浅析《红字》中象征主义手法的运用
论霍桑《红字》中的象征手法
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。
浅谈小说《红字》中的多重象征意义 姜婷婷
浅谈小说《红字》中的多重象征意义姜婷婷发表时间：2018-09-18T09:51:05.987Z 来源：《知识-力量》3中作者：姜婷婷[导读] 小说《红字》是19世纪美国浪漫主义作家霍桑创作的第一部长篇小说,同时也是最能体现霍桑对象征手法的娴熟运用的代表作。
受神秘主义的影响，霍桑的作品多使用象征主义来描摹场景、刻画人物，并含沙射影地表达自己的态度和观点。
他惯于将浪漫主义和象征主义相结合，从而使创作达到意想不到的结果。
他在小说《红字》中大量地赋予不同的人物和事物以丰富且有层次的象征意义，使这部小说的内蕴远比字里行间所传达的文本信息更耐人寻味（河南大学，河南省开封市 475000）摘要：小说《红字》是19世纪美国浪漫主义作家霍桑创作的第一部长篇小说,同时也是最能体现霍桑对象征手法的娴熟运用的代表作。
受神秘主义的影响，霍桑的作品多使用象征主义来描摹场景、刻画人物，并含沙射影地表达自己的态度和观点。
他惯于将浪漫主义和象征主义相结合，从而使创作达到意想不到的结果。
他在小说《红字》中大量地赋予不同的人物和事物以丰富且有层次的象征意义，使这部小说的内蕴远比字里行间所传达的文本信息更耐人寻味。
通过对象征主义的解读以及对红色字母A的象征意义及其与主要人物名字及形象的关系的分析，本文深入剖析和探讨了小说《红字》中的多重象征意义即其多义性。
关键词：红字A；象征主义；多重象征意义一、象征主义象征作为一种文学创作手段，很早就出现在诗歌以及小说创作中。
而象征主义真正作为一种文学流派，则出现于19世纪末至20世纪30年代，并逐渐成为欧美现代派文学的一个重要分支。
对于“象征”一词，历来不乏有评论家、诗人等对其进行解读。
他们的解释往往有相通之处却又不尽相同。
评论家南帆说：“象征是以特定的具体形象表现或暗示某种观念、哲理或情感”[1]。
法国诗人马拉美认为：“象征就是这种神秘性构成的：一点一点地把对象暗示出来，用以表现一种心灵状态”[2]。
《红字》的象征手法探析
《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.。
浅谈《红字》中的象征主义
语言文学研究浅谈《红字》中的象征主'陈栩(上海政法学院语言文化学院，上海201701)摘要：《红字》表达人们想要远离清教主义和追求幸福生活的强P意愿。
《红字》完美运用象征主义，增强了小说的艺术效果。
本文分析红字A的多种含义、四大主角的名字，以及文中出现的众多景物，研究这部小说的象征主义，帮助读者更好地理解象征主义。
关键词：《红字》象征主义清教主义艺术效果1.红字A的不同含义及象征意'的变化随着小说情节的发展，红字A被赋予了许多含义，这些意义的变化是很重要的，因为它们展示了人物的成长和道德的进步。
最初字母A被视为罪恶、通奸的象征，后来又被认为是孤独和疏远的象征，到小说最后，成为高尚、天使和崇拜的象征。
1.1通奸(A for Adultery)由于海丝特与罗杰.齐灵渥斯通奸，她胸前被挂上了一个红字A,但这并不是唯一的，她被，遭人围。
这个字母象征着，使人视恶灵不及。
海丝特鼓起一切勇气面生的和，她并人一，一个人道她罪的重生活，她来,这显示了她的勇气和o1.2孤独与疏离(A for Alone and Alienation)海丝特后，的一小。
“它是由一位早期的的,后来被了，因为的瘠"，远的使它了着的的”(75)。
由于她的罪行，海丝特生，上与疏远了。
人们海丝特，不愿与她。
，红字A象征着孤独和疏。
1.3能力、钦佩和天使(A for Ability,Admiration and Angel)着时间的流逝，红字A逐渐转变为能力(Ability)、钦佩(Admiration(和天使(Angel)的象征。
那些因为海丝特的罪恶责备她的人改了她的看：“红字A代表着她精巧的针线，以及她对急需帮助的人付出的爱心。
她以强大的和同情心帮助人，以至于越来越多的人拒绝按照红字A的原意解它。
”(第148页)由于海丝特的仁慈，许多人都意识到她是一个正直和坚毅的女人。
“你看见那个戴着绣花徽章的女人了吗？是我们镇上的海丝特，她对穷人此仁慈，病人如此有益，对受苦此安慰”。
象征手法在《红字》中的运用
象征手法在《红字》中的运用摘要：象征是文学创作中一种常见的表现手法。
霍桑在小说《红字》中充分运用象征手法，别具一格，独具匠心，使读者很容易理解小说中的人物、事件和情节。
关键词：象征；霍桑；红字a中图分类号：i3 文献标识码：a 文章编号：1009-0118（2011）-10-0-02一、引言象征主义作为一种文学流派，出现于19世纪末至20世纪30年代，是欧美现代派文学的一个重要分支。
但象征主义作为一种文学创作手段，则很早就在诗歌及小说中运用。
现代象征主义诗歌的代表人物艾略特说过，诗人应为他的思想和情感在现实世界中找到“客观对应物”，即象征物。
总结以上几种说法，可以说象征是借助于现实世界中的具体形象或事物，如色彩、声音、动植物等等来间接地寄托作者思想与情感的文学创作手段。
由于不是对客观事物作直接、简单的描述，而是通过暗示、隐喻等手段引起读者的联想，所以象征往往具有多义性与不确定性；由于象征可以引发读者丰富的联想并具有多重含义，这样就赋予原来平常的事物以巨大的艺术力量，这也许正是象征艺术的魅力所在。
早期的象征主义文学在题材上多侧重描写个人幻影和内心感受，极少涉及广阔的社会题材。
但十九世纪美国最著名的浪漫主义小说家霍桑经常使用象征手法和浪漫主义想象来突出强调他试图描述的社会问题。
二、《红字》与象征主义霍桑的小说在思想内容和艺术手法上都独具一格，他把严肃的道德和历史内容与卓越的艺术表现形式巧妙地结合在一起；把天赋的想象力与高超的语言技巧融为一体。
霍桑深受加尔文清教思想影响，同时美国浪漫主义时期盛行的神秘主义和超验主义在他脑海中留下了深深的烙印。
这种浓郁的文化背景形成了他对社会的怀疑态度，他逐渐意识到清教主义对人性的极大压抑和束缚，它剥夺了人们追求幸福与真爱的权利。
然而，他却无法完全摆脱这种思想的影响，这种环境决定了他的写作风格，并成就了他象征主义大师的称号，一直享誉英美和世界文坛，至今盛名不衰。
他开创了美国文学史上的“象征浪漫主义”的创作手法，这在《红字》中得到了最完美的展现。
浅谈小说《红字》中的多重象征意义
