《红字》的清教主义传统透视汇总
论《红字》的清教观
Puritanism in The Scarlet LetterAbstractThe Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne’s representative work, is a classical novel in American literature in the 19th century. The novel displays Puritanism’s great impact on people's life and thought. This thesis will give a picture of puritans’ life and ideology through the analysis of the Puritan town Boston and some related characters, and introduce how the communities in the town are deeply influenced by Puritanism. Meanwhile, by analyzing the main character Hester, the thesis will present the harshness and the strict punishment in Puritan society. In Puritan communities, whoever commits a sin will be punished. The thesis also presents Hawthorne’s attitude towards Puritanism. On one hand, he appreciates the Puritan thought and value; on the other hand, he condemns the negative impact of Puritan society on people’s spirit.Key Words: Puritanism, Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter, Boston，Hester论《红字》的清教观内容提要霍桑的代表作〈〈红字〉〉是19世纪美国文学史上的一本古典小说。
论《红字》中的清教思想
论《红字》中的清教思想作者：李文悦来源：《文学教育》2015年第12期内容摘要：霍桑的《红字》是一部充满了神秘清教思想的作品。
他一方面将清教的道德观念作为认识社会的基准，渗透了清教的“原罪”与“自我救赎”的意识；另一方面他又抨击清教苛刻的教条对人性的摧残和迫害。
本文主要通过对三位主人公的分析研究，探讨《红字》中原罪与自我救赎的思想以及霍桑对社会命运的思考。
关键词：《红字》清教原罪自我救赎纳撒尼尔·霍桑共创作了一百多部短篇小说，及四部长篇，是美国十九世纪影响力最大的浪漫主义小说家之一。
他的大多数作品都渗透着具有神秘色彩的清教思想，其中《红字》极具代表性。
一.“原罪”意识在清教思想道德观中占据着核心地位的即“原罪”意识，它认为人生来皆是背负罪恶的。
而霍桑出身于清教世家，加之他很早就关注并研究新英格兰的清教史，因此早年时期他心中就孕育着一种这样一种观念——他也认为每个人的心中普遍有着与生俱来、无所不在的“恶”。
从而霍桑善用犀利而敏锐的眼光去挖掘人类心中“恶”的根源，探讨人类的道德问题。
“原罪”的宗教观便是他作品中最常表达的主题，旨在揭示人类的罪恶。
《红字》中的几个主要人物身上都背负着他们各自的“罪”。
海丝特胸前的红字“A”象征着她与牧师丁梅斯代尔所犯下的“原罪”。
“A”为“adultery”的首字母，意思是通奸。
尽管海丝特极力想要庇护自己的心上人，却依然犯了欺骗罪；丁梅斯代尔牧师因畏惧惩罚，隐瞒了自己的罪恶，继续留在圣职上，既亵渎了上帝，又欺骗了教民；齐林沃思的罪则表现在他发现海丝特的不忠罪行之后，进行了疯狂的复仇，对牧师的心灵不断折磨，最后俨然成为一个“恶魔”；就连最天真无邪的小女孩珍珠都是“……罪恶的情欲泛滥中开放的花朵”，这更加强烈地体现了霍桑想要传达的“原罪”意识。
二.自我救赎意识霍桑在《红字》中对清教的某些信条给予了肯定，他认为上帝是仁慈博爱的，人人都有自我救赎的可能。
他主张人们必须正视罪恶，通过虔诚的忏悔和高尚的品行来完善自我，洗刷自身的罪恶，从而得到救赎。
霍桑的《红字》中的清教思想分析
霍桑的《红字》中的清教思想分析作者：冯楠来源：《商情》2010年第06期[摘要]本文通过对《红字》中人物心态的综合论述,来说明清教信条对主人公积极的感化作用:人人都是有罪的,通过救赎来达到一种精神的超脱。
我们能看到清教在净化人们灵魂的方面有着很大的作用,清教教会是上帝在人间的代言。
但同时其旧时期的严酷性使霍桑产生了彷徨,复杂的心态,也抨击谴责了清教的残酷的条例和律令。
[关键词]清教救赎严酷性彷徨复杂的心态纳萨尼尔•霍桑是美国十九世纪杰出的浪漫主义小说家,他的作品有着浓郁的宗教色彩。
他生活在宗教气氛浓厚的新英格兰地区,深受加尔文教宗教神秘主义观点的影响。
清教徒主义教导说,所有的人都是完全堕落,需要不断的自我检查。
但是Because man had broken the Covenant of Works when Adam had eaten from the Tree of Knowledge, God offered a new covenant to Abraham's people which held that election to Heaven was merely a possibility. In the Puritan religion, believers dutifully recognized the negative aspects of their humanity rather than the gifts they possessed. This shadow of distrust would have a direct influence on early American New England and on many of its historians and writers, one of which was Nathaniel Hawthorne.由于清教自身的复杂状况,霍桑对清教的态度也是复杂的。
从霍桑的《红字》看清教徒主义
从霍桑的《红字》看清教徒主义
徐曦
【期刊名称】《贵阳学院学报（社会科学版）》
【年(卷),期】2017(000)003
【摘要】霍桑所著的《红字》是美国浪漫主义时期比较典型的作品,讲述了一个受不合理婚姻束缚的少妇海丝特背叛她的婚姻和信仰所要承受的痛苦的故事.17世纪的波士顿宗教社会不接受任何罪恶,所以海丝特终身必须佩带红色的A字.家族世世代代虔诚地信奉清教,营造了一种浓厚的清教气氛,这为后来作品《红字》的诞生提供大量素材.小说通过相关人物和背景的描述向人们展示了清教徒的生活以及他们所推崇的思想,同时也反映了作者对清教主义的观点.
