胆地挑战和颠覆了当时基督教的价值判断。
与此同时，霍桑《红字》中运用的象征手法，不仅对许多作家作品的创作产生了重要影响，同时还影响了现代派文学的象征主义。
此外，在现代作品创作过程中，对霍桑《红字》象征手法的分析进行探讨，对我国现代文学的发展具有重要的现实意义。
一、象征主义和象征手法概述象征主义一词源于希腊文，原意并不是指象征主义，几经演变以后，被引申为可以用某种观念或事物代表符号或者物品。
在文学界，“象征主义”这个名称第一次是出现在1886年诗人让·莫雷亚斯发表的《象征主义宣言》中，也标志着象征主义流派的产生。
实际上，象征主义在未被提出之前，许多作家在作品中就大量运用象征主义这种创作方法。
象征派主张创作作品不要直接、客观、如实地描写所见事实，而是通过利用特定形象，表达作者的精神世界以及观念。
19世纪末，英国发生了文学艺术活动，扩大了象征主义的影响，推动了20世纪美学的发展。
象征主义不仅被运用到文学界，还应用到戏剧、绘画等创作中。
在文学界，象征手法是创作的一种重要手法，主要是借助某种具体形象来表现思想情感。
在文学创作中，恰当地运用象征手法，可以使作品立意深远、主题深刻，给读者留下咀嚼回味的空间。
霍桑所创作的《红字》，大量运用了象征的手法，有比较明显的象征，也有许多隐晦的象征，其对象征手法的运用影响了《白鲸》的作者麦尔维尔、法国的波德莱尔，而且影响了一批美国卓有成就的作家，如海明威、菲兹杰拉德、福克纳等。
小说《红字》的写作手法《红字》是美国作家纳撒尼尔·霍桑创作的一部经典小说，故事发生在17世纪的新英格兰，探讨了道德、罪恶和社会压力等主题。
该小说通过独特的写作手法和深入的人物描写展现了作者的文学才华。
以下是该小说的一些写作手法。
本书采用象征和隐喻的手法来传递深层的主题。
最明显的象征是女主角海丽丝·普林的红字"A"，代表着她犯下的奸淫之罪。
这个象征不仅仅是一个字母，还象征着社会对她的谴责和排斥。
红字还代表了欺骗、罪恶和重生。
通过这个象征，作者探讨了道德观念和社会规范对个人自由的限制。
本书采用第三人称的叙述方式。
通过这种叙述方式，作者能够客观地描写人物的思想、情感和行为，不仅仅展现了海丽丝·普林的内心世界，还描绘了当时的社会环境和道德观念。
第三人称叙述还给读者一种旁观者的角度，使读者能够更好地理解故事中的人物和事件。
本书采用了回忆和叙述结合的手法。
整个故事是通过回忆的方式讲述的，主要通过叙述者的回忆以及故事中的文档和文件来展现。
这种结构使得故事更加复杂和有层次。
回忆的片段和现实的叙述不仅帮助读者理解和体验主人公的内心心情，还增加了故事的悬念和吸引力。
本书还采用了对比和矛盾的手法。
故事中出现了许多对比的情节和人物。
海丽丝·普林守身如玉的丈夫罗杰·柴利与堕落的牧师亚瑟·丁斯代尔形成了鲜明的对比。
这种对比不仅帮助读者更好地理解人物的特点和命运，还加深了整个故事的冲突和紧张感。
本书还采用了插叙和描写细节的手法来增加故事的吸引力。
作者以讲故事的方式进行叙述，通过插叙一些细节来展示人物的性格和心理状态。
书中对海丽丝·普林红字的描写非常细致生动，使读者能够感受到她内心的痛苦和挣扎。
这种描写细节的手法不仅使故事更加生动，还帮助读者更加深入地理解人物和情节。
小说《红字》通过象征、第三人称叙述、回忆和叙述结合、对比和矛盾以及插叙和描写细节等多种写作手法，展现了作者的才华和敏锐的洞察力。
《红字》的象征手法探析冯荣刚（宝鸡市陈仓区坪头镇初级中学，陕西宝鸡，721301）摘要：纳撒尼尔·霍桑（1804-1864）是美国19世纪伟大的浪漫主义小说家，长篇小说《红字》是霍桑最杰出的代表作，也使霍桑誉满全球。
《红字》被誉为美国第一部象征主义小说，究其原因是丰富的象征手法在这部小说中的运用，这一艺术手法对美国小说的发展起了巨大的影响作用。
本文从红字的多种象征意义,主要人物的人名寓意以及景物寓意等方面入手，研究《红字》中的象征手法。
首先，象征的多义性在小说中通过红字象征意义变化完美的展现出来，它分别象征了爱与生命、罪恶、羞耻和惩罚。
其次，随着小说的发展,字母“A”的意义也在不断的变化，赋予小说其发展性，其分别象征了通奸、孤独、疏远、能干、受人尊敬、天使等特征。
此外，小说从情节、细节、人物到背景，甚至动作，都无一例外地把丰富的象征内涵演绎到极致，这正是象征手法在小说中表现的另外一个特点，即系统性。
总之，作品中的象征手法贯穿始终、无处不在，加强了作品的艺术效果，也使《红字》在世界文学经典中赢得广泛声誉。
关键词：《红字》; 象征; 多重涵义性; 发展性; 系统性Analysis of the Symbolism in The Scarlet LetterAbstract: Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864) is one of the greatest romantic novelists in the 19th century of America. The novel The Scarlet Letter is his best repetitive work, which made him known all over the world. The Scarlet Letter is regarded as the first symbolism novel in the American literature because of the colorful symbols used in it, and this writing technique greatly influenced the development of the American literature.This paper analyzes the symbolism of The Scarlet Letter on the multi-conotational feature, the symbolic meaning of the four major characters‟ names and the symbolic meanings of the objects that are described in the novel. Firstly, the multi-conotational feature is perfectly shown by the scarlet letter “A”, which symbolizes love and life, crime, shame and punishment. Secondly, with the development of the novel, the symbolic meanings of the letter “A”also change constantly, which symbolizes adultery, alone and alienation, able, admirable, and angle, and some other special characteristics. In addition, from matters, details, characters to backgrounds or even actions, they are all, without any exception, possessed of symbolic meanings, which is the other feature of the symbolism used in this novel, i.e. the systematic feature.In conclusion，the symbolic writing techniques in this novel is everywhere and run through the whole novel, which strength it‟s art istic effect, and makes The Scarlet Letter win the reputation of world classic.Key Words: The Scarlet Letter; Symbolism; Multi-connotation; Development;SystematizationTable of Contents1. Introduction (1)2. The symbolic meanings of the Scarlet Letter “A” (1)2.1 Multi-connotation of symbolism (1)2.1.1 Love and l ife (1)2.1.2 Crime, shame and p unishment (1)2.2 Development of the the symbolic meanings of l etter “A” (2)2.2.1 Adultery (2)2.2.2 Alone and alienatio n (3)2.2.3 Able, admirable and a ngel (3)3. The Systematization of the Symbolism (4)3.1 The symbolic meanings of the four major c haracters‟n ames (4)3.1.1 Hester Prynne (4)3.1.2 Arthur Dimmes dale (5)3.1.3 Roger Chillingworth (6)3.1.4 Pearl (7)3.2 The symbolic meanings of the o bjects (9)3.2.1 Prison (9)3.2.2 Rosebush (10)3.2.3 Forest (11)3.2.4 S caffold (11)3.2.5 Light and darkness (12)4. Conclusion (13)Works Cited (14)1. IntroductionThe Scarlet Letter is recognized as Hawthorne‟s masterpiece and the most prestigious romantic novel of the in American literature. (Mao 162) In The Scarlet Letter, there are many artistic features which not only describe the fantastic romantic atmosphere, but also depict the delicate psychological activity. However, the most distinctive feature of the novel is the widely and extensively used symbolism and that is why The Scarlet Letter is regarded as the first novel of symbolism in American literature.In World Book Dictionary, a symbol is defined as something that stands for or represents something else, especially an idea, quality, or condition. Symbols can be objects, characters, figures, or colors used to represent ideas or concepts (532). As for symbolism, different critics and poets have different definition on it. French poet Mallarme said: “Symbolism is to imply the object little by little, for the performance of a state of mind” (Gong 56). Famous critic Nan Fan said: “Symbolism is to perform the specific image particularly or imply some sort of concept, philosophy or emotion” (Wu 1).Symbolism does not describe objects directly and simply, so it arouses reader‟s emotion by metaphors, and it is often with ambiguity and uncertainty, which gives ordinary things great artistic power. In The Scarlet Letter，Hawthorne express this kind of power successfully. This paper analyzes its artistic power of symbolism in its multi-connotation, development and systematization.2.The Symbolic Meanings of the Scarlet Letter “A”2.1 Multi-connotation of symbolism2.1.1 Love and lifeRed is the symbol of life and love, in the novel, red symbolizes purity, beauty, warm love between Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale, normal family and social life are based on them. In any healthy society, it is celebrated. However, inthe grim Puritanism society, the truth is often treated as a fallacy, human nature has been distorted, and a symbol of love's fire, the source of life, and the color, red is treated as a symbol of shame in the society.2.1.2 Crime, shame and punishment“In accordance with strict Puritan moral laws, the woman Hester Prynne is sentenced to an unusual punishment for her sin of adultery. She is hence forth to wear the letter “A”embroidered on her dress over her bosom as a permanent badge of shame. (Fred 88) This is the puritan way of treating her as a criminal, for the crime of adultery. 