浅谈小说《红字》中的多重象征意义纳尼尔·霍桑是美国19世纪伟大的浪漫主义小说家。
他的长篇小说《红字》是其最杰出的代表作。
霍桑在小说中多次运用象征手法，从而使小说中的人物、场所、其它景物以及贯穿小说始终的红字A都带上了特殊的象征意义。
该小说深刻剖析了罪与罚的宗教意识以及其对人性道德本质的深刻影响。
标签：《红字》“A”人物;场景;象征意义1.红字“A”的象征意义1.1霍桑在《红字》中用了大量的象征，小说以“A”开头又以“A”结尾，全部内容包含在这个字母中，人物的命运，情节的发展都与之息息相关，所以红字“A”代表了小说本身。
象征意义最为典型的红字“A”，顾名思义是红色的 A 字，首先映入我们眼帘的便是耀眼的红色。
红色是一种能引起人们无限联想的颜色，于是小说中红色展示出了各种丰富的内涵：红色是血与火的颜色，是热烈情欲的象征，海丝特和丁梅斯代尔抑制不住青春的冲动和对对方的爱慕，最終成为上帝的罪人，一个妇女丧失了贞节，一位牧师辱没了自己的使命，受到惩罚。
红色还是生命、力量和热情的象征。
海丝特与丁梅斯代尔之间的爱情是纯洁的，美丽的，热烈的，然而在严峻的清教思想的统治下，象征爱情和生命之源的红色被愚昧的社会当作耻辱的标记戴在海丝特胸前，以示惩戒。
让大家觉得讽刺的是：海丝特胸前耀眼的红字，就如同她心头熊熊燃烧着的一团火焰，在严寒和冷酷的社会环境中带给她温暖;在死一般地孤独和寂寞中给她以生的希望和勇气。
虽然遭到社会的迫害，世人的唾弃，她却没有屈服，她几乎是昂首挺胸走出层层困境，以无声地沉默和坚强的信念反抗着令人感到窒息的精神压迫。
她坚定地相信，一个更光明的时期一定会来临，人们将会获得真正的爱情和幸福。
1.2就红字“A”本身而言，它并没有神秘的色彩，第一次出现在人们面前，它仅仅是一个耻辱的符号，A字是通奸（Adultery）的缩写，作者霍桑是这样对它进行描述的：“在她（海丝特）衣服的胸部，出现 A 形的字，那是精美的红布制成的，四周有金线织成的细工刺绣和奇巧花样。
《红字》中象征主义手法的运用分析
《红字》中象征主义手法的运用分析
《红字》是中国著名诗人李清照的一首词，以赤字无助地被抛弃为主题。
文中，作者利用象征手法，来讽刺那些贪财无度的奢侈之人，又把人性的短处暴露于众。
一、写实主义手法：文中写出被抛弃的“红字”，这个“红字”本来可以象征情书或者爱国热情，但作者写出却是“穷苦人家”把它当成“士多啤梨”来供养家。
这种写实之作，与抛弃的“红字”的象征性有较大的矛盾，深刻地揭示了当今人性的贪婪情绪，即“以物易物”，无情地把破烂衣服等“红字”卖给乞丐。
二、山水象征法：李清照在词中穿插山水景象，以打动读者的情感。
他提到巴陵“泻入清溪，晴天变月”，仿佛山水在夕阳的余辉中，却隐含着那些被抛弃的“红字”的无奈与悲凉，他又写道“未到桃花谷，却自芦苇林”，象征被抛弃的“红字”早早的失去了属于自己的求爱之情，已经永远不能靠近桃花谷之处。
三、寓言手法：寓言手法在词中运用较多，作者用离奇的象征与拟人化，让读者比较容易理解作者所暗示的人性本质之薄弱。
“闲花重叠，求爱不择”，把“红字”的求爱喻成闲花的落叶，说明当年原本有多緿荣的爱情，但是被他人贪恋，结果只有夹杂着哀凉的“红字”抛弃于门前。
“一旦随风去，何日复归？”，把“红字”喻成飘动的“风”，暗示着那些因贪念而失去了的感情，是永远也不能挽回的。
通过《红字》这首词，李清照利用着象征主义手法，深刻地揭示了贪心和无情的人性本质，又让人们深深地反省自己的一些不正确的行为。
浅析《红字》中象征手法的运用
同样 ，监 狱 门前 那 一 片 长 满 牛 蒡 、藜 草 等 难 看 植 物 的杂 乱 无 章 的 草 地 ，
暗示文 明社会中存在着一些丑 陋的东西 ，而正是这些不 良社会成分 的存 在使得监狱必不可少 。作家在此也描写 了一处盛开的蔷薇花 ，并 以此来 象征 “ 从这个 故事可以发现 甜蜜的道德 花卉。 ”笔 者在此 引用作家原文 中的相关描述 部 分 以便 读 者更 好 地 理解 原 意 Ｏ“ Ｉ ｔ ｍａ ｙ ｓ ｅ ｒ ｖ ｅ ，ｌ ｅ ｔ Ｕ Ｓ
个 同犯 ， 将 他的身心彻底摧毁。他还利用科学和所学的巫术来窥 探他的
秘密 ，使后 者在精神和 内心上 都处 于崩 溃 的境地 。他 完全 成 了一个 恶 魔 ，将 自己的幸福和快乐建立在别人的痛苦之上 ，成 了恶 的象征。而丁 梅斯代 尔所 象征着善恶交锋的状态也被作家描写得生动形象 。他是 一名 年轻博 学的主教 ，英俊潇洒。他和海丝特犯了同样的罪。但是他 缺少海
《 红字》 是 １ ９世纪美 国作 家霍桑 的长篇小说 。小 说 以两 百多年前
的殖 民地时期的美洲为题 材 ，但揭露 的却是 １ ９世纪资本 主义发展 时期 美 国社会典法 的残酷 、宗教 的欺骗和道德 的虚伪 。主人公海 丝特被写成 了崇高道德 的善 的化身 。她的丈夫奇灵渥斯被写成 了一个一 心只想窥探 别人 内心的秘密从而伺机报仇的恶的化身。青年牧师丁梅斯代尔 则是善 恶交 加的人物。小说惯用象征手法 ，人物 、情节和语 言都颇具 主观想象
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An Analyze of the Symbolism in theScarlet LetterContents1. Introduction (i)2. The Symbolic Meaning of the Images (i)2.1 The Symbolic Meaning of the Characters (i)2.1.1 Hester Prynne (i)2. 1.2 Roger Chillingworth (i)2.1.3Author Dimmesdale (i)2.1.4 Pearl (i)2.2 The symbolic meaning of the Jail (i)2.3 The Symbolic Meaning of the Scaffold (ii)3. Conclusion (ii)An Analyze of the Symbolism in the Scarlet LetterAbstract:The Scarlet Letter is the 1st novel of symbolism in American literature. Being different from the romanticism, symboli sm is adopted to convey the author’s opinions in an indirect way. In this novel, Nathaniel Hawthorne artfully applied symbolism to express himself by creating several images with vivid and symbolic characteristics. This thesis mainly analyzes the symbolism applied in novel from three aspects: characters, jail and scaffold.Key Words: symbolism Puritanism adultery revenge摘要：《红字》是美国第一部象征主义小说。
