《红字》——美国文学史上第一篇象征手法创作的小说——小议《红字》的象征手法
浅谈《红字》中象征主义的用法
浅谈《红字》中象征手法的运用摘要：霍桑的《红字》自问世至今，一直受到广大读者和评论家的青睐。
小说充分体现了霍桑象征主义手法运用的高超技艺，本文对象征手法进行了剖析。
关键词：象征原罪红字A美国文艺复兴时期的著名作家霍桑，深受清教意识、超验哲学和神秘主义影响，他的代表作《红字》自问世至今，一直受到广大读者和评论家的青睐。
小说充分体现了霍桑象征主义手法运用的高超技艺，通过这一表现手法，他的行文摇曳多姿，引而不露，含而不发，耐人寻味。
一、在人物描写中运用象征手法小说中，霍桑在刻画人物时便赋予了他们深刻的寓意。
罗杰・奇林沃斯，这一邪恶的清教徒形象的最大特点是伪善和狠毒。
这个外表消瘦，畸形的老人在一个受人尊敬的“医生”的身份的伪装下，以治病抚伤为由，秘密地进行着复仇活动，一步步地偷窥，挖掘着人内心的秘密，慢慢地摧毁人的灵魂。
他为了满足自己的私欲，心安理得地将海丝特的青春占有，当发现自己妻子的背叛之后，为了报仇，他像一条毒蛇一样缠住狄梅斯迪尔不放，竭尽折磨狄梅斯迪尔的灵魂。
他虚伪地以“一个最可信赖的朋友”的面目出现，哄骗狄梅斯迪尔将“一切的恐怖、惭愧、痛苦、无效的悔恨、无法摆脱的内心谴责，都要对他和盘托出!”而他内心却是“绝无怜悯，绝无容赦!'”在海丝特与罗杰的谈话中，罗杰曾说：“我的手指只要对他一指，便会将他从他的讲坛弹到大牢里去，说不定还要上绞刑台呢!”这个阴险的小人自认为手中的强大力量正是当时教会的暴虐，严峻的统治。
珠儿是小说中极具神秘色彩的一个人物，她纯洁无邪，敏捷灵巧，却生来就要承受“恶魔之女”的罪名，她是性“罪过”的有形产物。
她的存在时时刻刻让人想起海丝特的“罪过”。
然而，珠儿对于海丝特而言，更是上帝对她莫大的恩赐。
珠儿是她美好爱情的结晶，代表着纯洁，她的名字象征着高贵。
因此，珠儿象征着海丝特承受罪过的极大勇气和激情。
二、红字A的象征意义霍桑对红字A的多种象征意义贯穿于全书中，赋予了它丰富多样的象征意义，从不同角度不同层次审视，出现不同或完全相反的象征意义。
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。
论《红字》中的象征意义
论《红字》中的象征意义作者：项真珍黄小星来源：《语文建设·下半月》2014年第05期摘要：《红字》是美国历史上第一部以象征主义为题材的小说。
在其作品中，无论是红字“A”，还是人物形象塑造，或者是场景的创设，都体现出了明显的象征手法，具备独特的象征意义。
本文从象征角度出发，探析在小说中的各种象征手法，以实现对于作品的再次解读。
关键词：《红字》象征手法引言在霍桑进行《红字》文学小说创作的过程中，在人物塑造、情节设置、语言表达方面都表现出明显的主观想象色彩，字里行间都可以感受到人物的情感，意识，思想和态度，好像是以各个人物的意识活动来进行作品创作的。
这样的手法被称为象征，这也是《红字》作品的重要特色。
一、象征手法的概况从理论上来讲，象征是文学创作的艺术手法之一，是以具体事物为媒介引起读者的各种联想。
也就是说，抓住事物之间的独特联系，在具体形象体的协助下，实现抽象感情、思想、心态的表达。
这种文学创作手法，往往使得其文章立意更加深刻，更加含蓄，耐人寻味。
象征手法是一种古老的艺术手法，在无数的文艺作品中都可以看到这样的手法的使用。
对于霍桑来讲，作为那时期的浪漫主义作家，在受到神秘主义观点熏陶的同时，也积极尝试使用象征手法，并且发挥主观能动性，将象征手法中渗入自己的感情艺术，使得整个《红字》中呈现出大量的象征主义。