【总页数】4页(P57-60)
【作者】徐曦
【作者单位】宁德职业技术学院文化传媒系,福建福安 355000
【正文语种】中文
【中图分类】I106.4
【相关文献】
1.从《红字》看霍桑的清教主义观和人文主义思想观 [J], 刘利民
2.《红字》中清教徒主义背景下人性的自我救赎 [J], 程玲
3.美国文学中关于女性主义的阐释探讨——以霍桑《红字》为例 [J], 陈玮
4.结构主义视角下解读霍桑《红字》中的二元对立 [J], 江溢健
5.霍桑是清教徒吗?——从《红字》中的"罪''谈起 [J], 聂玲凤
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《红字》：清教徒社会与罪与赎的挣扎
红字：清教徒社会与罪与赎的挣扎介绍《红字》是美国作家纳撒尼尔·霍桑于1850年发表的一部小说，以17世纪普利茅斯殖民地为背景，描绘了一个被严格道德观念束缚的清教徒社会中，一位女性艾迪丝因婚外情而生下私生子并被标记出来的故事。
本文将探讨小说中主要角色的内心挣扎、社会背景对他们行为的影响以及罪与赎的主题。
清教徒社会与道德观念在17世纪普利茅斯殖民地，清教徒社会强调对道德和宗教规范的遵守。
他们坚信人类天性堕落，并强调罪孽、忏悔和救赎。
这种重视道德的环境对小说中角色的行为产生了重大影响。
艾迪丝·皮林：内心挣扎与自我惩罚艾迪丝是小说中被标记为犯罪者的女主角。
她在艾德·威尔逊牧师的诱惑下发生了婚外情，并生下私生子珀尔。
艾迪丝内心深处感到罪恶和自我厌恶，她拼命试图掩盖真相并承受自己的内疚感。
她通过将“红字”A缝在自己的衣服上，永远提醒自己的罪过，以此来进行自我惩罚和赎罪。
阿瑟·唯登：伪善与责任感阿瑟·唯登是艾迪丝的丈夫，他在小说中被描绘为一个表面上虔诚但实际上充满欺骗和伪善的人物。
尽管知道妻子出轨并生下私生子，他选择隐瞒真相，并放任艾德·威尔逊牧师承受错误的名声。
然而，在小说结尾，他无法摆脱内心的负罪感，最终选择与艾迪丝亲密团聚并接受共同责任。
赛迦·彭肖恩：勇敢与拯救力量赛迦·彭肖恩是小说中一位年轻有为的医生，他对艾迪丝和珀尔充满同情和怜悯。
他不仅愿意接纳并照顾艾迪丝和珀尔，还试图揭示社会虚伪的一面。
赛迦出于对真理和正义的追求，以及对自由与个人权利的信念，成为了小说中的拯救者。
罪与赎的主题《红字》探讨了罪孽和赎罪的主题。
小说表明，在一个道德束缚严格、不容忍错误的社会中，每个角色都面临着内心挣扎和痛苦。
然而，在真相暴露、内心敞开之后，他们被给予使用真实性来接受及改变宿命的机会。
这种显露出来的罪过和重新获得尊严与救赎，是小说呼唤读者反思道德观念并思考宽恕与新生命力量。
《红字》――对清教主义的怀疑.
摘要 : <<红字 >>是十九世纪美国作家霍桑的成名作 . 自从本世纪五十年代被译介到我国以来 , 一直倍受读者的喜爱 . 其不朽的魅力在于它不仅无情的鞭挞了清教法规对人性的践踏 , 更重要的是作者对人性的善的肯定 . 本文旨在通过小说中四位主要人物的分析 , 阐明作品所表现的深刻思想内涵 :通过与邪恶的搏斗,人可以获得道德上的完善,从而批判了清教主义所倡导的“原罪” “善恶” “拯救灵魂” “彻底堕落”的说法:小说作者主要关心的是原罪导致的后果及人们对待原罪的态度,而不是罪孽本身,他认为由于爱而犯下罪过可以得到忏悔拯救。
关键字 :清教法规;人性;白兰;丁梅斯代尔;齐灵沃斯;珍珠;红字 AAbstract :The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a classical novel in American literature in the 19th century. Since the first Chinese translation of The Scarlet Letter appeared in the 1950’ s scholars and readers in this country have shown an ever-increasing interest in his works. Its immortal enchantment lies in not only its condemnation of the negative impact of Puritan society on people‟s spirit, but also its affirmation of goodness. The novel aims at criticizing severely Puritanical asceticism, suggesting Hawthorne‟s further thinking over the “original sin” “good and evil” “soul salvation” “total depravity” by analyzing the four main characters in the novel. The novel concerns the consequence caused by the sin and people‟s attitude towards sin rather than the sin itself. He believes man can do good deeds to get rid of evil in his heart.Key Words:Puritanism; Human nature; Prynne; Dimmesdale; Roger; Pearl; the scarlet letter1. IntroductionThe Scarlet Letter is a famous American novel whose author, Nathaniel Hawthorne, is considered the leading American native fictionist of the 19th century. Hawthorne was born in Salem, Massachusette, of a prominent Puritan family, on July4, 1804. “In 1850 he brought out his masterpiece The Scarlet Letter, the story of a triangular love affair in colonial America. In this novel Hawthorne condemned the Puritan philosophy oflife”[1]P49 “His stories display a psychological insight into moral isolation and human emotion. He distrusted the claim of objective reason to be able to arrive at humanly relevant truth” [2]P53His short stories and novel includes: The Minister‟s Black Veil, Twice Told Tales, Mosses from an Old Manse, The House of The Seven Gables, The Marble Faun, among which The Scarlet Letter is the most famous. The novel is short but very moving. Prynne, a young and beautiful woman, came to New England two years before his husband, an old, ugly man who can not give Prynne love. Prynne, then falls in love with Dimmesdale, a young handsome clergyman and then has a baby, Pearl, because she can not get any news from her husband, thinking that he has died. When her “adultery” is discovered, she is punished to wear a scarlet letter “A” on her chest all her life. Her husb and, Roger, tries his best to torment Dismmesdale. And Dimmesdale, suffering from both physical and spirit torment, announces his “sin” at last, he dies an honest man. Roger, withers at last, Prynne, restructures her life and wins people‟s respect, Pearl, leaves for Europe, marries a noble family, leading a happy life.Hawthorne‟s thought was full of contradictions. In his days, American capitalism was developing rapidly, and the social structure was changeable. He couldn‟t understand this change, and tried to explain it by discovering the “hidden evil” in everyone‟s heart because of the influence of Puritanism. He used symbolism and imagination, which made his works full of mystical color.In this research paper, I analsize the main characters of the novel aiming at discussing the novel isa skeptic to the Puritan Thought.2. Puritanism in American“Puritanism was entirely English in its origin, yet the movement achieved its greatest influence in America. The 17th century colonies in New England represent the fullest development of the movement.”