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 be the scene of her earthly punishment…”(Hawthorne 74)2.2 Development of the l etter “A”In this novel, the scarlet letter “A”changes its meaning at many different times. As the development of the plots, the letter “A” is continuously endowed with new meanings, showing a dynamic “A”.Hawthorne did not clearly and directly tells the readers what the letter means, because it alters with the plots, settings and characters (Zhu 89). This change is significant. It shows growth in the characters, and the community in which they live. The letter “A” begins as adultery, a symbol of sin. It then becomes a symbol of alone and alienation, and finally it becomes a symbol of able, angel and admirable.2.2.1 AdulteryThe letter “A”, worn on Hester's bosom, is a symbol of her adultery against Roger Chillingworth. Hester is ashamed of her sin, but she chooses not to show it. She commits this sin in the heart of passion, and fully admits it, though she isashamed. She is a very strong woman to be able to hold up so well against what she must face. Many will have fled Boston, and seek a place where no one knows of her great sin. Hester chooses to stay though, which shows a lot of strength and integrity. Any woman with enough nerve to hold up against a town, which despises her very existence, and to stay in a place where her daughter is referred to as a devil child, either has some sort of psychological problem, or is a very tough woman.2.2.2 Alone and alienationThe scarlet letter “A” also stands for Hester‟s lonely life in New England. After she is released, Hester lives in a cottage ne ar the outskirts of the city. “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 the habits of the emigrants” (Hawthorne 75). 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. Every gesture, every word, and even the silence of those with whom she came to contact, implied, and often expressed, that she was banished, 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 r etained in the universal heart.”(Hawthorne 78) 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 the words “alone” and “alienate”.2.2.3 Able, admirable and angelLater, the scarlet letter “A” changes its mea ning into being able, angel and admirable. The townspeople who condemned her now believe the scarlet letter to stand for her ability to her beautiful needlework and for her unselfish assistanceto the poor and sick. “The letter was the symbol of her calling. Such helpfulness is found in her so much power to do and power to sympathize—that many people refuses to interpret the scarlet letter …A‟ by its original signification.” (Hawthorne 148) At this point, a lot of the townspeople realize what a noble character Hester possesses. “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 149) The townspeople soon begin to believe that the badge 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 fate which has been dealt to her.The three changes in the scarlet letter are significant; they show the progressive possession of her sin, her lonely life, and her ability. Hester is a strong admirable woman who goes through more emotional torture that most people go through in their lifetime.3. The Systematization of the Symbolism3.1 The symbolic meaning of the four major c haracters’ names3.1.1 Hester PrynneHester Prynne is one of the major characters in The Scarlet Letter.The writer gives her much symbolic meaning by giving her this name. Hester sounds this gives us like Hes ter, Zeus‟ sister in Greek mythology, who is a very beautiful goddess. a sense that Hester is a passionate beautiful woman. In this novel, she is the symbol of the truth, the goodness and the beauty. Nathaniel Hawthorne describes her in Chap ter Two like this: “The 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 impressivenessbelonging to a m arked brow and deep black eyes…” (Hawthorne 50) Also, Hester is the homophone of the word haste. At first, she gets married to Roger Chillingworth, an ugly man who gives his best years to feed the 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. But Hester‟s adultery haste is nothing but a very natural thing to do.Also, Hawthorne uses the homophone of prurient, as her family name, which indicates the root of her sins. Hester Prynne is the symbol of love, and her desire stands for the evil aspects in human nature.3.1.2 Arthur DimmesdaleArthur Dimmesdale is a well-regarded young minister, whose initials are AD, which also stands for adultery. The author obviously tells us Author Dimmesdale is the partner in sin of Hester Prynne by giving him this name. The word Dimmesdale also has many symbolic meanings. Dim means dark and weak, and dale means valley, so the dimdale here is actually a symbol of the “dim-interior” of the clergyman. He loves Hester deeply, and he is the father of Pearl, but he can only show his passion for her in the forest or in darkness. His response to the sin is to lie. He stands before Hester and the rest of the town and proceeds to give a moving speech about how it would be in he r and the father‟s best interest for her to reveal the father's name. Though he never actually says that he is not the other partner, he implies it by talking of the father in third person. Such as, “If tho u feelest it to be for thy soul‟s peace, and that thy earthly punishment will thereby be made more effectual to salvation, I charge thee to speak out the name of thy fellow-sinner and fellow-sufferer” (Hawthorne 63). He concedes his guilt for seven years, at the same time; he is tortured by his sin for so many years. He punishes himself by believing that he can never be redeemed. He feels that he will never been seen the same in the eyes of God, and that noamount of penit ence can ever return him to God‟s good graces. He hates his hypocrisy to sin, but dares not tell the truth that he is the fellow-sinner of Hester. When he finally decides to expose the truth and tell his followers of how he deceives them, his fixation on his sin has utterly corroded him to the point of death. The only good that comes out of conceding his guilt is that he passes away without any secrets, for he is already too far gone to be able to be saved. At the end of the story, the writer put the morals which press upon the readers 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 may be inferred!” (Hawthorne 236)3.1.3 Roger ChillingworthRoger Chilling worth, like all of Hawthorne‟s main characters, is complex and d ifficult to see through. The words “chilling” and “worth” compose the surname Chillingworth. Chilling comes from the word “chilly”, which means this man is a merciless avenger. He is calm in temperament, kindly, but keeps evil intentions. It is he that has destroyed Hester's flower like youth, and indirectly leads to Hester‟s tragedy. After he discovers that his wife bore another man‟s child, Roger gives up his independence. He used to be a scholar, who dedicates his best years to feed the hungry dream of knowledge, “but his new allegiance becomes finding and slowly punishing the man who seduces his wife. For seven y ears, he digs into the minister‟s heart with keen pleasure. He searches the minister‟s thoughts; he causes the poor minister to die daily a livi ng death. He searches into the minister‟s dim interior for a long time, and turns over many precious a tread, and as wary an outlook, as a thief entering a chamber where a man lies only half asleep, or if it may be, broad awake, with purpose to steal the very treasure which this man g uards as the apple of his eyes” (Hawthorne 119) When he fi nally found the scarlet letter “A”on the bosom of the minister, he busted out a ghastly rapture. When he does these, he is turning from a victim to a sinner. Chillingworth is also means t hat the avenger‟s life is worthless. When hefinds his wife betrays him, he dedicates all his time to seeking revenge. He gives up his identity, living with the minister and being by his side all day, every day. His largest sacrifice is by far, his own life. After spending so much time dwelling on his revenge, Chillingworth forgets that he still has a change to lead a life of his own. So after Dimmesdale reveals his secret to the world. “ All his strength and energy—all his vital and intellectual force—seemed at once to desert him; in so much that he positively withered up, shriveled away, and almost varied from mortal sight, like an uprooted wee d that lies wilting in the sun.”