与浪漫主义写作手法不同，象征主义作品间接表达作者的思想。
在这部小说中，作者霍桑通过创造了几个形象鲜明的、象征角色，巧妙地采用象征主义表达自己的观点。
该论文主要从小说三方面分析象征主义：人物、监狱和断头台。
关键字：象征主义清教主义通奸复仇1. Introduction:The Scarlet Letter is Hawthorne’s famous fiction in which he revealed the dark side of Puritanism, as well as the harshness and persecution. It seems like a love story but actually it mainly reflected the society environment. Particularly, the author employed the symbolism to convey his ideas and thoughts. In which Hester is a vivid character created by Hawthorne.2. The Symbolic Meaning of the Images2.1 The Symbolic Meaning of the Characters2.1.1 Hester PrynneAs the main character in this novel, it is no doubt that Hester Prynne had been drawing more attention from the beginning. Readers may conclude what she suffered is a tragedy. But on the other hand, what she symbolized in the story is strong will, affection and loyalty. Anyhow, she deserves the attention.As the story happened in the 19th century in Boston, it was a period of Puritanism controlled. Anyone who inhabited on the island had to observe the stern puritan rules to survive from these cruel governors. However, Hester was the only one ventured to challenge the rigid religion regulations at the expense of burning enormous humiliation and shame in front of the public. Although she had committed the sin of adultery, she preferred to wear the scarlet letter “A” on her breast instead of naming the man with whom she committed adultery. “She was ladylike, too, after the manner of the femi nine gentility of these days” She was such a graceful woman in the writer’s book. Never had Heater intended to yield to the evil might. Her resistance had made her great. What the “A” embodied in her breast was not disgrace any more. Contrariwise, it just liked a scarlet rose--attractive and glittering. Undoubtedly, Hester was an unyielding woman with strong will.In this novel, Pearl, the daughter of Hester and Arthur, in fact, was one of the powerful currents to make Hester become a great woman. From the story we can perceive that Heater had an affectionate love towards Pearl. She spared no efforts to protect her daughter, not only her personal safety, but also her delicate dignity. She embroidered to support their lives. She dresses Pearl in bright highly—ornamented costume. She even begged the pastor not to take Pearl away from her. We can not deny that Heater was a tenderhearted mother through her profound affection for