[3]P22 Puritanism is the practices and beliefs of the Puritans. The Puritans were originally members of a division of the Protestant Church, who came into existence in the reigns of Queen Elizabeth and King James I. The first Puritans to arrive in America were Separatists. A new group of Separatists fled Englandin 1607---1609, to the north of Plymouth, in the area around Boston, other Puritans began arriving in 1628---1630. They came over under the auspices of the Massachusetts Bay Company, a corporation with rights to the area of land lying between the Charles and the Merrimack rivers.They came to America out of various reasons, but it should be remembered that they were a group of serious, religious people, advocating highly religious and moral principles. They believe that the church should be restored to complete “purity”, they accepted the doctrine of predestination, original sin and total depravity, and limited atonement through a special infusion of grace from G od. Puritans‟ lives were extremely disciplined and hard. As a culture heritage, Puritanism did have a profound influence on the early American mind. American Puritanism also had a enduring influence on American literature. It had become, to some extent, so much a state of mind, so much a part of the national cultural atmosphere, rather than a set of tenets.“ Puritans includes people from the humblest to the loftiest ranks of English society, educated and uneducated, poor and rich” [4]P91“The Puritans were indebted to John Calvin and the example of the Calvinist tradition. Another source of Puritanism was the Bible, considered the sole authority in matters of faith” It has the following thoughts: “The Puritans demand greater purity and stricter obedience to the will of God, Englishmen in the 16th called such person: “Puritans”, a name derived from the Latin word for pure, and intended as a criticism of the reformers for being too extreme in theirdemands.” [5]P21 “Puritan opposition to pleasure and the arts h as sometimes been exaggerated.” [6]P913. The analysis of characters3.1 Hester PrynneHester Prynne was a woman who committed adultery, which is representation of evil of human nature in Puritans‟eye, and cannot be accepted by the puritans and the society at that time and. Hester betrayed her husband and went against the principle of honesty according to Puritanism, so she must accept the severe penalty in the puritan society, wearing a scarlet letter “A” on her breast all her life which means “adultery”. “At the least, they should have put the brand of a hot iron on Hester Prynne‟s forehead.” “This woman has brought shame upon us all, and ought to die.” [7]P43 The women‟s vicious curse was the supplement of the puritanical code of law. To the puritans, the civilized life was to throw the human nature into the prison. Here, we can see the writer‟s negation to the Gail-the symbol of the Puritanism. But “And never had Hester Prynne appeared more ladylike, in the antique interpretation of the term, than as she issued from the prison.” [8]P45 “The door of the jail being flung open from within, there appeared, in the first place, like a black shadow emerging into sunshine, the grim and grisly presence of the town-beadle, with a sword by his side and his stuff of o ffice in his hand” [9]P44In the whole story, Hester generally kept silent, accepted the insult from adults to children in thepuritan society. In fact, she showed extreme strength and courage to resist the bias of the Puritanism by her good deeds. She was always the first one to help people in trouble; gradually she won people‟s respect by her benevolence. She spent most of her time on embroidery and Pear, her fancy work was elegant and incomparable, which made people admire her ability. She didn‟t only st ruggle for the right of her own but also for a new world where both men and women could possess the equal right to love. She was anAmazon against the Puritanism. Several times when they met in the forest, she encouraged Dimmesdale to escape together with her. “Hester never thought of meeting him in any narrower privacy than beneath the open sky.” [10]P154 “She took off the formal cap that confined he r hair;” “Her sex, her youth, and the whole richness of the beauty, came back from what men call the irrevo cable past.”[11]P171 In Hawthorme ’ s and Poe’ s novels, women’ s black long hair stands for romance and desire, while evil in Puritan society(在霍桑 , 爱伦·坡等许多作家的小说中 , 女人的长黑发象征浪漫和情欲 , 这在清教徒眼中就是罪恶 [12]P66 Her action itself is an affirm to the feudal regime and oppress. Here, we can see Prynne never give up her pursue for love and freedom.At the end of the story, to the reader‟s surprise, Prynne had returned to New England. “People brought sorrows and perplexities, and besought her counsel, as one who had herself gone through a mighty trouble. Earlier in life, Prynne had vainly imaged that she herself might be the destined prophetess” [13]P221 this is the bitterest satire to the Puritanism and its doctrine of total depravity. 