(Hawthorne 236) Chillingworth dies less that a year later because he has nothing left to live for. The poor forlorn creature is more wretched than his victim is.3.1.4 PearlPearl is one of the most complex and misunderstood symbols in the book, the daughter of Hester Prynne. Pearl, throughout the story, develops into a dynamic symbol—one that is always changing. Pearl was a source of many different kinds of symbolism. From a living scarlet letter to a valuable thing with high price, then to be the moral in this novel, she was a kind of burden, yet love for Hester.The most significant symbolic meaning of Pearl in the novel is her association with the scarlet letter “A”. When Hester stood fully revealed before the crowd, it is her first impulse to clasp Pearl closely to her bosom; “not so much by an impulse of motherly affection, as that she might thereby conceal a certain token, which was wrou ght or fastened into her dress.”(Hawthorne 50) “In a moment, however, wisely judging that one token of her shame would but poorly serve to hide another, she took the baby on her a rm…”(Hawthorne50) Hester embroidered the scarlet letter with gold thread fantastically, and she had allowed the gorgeous tendencies of her imagination their full playing contriving Pearl's g arb. “And, indeed, of the child‟s whole appearance, that it irresistibly reminded the beholder of the token which Hester Prynne was doomed to wear upon her bosom.”(Hawthorne 93) Pearl really was the scarlet letter, the scarlet letter inanother form; the scarlet letter endowed with life.Pearl is a girl of rich and luxu riant beauty. “There was fire in her and throughout her; she seemed the unpremeditated offshoot of a passionate moment.”(Hawthorne 93) The Bible says, “the kingdom of heaven is like merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it”(Matthew 13-14). Hester named the infant “pear l”, as being of great price—purchased with all she had, her only treasure!Pearl also serves as moral in this novel, the moral she is meant to teach is that Hester and Dimmesdale should fully commits their sin and then take responsibility for their sin. The first thing Pearl see in her infancy is the scarlet letter on her mother‟s bosom. As a baby, she even reaches up and touches the letter, causing her mother intense agony at the shame it generated in her. Later, she plays a game when she throws flowers at her mother and jumps around in glee every time, she hits the scarlet letter. She also makes her own letter “A” to wear. When she finds Hester removes the scarlet letter from her chest in the forest, Pearl starts screaming and convulsing and refuses to cross the stream until Hester reattaches the letter. She is really a constant mental and physical reminder to Hester of what she has done wrong. With Pearl at her side, Hester will never escape the punishment of her wrong deed.Moreover, Pearl is the person who eventually makes Dimmesdale admits his crime. She constantly asks why the minister keeps putting his hand over his heart, and figures out that it is for the same reason that her mother wears the scarlet letter. Meanwhile, Pearl‟s stand of urging the minister to commit his sin is firm. When Dimmesdale stands on the scaffold where Hester suffered her public humiliation several years before, he meets Hester and Pearl, who have been at Governor Winthrop‟s deathbed, taking measurements for a robe. He invites them to join him on the stand. When all three hold hands, Pearl asks Dimmesdale, “Wilt thou stand here with mother and me, tomorrow noontide?”(Hawthorne 140) Dimmesdale answers, “Not so, my child, I shall, indeed, stand with thy mother and thee, one other day, but not tomorrow.”(Hawthorne 141) Pearl laughs andattempts to pull away her hand until the minister promises to take her hand and her mother‟s hand at “the great judgment day”. When they later meet in the forest, Hester says to Pearl, “He loves thee, my little Pearl, and loves thy mother too. Wilt thou love him?” Pearl says, “Doth he love us?” then asks, “Wilt he go back with us, and hand in hand, we three tog ether, into the town?” The answer is “not now”. So when Dimmesdale impresses a kiss on her brow before they leave the forest, “Pearl broke away from her mother, and, running to the brook, stooped over it, and bathed her forehead, until the unwelcome kiss was quite washed off …” (Hawthrone 194) At the end of the novel, when the minister climbs up the scaffold with the help of Hester and Pearl, confessing his sin to his followers, Pearl kisses his lips. She accepts her father finally. Pearl‟s role as the livi ng scarlet letter is over, and Dimmesdale, who finally takes responsibility for his sin, has learned the moral, which she is meant to teach.3.2 The symbolic meanings of the objects3.2.1 PrisonThe description of the prison indicates that it is old, rusted, yet strong with an iron-clamped oaken door. This represents the rigorous enforcement of laws and the inability to break free of them. The prison also serves as the symbol of the authority of the regime, which will not tolerate deviance.The opening chapter introduces several of the images and the themes within the story to follow. “ The founders of a new colony, whatever Utopia of human virtue and happiness they might originally project, have invariably recognized it among their earliest practical necessities to allot a portion of the virgin soil as a cemetery, and another portion as the site of a prison.”(Hawthorne 45) The prison represents several different symbols. Foremost it is a symbol for the Puritanical severity of law. Hawthorne directly challenges this notion by throwing the name Ann Hutchinson into the opening pages. Hutchinson was a religious woman who disagreed with the Puritanical teachings, and as a result was imprisoned in Boston. Hawthorne claims that it is possible the beautiful rosebushgrowing directly at the prison door sprang from her footsteps. “But, on one side of the portal, and rooted almost at the threshold, was a wild rose-bush, covered, in this month of June, with its delicate gems, which might be imagined to offer their fragrance and fragile beauty to the prisoner as he went in, and to the condemned criminal as the came forth to his doom, in token that the deep heart if Nature could pity and be kind to him.”