二、《红字》中的象征主义（一）内容梗概故事发生在十七世纪中叶。
海斯特·白兰是一个年轻漂亮的少女，却嫁给了一个畸形的年长的罗格·齐灵渥斯。
后来罗格被捕，海斯特与年轻的牧师阿瑟·丁梅斯代尔相爱，并且生下了女儿珠儿。
事情败露之后，海斯特被判处通奸罪，要求其在胸前佩戴红字“A”，其原配丈夫回国之后得知此事，就千方百计地去折磨阿瑟·丁梅斯代尔。
最终，人们看到海斯特·白兰的美德而原谅了她，而阿瑟·丁梅斯代尔也当众承认了自己的罪行并死去。
（二）《红字》中的象征意义霍桑《红字》中的象征手法众多，整个文学作品中都渗透着明显的象征意义。
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.。
论《红字》中的象征主义
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
《红字》中的象征意义探讨
霍桑在小说中采用象征手法，表达 字“A”。他们的女儿小珠，是他们爱情
了清教主义对人的精神摧残和对人性的 的结晶，也是他们通奸的见证。
压抑以及人们对美好生活的向往。作家
随 着 情 节 的 深 入， 作 者 赋 予 红 字
像变魔术似的运用象征手法，赋予了作 “A”更多的意义。海丝特触犯了教规，
品无限阐释的可能性。
环球首映 HUANQIU SHOUYING
《红字》中的象征意义探讨
》是美国 19 世纪最伟 大的浪漫主义作家纳撒尼尔 · 霍桑的成 名作，也是他最著名的代表作。这部著 作巧妙的借助象征手法，使作品中的人 物、场景等都带上了特殊的象征意义， 故事情节也充满了神秘色彩，给读者留 下了无限的遐想空间，达到了言有尽而 意无穷的效果，因此被视为美国第一部 象征主义小说。本文主要在细读文本的 基 础 上， 探 讨《红 字 》 中 的 象 征 意 义， 以加深对这部小说的理解。
- 1、下载文档前请自行甄别文档内容的完整性，平台不提供额外的编辑、内容补充、找答案等附加服务。
- 2、"仅部分预览"的文档,不可在线预览部分如存在完整性等问题,可反馈申请退款(可完整预览的文档不适用该条件!)。
- 3、如文档侵犯您的权益，请联系客服反馈,我们会尽快为您处理(人工客服工作时间：9:00-18:30)。
《红字》——美国文学史上第一篇象征手法创作的小说
——小议《红字》的象征手法
作者：章波
作者单位：江西师范大学初等教育/高职学院
刊名：
时代文学
英文刊名：SHIDAI WENXUE
年，卷(期)：2011(6)
1.朱虹英美文学散论 1984
2.常耀信美国文学简史 1999
3.姚乃强红字 1996
4.易立新《红字》的多重象征意义 2000(02)
5.党颖颖小议《红字》中人名的象征意义[期刊论文]-科教文汇 2008(03)
1.邹星《红字》中的多重象征解读[期刊论文]-时代文学2010(18)
2.张群.蒋颖异.李颖杰浅谈霍桑在《红字》中运用的象征手法[期刊论文]-文艺生活·文海艺苑2011(3)
3.卢翎婧解析红字A在《红字》中的内涵意义[期刊论文]-青年文学家2011(6)
4.俞晓红永远的天性--《红楼梦》与《红字》象征意象比较谈[期刊论文]-国外文学2003(1)
5.李华.LI Hua论《红字》中原型的多层次冲突[期刊论文]-重庆职业技术学院学报2008,17(6)
6.兰岚论《红字》中象征主义手法的运用[期刊论文]-时代文学2009(15)
本文链接：/Periodical_shidwx201106032.aspx。