Pearl.Heater’s loyalty could be testified by her love for Arthur. She refused to nam e the man when confronting the roaming throng because she loved the man and cherished his life more than her own. She was willing to stand all the humiliation herself even though which was unfair for her.In all, Hester was described as a symbol of resister against Puritanism. “A” on her breast looked more dazzling and beautiful rather than shameful any more. The “A” ha d proved to be an angel. Nathaniel Hawthorne attempted to express his appeal to struggle for freedom and truth which was symbolized by Hester in that society.2.1.2 Roger ChillingworthHester’s previous husband, Roger Chillingworth was a fairly poor man in this novel. It’s the hatred that motivate d all his deeds, which also destroyed himself eventually. In this novel, he was a symbol of evil and monster.Used to enjoy great repute as a scholar, Roger Chillingworth could have led a decent life with his beautiful young wife---Hester. However, everything changed after the accident of the wreck of the ship. He suffered great shame because his wife had betrayed him. At the moment when he appeared from the forest to stand in front of the meeting house where Hester stood, he had made the decision to find out the man whom Hester committed adultery with and take revenge on the man, since then the plan for revenge began to spring up in his mind. His heart, his soul, as well as his blood were full of hatred. Especially when he discovered Arthur Dimmesdale was the sinful man, he took revenge on him crazily. He presented to be a physician to treat the sick Arthur, thus made Arthur suffered a lot both mentally and physically every day. But he did not satisfy with this, nor did he decide toforego his plan since the man had used to wrong him so much. Roger did not cease until Auther’s confession of his sin, whi ch Roger had never predicted before. With losing the only goal of his life, Roger died within years. What a poor man.An eye for an eye. A man with evil intention died miserably finally, he did not escape from the trap made by himself. Therefore he left people the impression that he was a pitiful man. In fact, what he did was turned to be in vain and his life was meaningless. Nathaniel Hawthorne tried to express his despise for these hypocritical people in this way, which was very impressive to the readers.2.1.3 Author DimmesdaleAuthor was also a vivid and symbolic image in this novel who represented cowardice.Author, used to committed sin with Hester, was indeed a coward. Witnessing Hester suffering humiliation before the crowd, he still pretended to be calm in order to maintain his respectable image among people in spite of the concerning Hester would speak his name out. He should have assumed