3.2 Dimmesdale and Roger“ Dimmesda le was a man torn between human nature and the religious rules that formed civilization at that time.” [14]P27The puritans saw themselves as restoring the Christian tradition to its original purity by new faith but to restore an old one. They hoped to inspire whole communities with zeal for Christian living, mainly through powerful preaching and bible study. He represents many of their best virtues. He was conscientious, learned, and eager to serve. He also represents some of their common vices. He was hypocritical humorless, and a bit vain.“ Unlike Hester and Roger who represented two poplars of passion and puritan doctrine, Dimmesdale struggled between the two extremes. The rigorous doctrine of puritan society got him stuck in his dilemma. Neither could he deny his love to Hester nor could he make a public confession about his sin because he was afraid of the consequence. This dilemma gnawed his heart till his final confession and death.” [15]P43As a puritan representative, he suffered more from the guilt of his hypocrisy than from the guilt of his passion. He was a clergyman, meanwhile he was a man full of compassion and human nature, he loved Prynne very much, and he committed adultery which betrayed the puritanical code of law. Four decisions were thus forced upon him; he must assert his position in relation to man, God, his original sin and better self. In each case, he only added new falsity to his torment and suffering. “He was struggling on the edge of the spirit and flesh coming breakdown, and he was beat and lashed by the so-called articles of religion “the gory whip” at every moment. It must be considered that he continued to be engaged in the pure mission of a priest with the criminal body should be a great affront to god and a deception to god-people. Eventually, he told the secret in mind with divine courage, he obtains tranquil and the newborn of spirit.” [16]P48 this restraint from religion in human nature exposes the hypocrisy of Puritanism and its doctrine of predestination.. Roger was someone whose emotional famine ended in a dark feast of avenge. This made him a figure of black magic in Hawthorne‟s sense, that was, someone who had willingly committed his soul to the devil‟s care, and who became learned in the arts of evil -doing. He was the mostdeplorable figure, “at first, he was a victim; at last, he entirely became a ruthless devil. The basic factor led to the result is affected by moral conception, and the main criterion is Puritanism at that time.” [17]P92 His fate was a satire to the “good and evil” “soul salvation” in the Puritanical code of law.Roger was the full embodiment and victim of the rigorous code of puritan society which negates human passion. He represented moral evil and destroying power. When his evil work was done he positively withered up, shriveled away like an uprooted weed that lay wilting in the sun. Some people may think that he was the victim and he revenged for his dignity. But from the cruel means he revenged on Prynne and Dimmesdale he committed an unforgivable sin. When Dimondale, his tormented subject, ascended thescaffold to confess his sin triumphantly, he was completely defeated just as the puritan hierarchy was defeated.Prynne and Dimmesdale were sinners at first, they committed the …original sin‟ according to the Puritanical code of law, and however, they did good deeds to others and got rid of evil in their heart. On the contrary, Roger was not forgivable he saw revenge his sole purpose of life.3.3 The Role of Pearl“ Pearl was a character who has not yet chosen good or evil .She was in a natural pre-moral state. In this crucial sense she was an unformed person and a reader cannot penetrate much of he personality. Her innocence is tainted with a natural inclination to selfishness, perhaps strengthened by her sadly solitary life. Hawthorne tried to show that Pear was like a rippling stream, mirroring life around her without really understudy or judging it for herself.” [18]P63 Pearl was in fact “the scarlet letter “in another form, it endowed with life .S he was a living symbol of adultery.” [19]P111She was viewed almost as a ghost in the Puritans‟ eyes. However ,in little Pearl‟s mind ,the scarlet letter is the first thing she got used to .It was the token that her loving – tender-care mother ware quite op posite to the puritan‟s outlook ,she didn‟t consider the scarlet letter on her mother‟s breast as a sign of shame ,but an undispatchable part of her mother. Her idea about “A” was a rebellion against the Puritan society which she found no common with.Pear l didn‟t go with the society which she lives in. On some other times, like a brave warrior in the battle, she fights forcefully against the puritan .She is not a coward anyway. It is the social isolation and discrimination that shape her character inlife .Fortunately, nature