(Hawthorne 46) This implies that the Puritanical authoritarianism may be too rigid, to the point of obliterating things of beauty. In the deep, dark portions of the forest, many of the pivotal characters bring forth hidden thoughts and emotions. The forest track leads away from the settlement out into the wilderness where all sign mandates of law and religion, to a refuge where men, as well as women, can open up and be themselves. It is here that Dimmesdale openly acknowledges Hester and his undying love for her. It is also here that the two of them can openly engage in conversation without being preoccupied with the constraints that Puritan society place3.2.2 RosebushThe narrator of The Scarlet Letter chooses to begin his story with the image of rosebushes next to the prison door. The rosebush symbolizes the ability of nature to endure and outlast man's activities. “This rosebush, by a strange chance, has been kept alive in history; but whether it had merely survived out of stern old wilderness, so long after the fall of the gigantic pines and oaks that originally overshadowed it—or whether, as there is fair authority for believing, it had sprung up under the footsteps of the sainted Ann Hutchinson, as she entered the prison doo r—we shoul d not take upon us to determine”(Hawthorne 42). The narrator mentions vary significance to the rosebush, never admitting or denying them.The rose bush is a symbol of passion. As will later become obvious, Hester Prynne‟s sin is one of passion, thus linking her crime to the image of the rosebush. Hawthorne also indirectly compares Hester with Ann Hutchinson via the rosebush, and again makes the same parallel in Chapter 13, another view ofHester. Hawthorne cleverly links the rosebush to the wilderness surrounding Boston, commenting that the bush may be a remnant of the former forest, which covered the area. This is important, because it is only in the forest wilderness where the Puritans‟ laws fail to have any force. Thus the image of the rosebush serves to foreshadow that some of the passionate wilderness, in the form of Hester Prynne, may have accidentally made its way into Boston. The rosebush in full bloom indicates that Hester is at the peak of her passion. This parallels the fact that Hester has just born a child as a result of her passion. The child is thus comparable to the blossoms o n the rosebush. Hawthorn‟s comment that the rose may serve as a “moral blossom” in the story is therefore actually saying that Hester‟s child will serve to provide the moral of the story.3.2.3 ForestAfter Hester is released from prison, she finds a cottage in the woods, near the outskirts of the city. Her choice of habitation is crucial to the symbolism within the novel. The forest represents love, or the wilderness where the strict morals of the Puritan community cannot apply. Thus, when Hester makes her home on the outskirts of the city, directly on the edge of the woods, she is putting herself in a place of limbo between the moral and the immoral universes. This is important because it shows that Hester does not live under the strict Puritanical moral code, but rather tries to live in both worlds simultaneously. Hawthorne uses the forest to provide a kind of shelter for members of society in need of a refuge from daily Puritan life.3.2.4 ScaffoldThe scaffold is a place of public condemnation for Hester Prynne. Whenever the scaffold is mentioned, it signifies ignominy and alludes back to the sin of adultery. Walking in the shadow of a dream, as it were, and perhaps actually under the influence of a species of somnambulism, Mr. Dimmesdale reached the spot where, now so long since, Hester Prynne had lived through her first hours ofpublic ignominy. The same platform or scaffold, black and weather-stained with the storm or sunshine of seven long years, and foot-worn, too, with the tread of many culprits who had since ascended it, remained standing beneath the balcony of the meeting house.3.2.5 Light and darknessPuritan severity toward sex and matrimony and its tendency is to suppress bright color and true felling. (Chang 75) The novel is filled with light and darkness symbols because it represents the most common battle of all time, good versus evil. When Hester and her daughter are walking in the forest, Pearl exclaims: “Mother, the sunshine does not love you. It runs away and hides itself, because it is afraid of something on you bosom. Now see! There it is, playing a good way off. Stand you here, and let me run and catch it. I am but a child. It will not flee from me, for I wear nothing on my bosom yet.” (Hawthorne 168) Hester tries to stretch her hand into the circle of light, but the sunshine vanishes. She then suggests that they go into the forest and have rest. This short scene actually represents Hester's daily struggle in life. The light represents what Hester wants to be, which is pure. The movement of the light represents Hester's constant denial of acceptance. Hester's lack of surprise and quick suggestion to go into the forest, where is dark, shows that she never expected to be admitted and is resigned to her station in life. Another way light and darkness is used in symbolism is in the way Hester and Dimmes dale‟s plan to escape is doomed. Hester and Dimmesdale meet in the shadows of the forest with a gloomy sky and a threatening storm overhead when they discuss their plans for the future. The gloomy weather and shadows exemplify the fact that they can't get away from the repressive force of their sins. It is later proven when Dimmesdale dies on the scaffold! Instead of leaving with Hester and going to England. A final example occurs in the way 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 as precious as the gloom of this dark forest.”(Hawthorne 199) This emotion foretells that they will never last together openly because their sin has separated them too much from normal life.。
外国文学研究NG NG 6论5红字6中的象征主义孙丹丹5红字6是19世纪美国著名浪漫主义作家霍桑的优秀长篇杰作,是美国文学史上第一篇用象征手法创作的小说。
作家在其创作过程中广泛运用了象征的创作手法,从而使得小说中的人物、场所及大自然中的其他景物都带上了特殊的象征意义,使故事情节充满神秘色彩;与此同时,象征手法的运用丰富了作品的思想内涵,增加了小说的艺术魅力,给读者留下了无限的想象和无穷的回味。
象征主义是霍桑在本书中使用的主要技能之一,也是理解这部小说的最关键要素。
一、5红字6中主要人物的象征意义海丝特身材高挑、年轻、漂亮,典型的淑女形象,有着一双大大的眼睛和一头黑色的长发,完全就是/圣母0的形象。
这样一个女性如何面对她的命运?在书中第二章我们看到,当她走出监狱的大门时,/她往外推了一把监狱长)))这个动作带有明显的个人尊严和个性力量,走出了监狱的大门,就像完全出于她个人的自由意志。
0当被绑在绞刑架上当众游街宣告她不名誉的罪行时,她表现出了令人难以置信的勇气和胆量,坚决拒绝说出她女儿的父亲。
但她却受到了当时清教社会的严厉惩罚,被关进监狱。
她胸前戴着红字/A 0,过了七年非常孤寂、清贫与艰苦的生活,但她没有被严酷的生活所压倒,而是同样有勇气鼓励她的情人和她一起逃往欧洲。
虽然没有成功,但却表现了她对爱情和生活的强烈信念。
她热爱自己的女儿)))她的爱情果实。
她非常同情其他的不幸者,重新赢得了邻居们的信任并最终为红字给她带来的耻辱讨回了公正。
小说的最后一章中写道:/但是,当海丝特的充满了劳苦、深思和自我奉献的七年一掠而过后,她胸前的红字不再是召来人们嘲讽和咒骂的印记,而已成为人们为之感到悲伤的东西,成为人们以敬畏的眼光去打量的东西。
当然,这些眼光都带着深深的崇敬。
0从小说中可以看到:/当海丝特拒绝被当众游街时,她同样拒绝了社会准则。
她把那种因犯罪而被拖着走的景象转化成了依照她的自由选择而前进的行为。
她接受了通奸的罪名,但都是根据她自己的准则而接受的;她胸前的红字-A.刺绣变成了一个更复杂的象征,成了一个对一些-有罪的.事情还以公正的象征,成了她激情本性中一个重要的、有生命力的东西。
浅谈《红字》中的人物分析及象征意义摘要：《红字》是美国19 世纪浪漫主义文学时期两大文坛巨匠之一的纳撒尼尔.霍桑的代表作之一，它被认为是美国第一部象征主义的小说，霍桑在该作品中大量地运用了象征主义写作手法，极大地提升了作品的文学性和艺术性。
与此同时，将美国的浪漫主义文，手法和美国清教道德理念相结合，具有一定的说教色彩，注重道德关注，该书以殖民地时期残酷的宗教统治为背景，反映了当时社会对女性的压迫，突出展现人在追求幸福中的强大动力，揭露当时社会的残酷法律条例，以及条例对人的精神摧残。
关键词：《红字》象征主义；海斯特.白兰；丁梅斯代尔；齐灵渥斯《红字》红字一书主要描述了英国的一位年老的，丑陋的医生齐灵渥斯送自己年轻、美丽的妻子海斯特.白兰到一个新的地方去波士顿建立美丽的家园。
在海斯特.白兰在遵循丈夫的嘱托建立美丽家园时，惊闻自己的丈夫齐灵渥斯已经死亡。
在这块她相对陌生的土地上，她遇见了年轻有为的、帅气的牧师。
在孤独中海斯特.白兰和牧师丁梅斯代尔相恋，并且生下了女儿珠儿，白兰被当众惩罚，拒绝说出珠儿的亲生父亲，戴上了标志通奸的字母“A”。
一、字母A 的象征该篇小说描述的不是海斯特.白兰犯罪堕落的过程，也不是众多戴着有色眼镜看她的人，而是描述海斯特.白兰勇敢地极力地默默地、无偿地资助他人。
随着时间的流逝，“A”不再是一个固定的符号，它的意义出现了改变。