the responsibility for the crime he had made, but he just preferred to escape. It doomed that he would bear the deep condemn from his inner conscience.Author was a character full of contradiction in this novel. On one hand, he stood for the stern power of Puritanism by complying with all the regulations. On the other hand, he disobeyed the rules with adultery. The author tried to criticize the contradiction of the Puritanism by creating such an image with two identifies.2.1.4 PearlJust as the name suggested, Pearl liked a pure and innocent angel in the story which was also associated with the scarlet letter “A”. Of course she was innocent because she did not involve in this sinful crime. Her voice and appearance were the symbol of angel. “She was to redeem the world”. She was described to stand for purity by the Nathaniel Hawthorne.2.2Symbolic Meaning of the Jail“The personage prefigured and represented in his aspect the whore dismal severity ofthe puritanical in code of law, which it was his business to administer in its final and closest application to the offender.” That is the description about the jail a nd jailers. Apparently, jail was a symbol of the strict puritanical regulations, it was protected by its loyal followers, who was symbolized by the jailers. The only difference lies in one was visible while the other was invisible. Hester was a victim of the jail in this novel.2.3The Symbolic Meaning of the ScaffoldThe word scaffold appeared several times in the Scarlet Letter was also given a particular meaning in this novel. We know its literal meaning is a stage to end one’s life, which symbolizes despair and hopelessness. However, Hester was put to the scaffold innumerable times, there she burn the great shame and humiliation herself. In addition, the scaffold also stands for the place where people were thrown into by the cruel religion rules and its loyal followers.3. ConclusionScarlet Letter was Nathaniel Hawthorne’s first work to employ symbolism. It was a great success because of the skillful use of symbolism. He applied symbolism to transmit his personal views towards the society as well as his hope for it. In particular, the symbolism used to create the characters, for each character was embodied a special meaning, which was very impressive and thought-provoking.Beside these images analyzed above, some other objectives also symbolized meanings in this novel, such as the forest and the pastor. In all, Nathaniel Hawthorne used symbolism successfully to clarify his thoughtBibliographyWu Weiren.1990. History and Anthology of American Literature:. Beijing: Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press.Yu Xuegong. 2001.Scarlet Letter. Shanghai: Xingsi Book Press.ChangY aoxin(常耀信).2006.《英国文学简史》.南开大学出版社。