offers her warmth to Pearl, from the beginning to the end, the sunshine is always with her. “She stood laughing in the midst of it, all brightened by its splendors, and scintillating with the vivacity excited by rapid motion .The light lingered about the lonely child, as if glad of such a playmate.” [20]P155The impressive friendship of the nature makes her feel that she is one of the members in nature like a wild animal. In the forest, it is understandable that a pigeon-----the symbol of peace, utters a sound to greet the girl. What is more fascinating is that the wolf -----the wildest animal in that forest, “has surly lapsed his tale into the improvable, came up and smelt of Pearl‟s robe and offered his savage head to be patted by her hand.”[21]P173Since her release from the dark prison, she was separated naturally from other children by the society .Sometime Pearl only watches the children play under the puritanical nature in great distance .She will never take part in their games, nor will they invite her to. However, “she had not the disease of sadness, which almost all children, in these days, inherit, with the scrofula, from the troubles of their ancestors.” [22]P156 This is more than a satire to the Puritanism, it is seemingly paradoxical that the Puritan considers Pearl as a symbol of adultery, where as the author regardsher as an angel .Besides, “Pearl, this character hints Hawthorne‟s skeptic feeling to Puritanism, she breached of the requirements in Puritanism‟s homespun wear ing and worn the bright and glittering “Bizarre dress” by Prynne.” [23]P18At the end of the novel, Pearl left England to Europe, leading a happy life, which announced an affirmation from the author that Pearl would be unable to obtain happiness in the strict and severe Puritanism society.4. ConclusionThe four characters are a significant arrangement. They display a picture of all desires and sufferings. good and evil ,and therefore, they make the book an allegory of mankind .To conclude the story, Hawthorne puts into a sentence one most important moral: “Be true !Be true !Be true !Show freely to the world, if not your worst, yet some trait where by the worst may be inferred! ” [24]P236 When people are not true to the world and to themselves, how is it possible for them to make any judgment? The authorseems to have examined the basis of the whole system of Puritan civilization and he stresses that all human action should be open to interpretation, and people can not and should not impose the truth with absolute certainty. The ideal society as Hawthorne images should be built not on false living, but on a new moral order, in which broadmindedness, compassion, and individualism will be highly valued. And from these figures, we began to comprehend the Puritan thoughts and values. We have realized what the dark side of Puritan is: harshness, persecutions and absolute certainty.Bibliography[1] 王松年 . 美国文学作品选读 [M]. 上海交通大学出版 , 1998[2] 吴定柏 . 美国文学大纲 [M]. 上海外语教育出版社 , 2003[3] ENCYCLOPEDIA OF AMERICAN[M]. V olum23. GROLIER INCORPORA TED, International Headquarters: Danbury Comocticut 06816, 1988[4] 同 [3][5] 同 [3][6] 朱锦锐 . The Puritan Flavor— Comment on THE SCARLET LETTER.[J]昌院学报 . 2002,9第 3期[7] Nathaniel Hawthorne. THE SCARLET LETTER[M]. 青岛出版社 , 2004,4[8] 同 [7][9] 同 [7][10] 同 [7][11] 同 [7][12] 甘文平 . 惊奇的回归— <<红字 >>中的海斯特·白兰形象解读 [J]. 外国文研究 , 2006,6 第 3期[13] 同 [7][14] 吕枫 . SYMBOLS IN THE SCARLET LETTER.开封教育学院学报 [J],1993,第 3期[15] 张雅琳 . The Scarlet Letter— An Accusation against Puritanism Law[J]晋中师范高等专科学校学报 , 2000,12 第 4期[16] LiuFeng. A Pietistic, or A Skeptic —on Hawthorne ’ s The Scarlet Letter and Puritanism Thought[J]. 长春理工大学学报 (社会科学版 ,2005,3 第 1期[17] 吕枫. SYMBOLS IN THE SCARLET LETTER[J].开封教育学院学报,1993 第 3 期 [18] Suzanne Brown. YORK NOTES THE SCARLET LETTER[M]. LONGMAN YORK PRESS, World Publishing Corporation, 1987 [19] 阎美玲. The Role of Pearl in The Scarlet Letter[J].渭南师专学报(综合版,1991 第 1-2 期 [20] 同[7] [21] 同[7] [22] 同[7] [23] 同[15] [24] Nathaniel Hawthorne. The Scarlet Letter[M]. New York: Bantam Books,1981。
简析霍桑的《红字》中的清教主义
简析霍桑的《红字》中的清教主义作者：杨胜南来源：《青年文学家》2017年第18期摘要：纳撒尼尔·霍桑，作为美国19世纪早期最杰出的小说家之一，深受清教主义影响。
他创作了许多著名的作品，例如《带七个尖顶的阁楼》，《福谷传奇》，《玉石雕像》等等。
他的代表作——《红字》，尤其受到了清教主义思想的影响，通过清教思想生动地描述了美国19世纪早期生活的蓝图。
许多研究者对清教主义做了许多研究，包括霍桑和他的作品。
从霍桑的作品中我们清楚地了解清教徒的观点以及它对其他事物的影响。
关键词：《红字》；霍桑；清教主义作者简介：杨胜南（1993-），吉林辽源人，吉林大学公共外语教育学院硕士研究生，主要从事外国语言学及应用语言学研究。
[中图分类号]：I106 [文献标识码]：A[文章编号]：1002-2139（2017）-18-0-03一、引言《红字》是美国小说家霍桑的代表作，也是美国浪漫主义小说中最著名的作品。
故事发生在十七世纪中期受加尔文控制波士顿。
根据当时的社会情况，作者描述了一个感人的爱情悲剧，揭露了当权者摧毁了人们的心理、心灵和道德。
海丝特被认为是道德的化身。
她不仅感动了牧师，甚至是都充满了原罪的整个社会。
而她的丈夫，作者把他描绘成一个复仇者。
小说采用了象征的手法，而且人物、情节和语言都是主观想象的。
在描述中，它的重点是人的精神活动和直觉。
总之，它不仅是美国浪漫主义小说的代表作，也是美国心理分析小说的创始人。
在《红字》的结尾中，珍珠一直过着快乐的生活，海丝特回到波士顿纪念自己的罪恶，痛苦和忏悔。
二、关于霍桑和清教主义的介绍纳撒尼尔·霍桑，美国十九世纪浪漫主义小说家，不仅继承而且批判者新英格兰清教传统。
虽然他不是一个清教的信仰者，但他深受其学说影响。
他的作品大多描写了人们的思想、精神上的矛盾和生活中的悲剧，尤其是他的代表作《红字》。
2.1关于霍桑和《红字》的介绍纳撒尼尔·霍桑，十九世纪早期美国最重要的小说家之一。
_红字_中清教主义的三副面具.