“A”，最早代表Adultery，意思是犯罪，耻辱和堕落，是海斯特被人们认为堕落和不贞的象征，是对海兰通奸罪的表面认定；之后“A”代表Able，意为能力，有相应的能力，或者相应的才能；之后“A”代表Angle，象征着天使。
“A”的意义的变化，标志着一个女孩如何成熟的过程。
当然也有部分学者认为“A”有其他的含义，如原罪的符号，亚当之罪；也有学者把A 当作美国的象征，美国早期的清教徒迫于生计，漂洋过海来到美国。
“A”字的变化就表现的是美国的成长。
亚瑟.丁梅斯代尔，珠儿的父亲，同时也是众人眼中最年轻有为、最具有说服力、最具有演讲力的牧师。
《红字》中的象征主义作者：导师：摘要《红字》是十九世纪美国著名的浪漫主义小说家霍桑的代表作，他常把自己的著作看作浪漫作品而不是小说。
《红字》突出的艺术特色是其丰富的象征手法，因此被称为美国历史上第一部象征主义小说。
作者以红字“A”为线索，通过女主人公海丝特的悲惨遭遇，深刻揭露了新英格兰时期清教殖民统治的社会现状。
本文拟通过对刑台、一系列黑色意象、人物和红字“A”这几个具有象征意义的意象的分析，揭示出象征主义这一艺术特色在全书中的作用和蕴涵的深意，从而能更好地理解全书的主旨。
关键词：象征主义，清教徒，意象，通奸罪Symbolism in The Scarlet LetterAuthor:Supervisor:ABSTRACTThe Scarlet Letter is the masterpiece of the well known romantic novelist, Nathaniel Hawthorne, in America in the 19th century. He often calls his works as a romance rather than a novel. Symbolism is the conspicuous artistic characteristic of The Scarlet Letter; therefore, it is also regarded as the first symbolic novel in the history of American fiction. Hawthorne uses the letter A as a clue to represent the society in New England, which is under the control of Puritans. In this article, several symbolic images, such as the scaffold, a series of ―Black‖ images, characters and the scarlet letter ―A‖, are analyzed, and the function and the hinted meaning of symbolism are made clear, so it leads to a better understanding of the theme of the book.Key words: symbolism, Puritan, image, adulteryAcknowledgementsCONTENTS摘要 (Ⅰ)Abstract (Ⅱ)1 In t rod u c ti on (1)2 Different Meanings of the Scarlet Letter “A” (3)2.1 Adultery (3)2.2 Alone and Alienation (3)2.3 Able, Admirable and Angel (4)2.4 Biblical Archetype (4)3 Symbolic Meanings of the Four Major Characters' Names (7)3.1 Hester Prynne (7)3.2Arthur Dimmesdale (8)3.3 Roger Chillingworth (9)3.4 Pearl (10)4 Symbolic Meanings of the Objects Described in the Novel (13)4.1 Light and Darkness (13)4.2 Prison (14)4.3 Rose Bush (14)4.4 Forest (15)5 Conclusion (16)References (17)1 IntroductionNathaniel Hawthorne is considered to be one of the greatest of American fiction writers. Hawthorne‘s lifelong fascination with New England social and religious history derived in part from his own family background. He was forced by poor finances to accept a post as surveyor in the Salem Custom House, a position he lost in 1849. Troubled about money and saddened by the recent death of his mother, Hawthorne began a novel that he had brooded over for years. As a result, Hawthorne is frequently credited with portraying Puritanism in The Scarlet Letter in a remarkably authentic and convincing manner.The intention of this study is to know what is symbol, and what is symbolism, and we are going to know the m from Hawthorne‘s use of symbols in The Scarlet Letter. Generally speaking, a symbol is anything which is used to represent something other than itself. In literature it is most often a concrete object which is used to represent something broader and more abstract-often a moral, religious, or philosophical concept or value. Symbols range from the most obvious and mechanical substitution of one thing for another, to creations as massive, complex, and perplexing as Melville‘s white whale in Moby Dick.As we know i t is in Hawthorne‘s use of symbols in The Scarlet Letter that he has made one of his most distinctive and significant contributions to the growth of American fiction. Indeed, this book is usually regarded as the first symbolic novel to be written in the United States.We are going to make a study in the different meanings of the scarlet ―A‖, the symbolic meaning of the four major character s‘name and the symbolic meanings of the objects described in the novel.Also, we would know from the study that Hawthorne was not a realist, but a symbolic novelist. Or, to put it in his own terms, he was writing not a ―novel‖ but a ―romance‖.He feels free to select both from the village and from the countryside which surrounds it, those details which will best help him to set the mood and convey the ideas of his ―romance‖. It is because they are helpful to him that he has used the scaffold, the forest, the rosebush, Mistress Hibbins, Governor Bellingham, the Election Sermon, the drab and solemn townspeople, and even the period itself. By allowing himself this latitude in his choice of details, he hascertainly been able to bring out or mellow the lights and deepen and enrich the shadows of The Scarlet Letter.And definitely, we would know the artistic characteristic—symbolism in The Scarlet Lette r from this study. We absolutely have a better understanding of the theme of the book through the analysis, the function and the hinted meaning of symbolism.2 Different Meanings of the Scarlet Letter "A"In this novel, the scarlet letter "A" changes its meaning many different times. This change is significant. It shows growth in the characters, and the community in which they live. The letter "A" begins as a symbol of sin. It then becomes a symbol of alone and alienation, and finally it becomes a symbol of able, angel and admirable.2.1 AdulteryThe letter "A", worn on Hester's bosom, is a symbol of her adultery against Roger Chilling worth. This is the puritan way of treating her as a criminal, for the crime of adultery. 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 be the scene of her earthly punishme nt…‖(Hawthorn,1998:74).Hester is ashamed of her sin, but she chooses not to show it. She commits this sin in the heat of passion, and fully admits it because, though she is ashamed, she also receives her greatest treasure, Pearl, out of it. She is a very strong woman to be able to hold up so well against what she must face. Many will have fled Boston, and seek a place where no one knows of her great sin. Hester chooses to stay though, which shows a lot of strength and integrity. Any woman with enough nerve to hold up against a town, which despises her very existence, and to stay in a place where her daughter is referred to as a "devil child," either has some sort of psychological problem, or is a very tough woman.2.2 Alone and AlienationThe 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 it was too sterile for cultivation, while its comparative remoteness put it out of the sphere of that social activity which already marked the habits of the emigrants‖ (Hawthorn,1998:75). 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. Every gesture, every word, and even thesilence of those with whom she came to contact, implied, and often expressed, that she was banished, 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‖(Hawthorn, 1998:78). 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 the words ―alone‖ and ―alienate‖.2.3 Able, Admirable and AngelLat er, the scarlet letter ―A‖ changes its meaning into being able, angel and admirable. The townspeople who condemned her now believe the scarlet letter to stand for her ability to her beautiful needlework and for her unselfish assistance to the poor and sick. ―The letter was the symbol of her calling. Such helpfulness is found in her so much power to do and power to sympathize - that many people refuses to interpret the scarlet letter ‗A' b y its original signification‖(Bell, 1971:148). At this point, a lot of the townspeople realize what a noble character Hester possesses.―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!‖(Hawthorn,1998:149). The townspeople soon begin to believe that the badge 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 fate which has been dealt to her.The three changes in the scarlet letter are significant; they show the progressive possession of her sin, her lonely life, and her ability. Hester is a strong admirable woman who goes through more emotional torture that most people go through in a lifetime.2.4 Biblical ArchetypeThe scarlet letter "A" also can be seen the symbol of Adam. It tells us that Hester's sin is the original sin of human being, it is forgivable.The writer shows his sympathy by describing the scarlet letter "A" on Hester's clothing as an ornament and a decoration. Hester's making the scarlet letter "A" into a thing of beautyoffends many bystanders, who comment that, "it were well if west ripped Madame Hester's rich gown off her dainty shoulders"(Hawthorn, 1998:51).However, as a young woman observes, "not a stitch in that embroidered letter, but she has felt it in her heart" (Chen Suying, 1997:21). The feeling of sympathy, only expressed by one of the characters throughout this scene, is used by Hawthorne to criticize the puritans for their strictness. The society is too strict in its ways, and Hawthorne shows his contempt for the treatment of Hester by constantly reinforcing how cruelly the people talk about her. Hawthorne says at the end of Chapter One," Finding it (rosebush) so directly on the threshold of our narrative, which is now about to issue from that inauspicious portal, we could hardly do otherwise than pluck one of its flowers, and present it to the reader. It may serve, let us hope, to symbolize some sweat moral blossom, that may be found alone the track, or relieve the darkening close of a tale of human frailty and sorrow"(Hu Shangtian, 1999:23). This kind of sympathy can be seen in the novel everywhere.To Hester, the scarlet letter "A" also stands for her lover, Pearl's father, Arthur Dimmesdale. Her fantastically embroidering the scarlet letter "A", which means adultery, is somehow a way she shows her passion for Arthur.Her refusing to tell the name of Pearl's father is a way to protect him.Her choosing to remain in New England after she is released is because it is the place where her lover stays. " There dwelt, there trod the feet of one with whom she deemed herself connected in a union, before the bar of final judgment, and make that their marriage-alter, for a joint futurity of endless retribution"(Hawthorn,1998:74). She wears the scarlet letter for seven years, and misses her lover in this way. Only when she meets Arthur again in the forest seven years later, deciding to flee to somewhere else, does she throw the scarlet letter away. After Dimmesdale's death, Hester and Pearl disappear for several years. Despite living with her daughter, Hester comes back to live the rest of her life in her cottage again, and picks up the scarlet letter for the third time. To Hester, there is a more real life in New England than in that unknown region where Pearl has founded a home."Here had been her sin, here, her sorrow, and here was yet to be her penitence" (Hawthorn, 1998:238). Moreover, here is where her lover lies. Hester eventually dies and is buried in the King's Chapel Cemetery. " It was near that old and sunken grave, yet with aspace between, as if the dust of the two sleepers had no right to mingle. Yet one tombstone served for both."--- " ON A FIELD, SABLE, THE LETTER, GULES"(Hawthorn, 1998:240).3 Symbolic Meanings of the Four Major Characters' NamesIn addition to the scarlet letter ―A‖, there are four major characters‘ names which have abundant symbolic meanings.3.1 Hester PrynneHester Prynne is one of the major characters in The Scarlet Letter.The writer gives her much symbolic meaning by giving her this name. Hester sounds like Hestier, Zeus' sister in Greek mythology, who is a very beautiful goddess. This gives us a sense that Hester is a passionate beautiful woman.In this novel, she is the symbol of the truth, the goodness and the beauty.Nathaniel Hawthorne describes her in Chapter Two like this: "The 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…"(1998:50). For so many years, Hester 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 withstands their insolence and pursues a normal life. She proves her worth with her uncommon sewing skills and provides community service. Hester's own sin gives her "sympathetic knowledge of the sin in other hearts." Even though the people she tries to help "often reviled the hand that was stretched forth to succor them," 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.Also, Hester is the homophone of the word haste. At first, she gets married to Roger Prynne, an ugly man who gives his best years to feed the 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. But Hester's adultery haste is nothing but a very natural thing to do. In the Holy Bible, Adam and Eve, the very ancestors of human being, who live in the Garden of Eden, eat the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden tricked by the serpent. After that, they begin to know good and evil,and also they begin to know sex. Adultery is nothing but the original sin of human being. God's punishment to them is just sending them forth from the Garden of Eden. But in The Scarlet Letter, Hester is tortured physically and mentally for her sin. Hester says to Dimmesdale in the forest later, ―What we did had a consecration of its own, we felt so!‖(Hawthorn, 1998:179). In essence, their sin is no worse than Adam and Eve's. The punishment of puritan society is somehow too hard on a woman who is led by human instinct.3.2 Arthur DimmesdaleArthur Dimmesdale is a well-regarded young minister, whose initials are AD, which also stands for adultery. The author obviously tells us Author Dimmesdale is the partner in sin of Hester Prynne by giving him this name.The word Dimmesdale also has many symbolic meanings. Dim means dark and weak, and dale means valley, so the dimmesdale here is actually a symbol of the "dim-interior" of the clergyman. He loves Hester deeply, and he is the father of Pearl, but he can only show his passion for her in the forest or in darkness. His response to the sin is to lie. He stands before Hester and the rest of the town and proceeds to give a moving speech about how it would be in her and the father's best interest for her to reveal the father's name. Though he never actually says that he is not the other partner, he implies it by talking of the father in third person. Such as, "If thou feelest it to be for thy soul's peace, and that thy earthly punishment will thereby be made more effectual to salvation, I charge thee to speak out the name of thy fellow-sinner and fellow-sufferer"(Hawthorn, 1998:63). He concedes his guilt for seven years, at the same time; he is tortured by his sin for so many years. He punishes himself by believing that he can never be redeemed. He feels that he will never been seen the same in the eyes of God, and that no amount of penitence can ever return him to God's good graces. He hates his hypocrisy to sin, but dares not tell the truth that he is the fellow-sinner of Hester. When he finally decides to