Vol. 33No.7Jul. 2012第 33卷第 7期 2012年 7月赤峰学院学报(汉文哲学社会科学版Journal of Chifeng University (Soc.Sci 一、霍桑与清教主义的渊源霍桑出生于 19世纪新英格兰塞勒姆镇的一个清教主义世家。
然而清教家庭特有的沉闷窒息的环境使得他年幼时就对清教严厉的教规产生反感。
更严重的是 , 霍桑五世祖约翰 ? 霍桑曾是臭名昭著的塞姆勒巫案的法官之一 , 曾参与过迫害宗教异端的活动。
祖辈对异教徒的迫害使他感到深深的苦恼和自责 , 心灵上受到巨大的创伤。
因此一种“ 负罪感促使他在上大学时在自己的姓氏‘ Hathorne ’ 里加进一个‘ w ’, 变成‘ Hawthorne ’, 以示有异与不光彩的祖先” (姚乃强 .3 。
加尔文教认为自亚当、夏娃违背上帝旨意被逐出伊甸园以后 , 人人都背上了与生俱来的罪孽。
所以教会根据上帝的旨意制定律法 , 迫害异教徒。
这其实是对人性极大的摧残。
清教主义的教条深受加尔文教的影响。
霍桑的小说很多情况下离不开一个主题———清教的宗教学说和罪责原则。
他的作品体现了宗教强加在人们生活一切方面的烙印。
宗教摧残奴役人的精神 , 压抑迫害人的自然要求 , 造成人们思想分裂、言行不一、表里不一。
揭露社会和人性的阴暗面是霍桑作品的突出特点 , 这与加尔文教关于人的“ 原罪” 和“ 内在堕落” 的理论的影响是分不开的。
霍桑在许多作品中直接或间接地抨击了清教令人窒息人的教条以及清教对人的毒害。
“ 霍桑的伟大之处在于他能以表面温和而实质犀利的笔锋暴露黑暗、讽刺邪恶、揭示真理。
” (李宜燮 , 常耀信 .218 “ 在他看来 , 一切社会问题 , 人与人之间的矛盾、犯罪现象等等的根源都不在社会物质生活当中 , 而是由于世界上固有的一种‘ 恶’ 造成的。
”(董衡巽 .59二、面具的起源与《红字》中的三副面具面具最早应追溯到史前时期 , 那时人们相信 , 佩戴面具就能获得面具人物的性格。
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《红字》的清教主义传统透视摘要:霍桑的代表作《红字》描写了清教主义盛行的新英格兰所发生的犯罪、情欲、悔过和社会镇压。
霍桑探索了公众面孔和个人自我的不同,内心的激情和社会传统的不相容。
早期的清教徒遵循加尔文的教义认为人与自然处于交战状态,只有通过否定自然内在的价值才能创造出价值,个体只有在公开的法律面前自我消灭才能洗清自己的罪恶。
《红字》表现了清教主义传统在人们思想上和生活上的烙印、对人的精神上的摧残、对人性和人权的压抑。
关键词:清教主义传统;透视;烙印;摧残;压抑一纳撒尼尔·霍桑是美国十九世纪小说家的重要代表,是美国产生的第一位大作家。
他的最著名的作品都表现他同时代的作家对待基督教和加尔文教时所遇到的问题。
他深受新英格兰清教主义的影响,敏锐地意识到善与恶之间的界限是如此严格,不容许任何妥协与中间道路。
但是他本人并不是清教信徒。
他既是清教传统的继承者,又是批判者。
他怀疑清教对罪恶的残酷态度。
他的大多数作品都是以美国清教主义盛行的过去为主题,与新英格兰的地理与文化背景有着紧密联系,深深植根于当地居民的清教传统与道德观念中。
他的作品表现了清教徒的生活观点,以及对这种观点的深刻的批判态度。
他的代表作长篇小说《红字》在美国受到了热烈的欢迎,被美国人作为美国民族文学发展中向前迈出的重要一步来欢呼。
他在1850年出版的时候,被认为是有自我意识的美国年轻文化正在等待的杰作。
他将清教主义盛行的过去这一主题发挥到极致。
然而《红字》的主题大胆地触及了禁区,比如说社会领袖人物的通奸、单亲母亲的困境,因此在它出版时也引起了极大的震惊。
二霍桑与他的清教祖先有很深的渊源关系。
他了解他们的信仰,也佩服他们的力量,然而对他们的苛刻的教规也深表怀疑。
早期的清教徒遵循加尔文的教义。
他们认为世界就是上帝和魔鬼之间的残酷斗争,人类都是堕落和有罪的,人类的祖先亚当和夏娃给人类带来了堕落的诅咒或者原罪。
清教徒的教规对人的惩罚是公开的和严厉的。
他们所建立的社会是苛刻的、偏狭的、压制人的,为个性的发展留下了极小的余地。
在霍桑的笔下,清教徒的头脑是与自由思想相抵触的。