expose the truth and tell his followers of how he deceives them, his fixation on his sin has utterly corroded him to the point of death. The only good that comes out of conceding his guilt is that he passes away without any secrets, for he is already too far gone to be able to be saved.At the end of the story, the writer put the morals which press upon the readers from the poor minister's miserable experience into one sentence," Be true! Be true! Be true! Showfreely to the world, if not your worst, yet some trait whereby the worst may be inferred!" (Hawthorn, 1998:236).3.3 Roger ChillingworthRoger Chillingworth, like all of Hawthorne's main characters, is complex and difficult to see through. The words ―chilling‖ and ―worth‖ compose the surname Chillingworth. Chilling comes from the word ―chilly‖, which means this man is a merciless avenger. He is calm in temperament, kindly, but keep evil intentions. Being a man already in decay and misshapen from his birth hour, he married Hester, a woman with youth and beauty, deluding himself with the idea that intellectual gifts might veil physical deformity in a young girl's fantasy. He married Hester not because he loved her but because he wanted to light a household fire in his lonely and chilly heart.He is a bookworm who spends his best time in libraries, and shows no love to his young wife. It is he that has destroyed Hester's flower like youth, and indirectly leads to Hester's tragedy. After he discovers that his wife bore another man's child, Roger gives up his independence. He used to be a scholar, who dedicates his best years "to feed the hungry dream of knowledge," but his new allegiance becomes finding and slowly punishing the man who seduces his wife. He soon becomes obsessed with his new mission in life, and when he targets Reverend Dimmesdale as the possible parent, he disguises himself as one trust friend of the minister, attaching himself to him as a parishioner. For seven years, he digs into the minister's heart with keen pleasure. He searches the minister's thoughts; he causes the poor minister to die daily a living death. He searches into the minister's dim interior for a long time, and turns over many precious a tread, and as wary an outlook, as a thief entering a chamber where a man lies only half asleep,---― or, if it may be, broad awake,--- with purpose to steal the very treasure which this man guards as the apple of his eyes"(Hawthorn, 1998:119). When he finally found the scarlet letter "A" on the bosom of the minister, he busted out a ghastly rapture, When he does these, he is turning from a victim to a sinner. Chillingworth is also means that the avenger's life is worthless. When he finds his wife betrays him, he dedicates all his time to seeking revenge. He gives up his identity, living with the minister and being by his side all day, every day. His largest sacrifice is by far, his own life. After spending so much time dwelling on his revenge, Chillingworth forgets that he still has a change to lead a life ofhis own. So after Dimmesdale reveals his secret to the world, " All his strength and energy---- all his vital and intellectual force--- seemed at once to desert him; in so much that he positively withered up, shriveled away, and almost vanied from mortal sight, like an uprooted weed that lies wilting in the sun"(Hawthorn, 1998:236). Chillingworth dies less that a year later because he has nothing left to live for. The poor forlorn creature is more wretched than his victim is --- the avenger had devoted himself.3.4 PearlPearl is one of the most complex and misunderstood symbols in the book, the daughter of Hester Prynne. Pearl, throughout the story, develops into a dynamic symbol - one that is always changing. Pearl was a source of many different kinds of symbolism. From being a living scarlet letter, to a valuable thing with high price, then to the moral in this novel. She was a kind of burden, yet love for Hester.The most significant symbolic meaning of Pearl in the novel is her association with the scarlet letter ―A‖. When Hester stood fully revealed before the crowd, it is her first impulse to clasp Pearl closely to her bosom; "not so much by an impulse of motherly affection, as that she might thereby conceal a certain token, which was wrought or fastened into her dress"(Tian Junwu, 1999:50). "In a moment, however, wisely judging that one token of her shame would but poorly serve to hide another, she took the baby on her arm…‖(Tian Junwu, 1999:50 ). Hester embroidered the scarlet letter with gold thread fantastically, and she had allowed the gorgeous tendencies of her imagination their full playing contriving Pearl's garb. ―and, indeed, of the child's whole appearance, that it irresistibly reminded the beholder of the token which Hester Prynne was d oomed to wear upon her bosom‖(Tian Junwu, 1999:93) .Pearl really was the scarlet letter, the scarlet letter in another form; the scarlet letter endowed with life.Pearl is a girl of rich and luxuriant beauty. ―There was fire in her and througho ut her, she seemed the unpremeditated offshoot of a passionate moment‖(Tian Junwu, 1998:93). The Bible says," the kingdom of heaven is like merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it"(Matthew,1980: 13-14). Hester named the infant "pearl", as being of great price,--- purchased with all she had,--- her only treasure! if Pearl had never been born, Hester would have never been found guilty ofadultery, and thus never would have had to wear that burden upon her chest. Without that burden, Hester would have led a much better life than the one she had throughout the novel. Although Hester has so much trouble with Pearl, she still feels that Pearl is her treasure. Pearl is really the only thing that Hester has in her life. Once in a while, Pearl will bring joy to Hester's life, and that helps her to keep on living. If Pearl isn't in Hester's life, Hester will almost surely have committed suicide. This can be proved in Chapter 8, The Elf-child and the Minister. After Hester gets the permission to still keep Pearl at her side, Mistress Hibbins invites her to go to the forest to meet the Black Man together with her. But Hester refuses and says, with a triumphant smile,‖ "I must tarry at home, and keep watch over my little Pearl. Had they taken her from me, I would willingly have gone with thee into the forest, and signed my name in the Black Man's book too, and that with mine own blood!