对于他们来说,自由意味着远离上帝的世界;人类与自然处于交战状;只有通过否定自然内在的价值才能创造出价值;上帝否认人的价值,个体只有在公开的法律面前自我消灭,才能洗清自己的罪恶。
《红字》的女主人公海丝特令这些清教徒们所面对的是个性、人性和自然的本性的挑战。
《红字》描写了清教主义盛行的新英格兰所发生的犯罪、情欲、悔过和社会镇压。
霍桑探索了公众面孔和个人自我的不同,内心的激情和社会传统的不相容。
描写了海丝特在面对社会排斥时所表现的勇气。
海丝特·白兰是一个热情奔放的女人,在十七世纪新英格兰的一个小镇上被判定犯有通奸罪。
按照严格的清教法规,她必须带着私生子在绞刑台上示众罚站,衣服上必须绣上代表通奸的红字“A”。
总督和神甫严厉训斥她。
牧师丁梅斯代尔劝她说出情夫的名字,遭到她的断然拒绝。
绞刑台四周围绕着虔诚的清教徒。
他们鄙视她,要求对她严厉惩罚。
这就是十七世纪新英格兰的一个政教合一的小镇。
它虽然才有十五年或二十年的历史,木制监狱看上去已颇具年代。
就象霍桑所指出的那样,这些清教徒们“认为一定要划出一部分处女地作为墓地,另外还划出一部分作为监狱的基地。
”①虽然他们“计划着人类美德与幸福的乌托邦”(P.3),但是他们并没有信心去实现它。
监狱与墓地是他们最恰当的聚集地。
绞刑台“象是教堂的附属建筑般,伫立在波士顿最早的教堂屋檐下”(P.11)。
这里是这个社会的中心。
海丝特在绞刑台上受辱的仪式是真正宗教性的,并不仅仅是邪恶的。
“在这些清教徒的人群之间,若是有一个罗马教徒的话”(P.11)这个犯了通奸罪的女人使他想起大不相同的“圣母的形象”(P. 11)。
然而清教徒们依仗他们的信仰仅仅发现了“人类生活最神圣性质中,却有着一抹最深厚的罪恶”(P.12)。
上帝的抽象的超自然的法规揭示了情欲的邪恶和罪孽的普遍性。
清教徒们无视他们眼前的善与恶的错综,他们所看到的仅仅是女通奸者。
绞刑台上方的露台上有年高望重的州长。
他们对于海丝特来说是“铁腕”人物。
他们的铁律表现在监狱的“铁夹板的橡木门”(P.5)上。
市场上还有一群围观的妇女,她们更是残忍无比。
嘴里射出的毒针好象是从骨子里发出来。
一个面色严厉的五十岁老婆子想要“亲自处置海丝特·白兰这种败类”(P.7)。
另一个女人叫着说:“这个女人辱没了我们大家,所以应当弄死她。
”(P.7)她们的恶毒是清教社会严峻法律的补充。
对于清教徒们来说,所谓文明的生活就是要把人性投入到监狱中去。
监狱这朵“黑花”是非人性的体现。
“狱门从里面打开了,首先象一个黑影般浮现到阳光中来的,是那狱吏的狰狞而尴尬的模样,他身边挂着刀,手里拿着官杖。
这个人物,在他的相貌中,是象征着清教徒法典的全部的铁面无情,而他的职务便是依照条例对犯人最后来干一下最周到的手术。
”(P.8)当海丝特站在绞刑台上接受惩罚时,人群中就有海丝特的丈夫齐灵沃思。
他是一个病态的学者, 长期置身于图书馆和实验室中。
海丝特从来没有爱过他。
他在印第安人当中生活了几年刚巧这时到达这里同她相聚。
齐灵沃思逐渐地成为当地有名的医生。
他对丁梅斯代尔牧师表现出特殊的兴趣。
不但成为他的顾问医师,还同他住在一起刺探着他忧伤的原因。
有一次海丝特在林中会见齐灵沃思,恳求他放过丁梅斯代尔。
齐灵沃斯原来比牧师丁梅斯代尔本人更深地了解清教关于原罪的中心教义。
“‘安静点,海丝特———安静点!’那个老人阴沉中带着严厉答道。
‘上天没有赐给我饶恕。
你跟我说的那种力量,我是没有的。
我早已忘却的老信仰, 现在又回到我心里来,把我们所作的一切,所忍受的一切,都解释明白。
由于你第一步的邪恶,你种下了祸根;但自从那一刹以来,一切都必然是阴惨的。
’”(P.137)他认为他没有权力去原谅丁梅斯代尔。
“那黑暗的花朵就随它去吧!”(P.137)丁梅斯代尔沉湎于他的神学书籍。
霍桑本人无论对十七世纪清教徒的神学还是对他同时代(十九世纪)的神学都不赞赏。
他取笑丁梅斯代尔在公众面前的所谓雄辩。
他的言辞崇高“,他们把他想象为上天派遣来的使者的代言人,……就连他脚踏过的土地都是神圣的。
他教会中的许多处女,面色苍白地环围在他的身边,成了情欲的牺牲品,……。
”(P. 103)丁梅斯代尔由于自己的负罪感折磨着自己。
代表通奸的“A”字烙在他的胸膛上,刻在他的心里。
在小说的大部分章节中他都是无助的受害者,因为在他的神学教义中他是个罪人。
他企图用自己的方式通过宗教精神来寻找出路,因为宗教宣称能解释罪行,甚至给予解决的办法。
清教徒的神学使得象丁梅斯代尔这样的信徒的心灵阴暗痛苦。
这样的信徒还有很多很多,他们心中的隐秘只有在睡梦中才显示。
对于清教徒来说,上帝是他们最终的家。
通过上帝的旨意他们可感到舒适和安全并最终获救。
在某些方面霍桑似乎比清教徒们还要苛刻。
他在作品中没有表现清教社会的头头们要求自己具备所应有的爱和友谊。
霍桑从来没有感到他属于这样一个爱和信仰的社会。
海丝特的唯一同伴是她的女儿珠儿。
在这种阴沉忧郁的地方,她象是由新材料组成的很突出。
珠儿象征着她母亲被压抑的本性中的无法无天的成分。
齐灵沃思象是魔鬼一样,和丁梅斯代尔搬到一起住,去“研究”和最终揭露这个被他认出的他妻子的情人。
眼下由于他不能承认自己所犯的罪,身体正在日趋衰弱。
海丝特在与世隔绝的情况下内心反而获得极大自由。
在海边小屋里住了七年之后,她设法与丁梅斯代尔在森林里会面,告诉他齐灵沃思是她的丈夫。
整本小说都充满了对性的残酷的沉思默想,性只能受到惩罚,却不能提及。
可是在森林里,罪之神却让位于海丝特爱的天赋。
丁梅斯代尔认为“那个老人的复仇比我的罪恶还更黑暗。
他阴险地侵犯了一颗神圣不可侵犯的人心。
你和我,海丝特,从来没有作过这样的事!”(P.161)选举日那天,丁梅斯代尔做了一次特别激动人心的宣讲。
结束时他第一次公开承认他与海丝特和珠儿的关系。
弥留之际他向众人袒示胸怀。
大多数人声称看见刻在他胸脯上的“A”字。
丁梅斯代尔在彻底的自我否定之中死在海丝特的怀里。
珠儿同她的母亲一起出国,后来在那里出嫁。
海丝特又回到这个市镇,在经过长期的内心斗争以后,她又自愿重新戴上那个红色“A”字,接受清教“铁腕人物”为象她这样的罪人制定的法律。
这是她自己做出的宗教决定,未必是霍桑的。
霍桑在他的小说中热爱海丝特,憎恨齐灵沃思,用珠儿来说出没有人敢挑明的关于自由的话。
整部小说都在批判他所深深怀疑的那个时代的标准。
过去在“刺痛”着他。
在他写这部充满“地狱之火”的书时,他没有感到舒心。
书中唯一令人钦佩的人物就是海丝特。
对清教徒的正义持怀疑态度可以同霍桑本人等同起来的在书中只有她一人。
霍桑在小说中没有将海丝特看作是异教徒而是看作感情神圣的人。
在重显清教徒的苛政时,霍桑有机会描写了爱。
清教中的加尔文派将人类的原罪与性欲等同起来,认为原罪是人类本性中所承袭的堕落,渗透于人的灵魂中。
简单地说,人类本身不过是欲念罢了。
在这一时期的美国文学大师中,霍桑是唯一在著作中承认异性爱的小说家。
小说的开头霍桑称监狱为清教主义“文明社会的黑花”(P.4)。
对齐灵沃思来说“黑花”是必要的铁律,用来惩治海丝特作为女人和自由思想家危险的内心自由。
三新英格兰波士顿施行的清教主义zhuan制实际上继承了欧洲旧大陆zhuan制的衣钵。
清教徒将他们宗教上制裁人的严厉手段都搬到新大陆。
清教主义将整个人类完全置于上帝的至高无上的权威之下,并以此来约束信徒。
虽然获救的机会是不确定的,但是上帝仍然是精神的归宿。
因此小说的末尾,海丝特将珠儿留在了英格兰又返回波士顿,重新将红字戴起,用一颗自由的心去接受很久以前给予她的惩罚。
“她的罪恶种在此地;她的哀愁种在此地;所以她要在此地忏悔。
”(P.231)她可以以自己的智慧和高尚的行为来改变自己在人们心目中的地位。
然而扪心自问,她仍然是一个“女通奸者”,是清教的宗教史上无穷无尽的犯罪者中的一员。
所以清教主义、传统、道德说教“、世俗的法律”曾经对她不起什么作用,到最后似乎都赢得了胜利。
然而在小说的最后,当人们尤其是妇女们将她当作饱经忧患的人向她寻求指教时,海丝特告诉她们“,她坚定地相信,到了一个更光明的时期,到了世界成熟的时侯,到了天国降临的时期,必将显现出一种新的真理,使人们在双方幸福的更坚实的基础上,建立起男人与女人的全部关系。
”(P.231)从这一段海丝特对未来的解释中,我们足可以看出霍桑所热爱的女主人公直到最后仍然坚持自己对真理的认识。
众所周知霍桑本人曾经参加当时非常活跃的超验主义者们所创办的布鲁克农场的实验。
虽然他很快离开了,但是超验主义观点对他的影响也是很明显的。
超验主义者认为个人的灵魂是宇宙灵魂的一部分,强调人性中存在神性。