‖(Hawthorn, 1998:98). It is Pearl that saves Hester from Satan's snare.Pearl also serves as moral in this novel, The moral she is meant to teach is that Hester and Dimmesdale should fully commits their sin and then take responsibility for their sin. The first thing Pearl see in her infancy is the scarlet letter on her mother's bosom. As a baby, she even reaches up and touches the letter, causing her mother intense agony at the shame it generated in her. Later, she plays a game when she throws flowers at her mother and jumps around in glee every time, she hits the sc arlet letter. She also makes her own letter ―A‖ to wear. When she finds Hester removes the scarlet letter from her chest in the forest, Pearl starts screaming and convulsing and refuses to cross the stream until Hester reattaches the letter. She is really a constant mental and physical reminder to Hester of what she has done wrong. With Pearl at her side, Hester will never escape the punishment of her wrong deed.Moreover, Pearl is the person who eventually makes Dimmesdale admit his crime. She constantly asks why the minister keeps putting his hand over his heart, and figures out it is for the same reason that her mother wears the scarlet letter. Her role as a living scarlet letter is to announce to the whole world who the guilt parents are. After Dimmesdale manages to keep the mother and daughter together in the governor's hall, Pearl responses amazingly. She takes his hand and places her cheek against it.This simple gesture is full of meaning, because it implies that Pearl recognizes Dimmesdale as being connected to her. Meanwhile, Pearl's stand of urging the minister to commit his sin is firm. When Dimmesdale stands on the scaffold where Hester suffered herpublic humiliation several years before, he meets Hester and Pearl, who have been at Governor Winthrop's deathbed, taking measurements for a robe, he invites them to join him on the stand. When all three hold hands, Pearl asks Dimmesdale,‖ Wilt thou stand here with moth er and me, tomorrow noontide?‖(Hawthorn, 1998:140). Dimmesdale answers,‖ Not so, my child, I shall, indeed, stand with thy mother and thee, one other day, but not tomorrow‖(Hawthorn, 1998:141). Pearl laughs and attempts to pull away her hand until the minister promises to take her hand and her mother's hand at ―the great judgment day‖. W hen they later meet in the forest, Hester says to Pearl, ―He loves thee, my little Pearl, and loves thy mother too. Wilt thou love him?‖ Pearl says,“Doth he love us?‖ then asks, ―wilt he go back with us, hand in hand, we three together, into the town?‖ The answer is ―not now‖. So when Dimmesdale impresses a kiss on her brow before they leave the forest, ―Pearl broke away from her mother, and, running to the brook, stooped over it, and bathed her forehead, until the unwelco me kiss was quite washed off…‖(Hawthorn, 1998:194). At the end of the novel, when the minister climbs up the scaffold with the help of Hester and Pearl, confessing his sin to his followers, Pearl kisses his lips. She accepts her father finally.Pearl's role as the living scarlet letter is over, and Dimmesdale, who finally takes responsibility for his sin, has learned the moral, which she is meant to teach.4 Symbolic Meanings of the Objects Described in the NovelIn The Scarlet Letter, most of the objects that are described have many symbolic meanings.4.1 Light and DarknessThe novel is filled with light and darkness symbols because it represents the most common battle of all time, good versus evil. When Hester and her daughter are walking in the forest, Pearl exclaims:" Mother, the sunshine does not love you. It runs away and hides itself, because it is afraid of something on you bosom. Now see! There it is, playing a good way off. Stand you here, and let me run and catch it. I am but a child. It will not flee from me, for I wear nothing on my bosom yet‖ (Hawthorn, 1998:168). Hester tries to stretch her hand into the circle of light, but the sunshine vanishes. She then suggests that they go into the forest and have rest. This short scene actually represents Hester's daily struggle in life. The light represents what Hester wants to be, which is pure. The movement of the light represents Hester's constant denial of acceptance. Hester's lack of surprise and quick suggestion to go into the forest, where is dark, shows that she never expected to be admitted and is resigned to her station in life. Another way light and darkness is used in symbolism is in the way Hester and Dimmesdale's plan to escape is doomed. Hester and Dimmesdale meet in the shadows of the forest with a gloomy sky and a threatening storm overhead when they discuss their plans for the future. The gloomy weather and shadows exemplify the fact that they can't get away from the repressive force of their sins. It is later proven when Dimmesdale dies on the scaffold! Instead of leaving with Hester and going to England. A final example occurs in the way 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 the gloom of this dark forest‖(Hawthorn, 1998:199). This emotion foretells that they will never last together openly because their sin has separated them too much from normal life.4.2 PrisonThe opening chapter introduces several of the images and the themes within the story to follow.“The founders of a new colony, whatever Utopia of human virtue and happiness they might originally project, have invariably recognized it among their earliest practical。
论《红字》中人物姓名的象征意义摘要：《红字》作为纳撒尼尔·霍桑的代表作，是美国第一部象征主义小说。
小说中运用大量的象征手法给予自然、人物、事物深层的涵义，其中各主人公的姓名就具有典型的象征意义。
本文将从象征主义角度剖析海斯特·白兰、奇灵渥斯、丁梅斯代尔和珠儿的名字，以期使读者更好地理解小说中的善与恶、道德与爱情、个人与社会的关系。
关键词：红字；人物名字；象征主义一、引言《红字》是19世纪美国浪漫主义作家纳撒尼尔·霍桑创作的长篇小说。
小说以二百多年前的美洲殖民地为题材，讲述的是女主人公海斯特·白兰嫁给自己并不喜欢的医生奇灵渥斯后，又与牧师丁梅斯代尔通奸并生下女儿珠儿。
由于当时殖民地受清教统治，而清教徒所信奉的“原罪说”、“完全的堕落”和“通过上帝的仁慈所带来的有限的救赎”[1]这样的教义是海斯特成为了不耻之人。
多年来，她要戴着自己亲手缝制的“红字”与女儿珠儿一起站到绞刑架上受人们的指责、嘲笑并接受救赎。
但是，她顽强不屈、忍辱负重的精神和乐于助人、善良美好的品质最终使人们了解真相，使恶人受到惩罚，也为自己赢来了尊重。
象征主义文学在19世纪中叶起源于法国，在20世纪初传至欧美大陆，法国诗人夏尔·波德莱尔和美国诗人爱伦坡是象征主义的先驱。
霍桑的文学创作深受超验主义倡导者爱默生的影响，爱默生在论述自然的本质时说“每一种自然现象都是魔种精神现象的象征物”[2]，而霍桑认为客观物质世界仅仅是假象，其“灵性”才是本质。
因此，霍桑在自己的文学作品中，尤其是《红字》的创作中运用大量的象征，使小说中充满主观想象色彩，以此来描绘人物的心理感悟和感官直觉。
二、《红字》中人物姓名的象征意义小说中人物的姓名具有丰富的象征意义，能表现出人物的性格、品质等方面的特征，因此，本文将对主人公海斯特·白兰、奇灵渥斯、丁梅斯代尔、珠儿的姓名进行讨论，体会其深层象征意义，使读者更深入地理解各个人物的个性与品质。
写作手法其实《红字》是一部多重写作手法的结合体（combination）。
其成功建立于多重写作手法的水乳交融（in complete harmony），这种交融既极大地丰富了小说的内涵，深化了小说的主题，又激发了读者丰富的想象力。
下面就让我们从《红字》的三个主要写作手法来欣赏一下这部小说吧。
一、象征手法1.The Scarlet Letter is the first symbolic novel in the history of American fiction. And Hamilton Moby, the famous American novel critic considered Hawthorne as the “The founder of the symbol in American literature”.2.Symbolism originated from Baudelaire, a French poet.The function of symbolism used in the Scarlet Letter is to render the atmosphere and to narrate the motivation of this novel.3.《红字》中的象征运用贯穿故事始末，其中最突出的要数红字“A”了。
霍桑巧妙地让红A字在不同的地点以不同的形式多次出现，并赋予它不同的意义。
故事开始时，海斯特因犯通奸罪Adultery而受到清教社会的谴责和惩罚，被迫佩戴红色A字以警示众人不要重蹈覆辙。
随着故事的发展，海斯特虽负罪在身，却处处积德行善，从而使她胸前的“A”字在一般人的心目中变成了能干able的标志。
最后，海斯特以自己的美德赢得了人们的尊重和敬爱，使红A字在人们心中如同修女胸前的十字架，成为天使angel的象征。
除了上述的象征意义外，它还因海斯特精美绝伦的刺绣成为艺术art的标志；因为她忠贞不渝的爱情成为爱Amour的标志；因为她极受压制的天性和真情成为痛苦agony的标志；甚至因为她饱经磨难后的成熟而成了坚韧不拔的女斗士amazon的标志。
论《红字》中象征主义手法的运用摘要：I.引言- 介绍《红字》- 简要说明文章的主题II.象征主义手法的定义和特点- 解释象征主义- 描述象征主义手法的特点III.《红字》中象征主义手法的具体运用- 分析《红字》中的象征元素- 解释这些象征元素在小说中的意义IV.象征主义手法在小说中的作用- 讨论象征主义手法如何增强小说的主题和表达力- 分析象征主义手法如何影响读者对小说的理解V.结论- 总结文章的主要观点- 提出对《红字》中象征主义手法的评价正文：I.引言《红字》是美国著名作家纳撒尼尔·霍桑的代表作之一，也是美国文学史上的一部经典之作。
小说以十七世纪晚期的美国为背景，讲述了一个关于罪恶、惩罚和救赎的故事。
在这部小说中，霍桑巧妙地运用了象征主义手法，使得小说的主题和表达力更加深刻。
本文将从象征主义手法的定义和特点出发，详细分析《红字》中象征主义手法的具体运用，以及这些手法在小说中的作用。
II.象征主义手法的定义和特点象征主义是一种文学手法，它通过使用具有象征意义的符号、形象或意象来表达作家的思想、情感和主题。
这些象征元素可以是任何事物，如动物、植物、数字、颜色、形状等。
象征主义手法的特点是含蓄、隐喻和具有多重意义，这使得作品具有更丰富的内涵和更强烈的表现力。
III.《红字》中象征主义手法的具体运用在《红字》中，霍桑运用了许多象征主义手法。
其中最著名的是“红字”，它象征着主人公海丝特·白兰的罪行——通奸。
红字被霍桑赋予了深刻的象征意义，它代表了海丝特的内心痛苦、社会压力和道德谴责。
此外，红字还具有时间、空间和命运的象征意义，展示了罪恶对人的一生的影响。
除了红字之外，《红字》中还有许多其他的象征元素。
例如，小说中的森林象征着自然和神秘的力量，而丁梅斯代尔牧师的书房则象征着知识和理智。
这些象征元素使得小说具有丰富的内涵和多层次的意义。
IV.象征主义手法在小说中的作用象征主义手法在《红字》中起到了增强主题和表达力的作用。
