美国文学史期末论《红字》象征意义
《红字》赏析
《红字》赏析《红字》是美国作家纳撒尼尔·霍桑创作的一部经典小说，以美国殖民地时期为背景，描述了一个满是罪恶和偏见的社会环境中，主人公因犯下通奸罪而被判处戴上红字"A"标记，从而引发的一系列事件。
本文将从主题、人物形象及象征意义等几个方面对《红字》进行赏析。
首先，主题是《红字》最为突出和重要的元素之一。
在小说中，霍桑通过揭示人性的弱点和社会道德的束缚，探讨了罪恶、爱情与救赎等永恒的主题。
主人公海瑟尔·普林用女性的身份承受着严厉的社会谴责和道德压力，而她的伴侣阿瑟·丹皮尔则承担着隐瞒真相的重责。
小说通过描绘二人在罪恶与爱情之间的挣扎和对内心的反思，深刻探讨了人性的复杂与矛盾。
同时，小说还通过女性形象的呈现，对当时严格限制女性自由的社会现实进行了批判，呼唤着对女性权益的关注和思考。
其次，人物形象是《红字》具有鲜明个性和感染力的重要元素之一。
主人公海瑟尔·普林是一个充满坚韧与勇敢的形象。
创作初期，她以红色字母"A"标记的辱骂和谴责为代价，但她并没有被这个标记击垮，反而通过坚强的意志和自我救赎，逐渐重塑了自己的人生。
另一位形象深刻的人物是阿瑟·丹皮尔，他一度因为内心的罪恶感和恐惧而变得软弱，但最终在面对真相时，他选择担起责任，为爱情和家庭勇敢地负起了责任。
小说通过这些人物形象展示了人性的复杂性与脆弱性，让读者对他们的遭遇产生了深刻的共鸣和思考。
此外，象征意义是《红字》中一种重要的修辞手法。
红色字母"A"标记是整个小说的象征性意象，它既代表了主人公的罪恶，又是社会道德和偏见的体现。
红色作为暗示罪恶的象征，贯穿于整个故事的始终。
另外，荒野和丛林这两个地方也具有象征意义，它们代表了人性的原始状态和自由，成为主人公心灵的寄托和休养处。
通过这些象征性意象的运用，霍桑成功地为读者打开了一个意境深远、寓意悠长的故事世界。
《红字》中的意象及其象征意义
教学争鸣新课程NEW CURRICULUM霍桑被认为是美国第一位最伟大的小说家，他的长篇小说《红字》被认为是美国文学史上第一部具有象征意义的小说。
他不但是一位伟大的浪漫主义小说家，同时也是19世纪美国杰出的象征主义先驱。
《红字》讲述了发生在北美殖民时期的恋爱悲剧。
女主人公海斯特嫁给了医生奇灵沃斯，他们之间却没有爱情。
在孤独中她与牧师丁梅斯代尔相恋并生下了女儿珍珠。
海斯特为通奸罪而被惩罚，戴上标志“通奸”的红色A字示众。
然而海斯特坚贞不屈，拒不说出孩子的父亲。
小说当中有大量的象征手法，不同的意象象征不同的意义，同样的意象也象征相同或不同的意义。
A字母的象征意义1.象征通奸红字A是最初因为海斯特背叛了自己的丈夫所代表的adultery，故事开头的场景是海斯特站在刑台上，胸前是个猩红色的A字，这是清教主义对犯通奸罪的一种惩罚方式。
海斯特不光彩的通奸行为被人看不起，她被看成是一个来自地狱的恶魔犯了极其严重的罪。
她虽然也对自己的通奸感到很羞愧，但她坦然地接受了惩罚，因为她相信幸福和真爱迟早会来！2.象征孤独和异化红字A不仅是通奸的象征，也象征着孤独和异化。
由于通奸，镇里的人看不起她，以不友好的方式对待她。
她选择寂寞地住在自己的小屋，远离城市，远离喧嚣，女儿珍珠是她唯一的陪伴，因此，红字A也是一个孤独和异化的象征。
3.象征能力、赞赏和天使随着时间的推移，海斯特用精美的刺绣和高尚无私的人格去帮助穷人和病人，红字A慢慢变成了能力，赞赏的天使的象征，人们不再认为她因通奸所受的惩罚是恰当的，她因为高洁的灵魂和善良的行为得到了邻居们的喜爱和尊重。
监狱和玫瑰丛的象征意义监狱象征着罪与罚。
在开篇第一章，监狱就是孤独和异化的象征，预示着海斯特将要过的生活是种监狱一样的生活。
玫瑰丛恰好与黑暗的监狱相反，它自由地生长，没有边界的束缚，与残酷的清教主义的教条形成了鲜明的反差。
霍桑形容监狱是一朵开在文明社会的黑暗之花。
海斯特生活在异化的炼狱之中，丁梅斯代尔生活在隐藏的原罪中，奇灵沃斯被他的复仇欲所控制，只有珍珠是自由纯洁的。
《红字》中的象征意义
《红字》中的象征意义摘要：美国著名小说家纳撒尼尔·霍桑的代表作《红字》，是美国第一部象征主义小说。
《红字》充满了阴郁和神秘的色彩，所有的人物像是鲜亮的照片放在了满是尘埃的玻璃下，明明是清楚的，却笼罩着如雾气般沉重的基调，只有那个鲜红耀眼的a字可以看得清清楚楚，成为照片的核心。
整个小说展现了一种英国清教的宗教色彩，且以大量的人物心理活动贯穿始终，使不复杂的结构因为心理活动的描写变得丰富起来，象征主义让整个小说变得鲜活有意境。
文章就《红字》中的象征意义展开论述。
关键词：《红字》象征主义小说象征意义《红字》是美国19世纪影响最大的小说。
亨利·詹姆斯曾说《红字》是“本世纪最优秀的富有幻想力的小说”。
董衡巽在美国文学简史（上册）提道：“它是道德的代表，还是非道德的象征，是对清教道德规范的抨击，还是对它的赞颂，作者似乎没有对人物的褒贬，除了宗教戒规外，没有行为是非界限。
”纳撒尼尔·霍桑的小说多采用象征手法，要归因于他思想中神秘主义的影响，正如英美文学评论家朱虹所说:“在霍桑的作品中，最常见的一个现象就是:由于作家的主观精神的照射，客观事物既是它自己，同时又是别的什么。
吴亮在象征主义小说说：“客观物质世界仅仅是假象，而它的‘灵性’才是本质。
”他说，‘一切都是灵性，就好比灵魂与躯体的关系一样。
’”这种观点决定了霍桑在创作中不对客观事物作真实的描摹，而是借象征揭示客观事物背后的隐秘含义。
一、字母“a”的象征意义充满象征意义与神秘色彩的“a”字几乎贯穿小说的每一个场景，链接着每一个人物。
它附在海斯特的衣服上，刻在她死后的墓碑上，刺在丁梅斯代尔的身体上，甚至神秘地出现在天空中。
小说中的“a”最初是作为通奸的标志出现在读者面前的，这里“a”是通奸罪（adultery）的第一个字母。
海斯特从第一次登上刑台开始，就在胸前佩戴了象征耻辱和惩罚的“a”，它的意义是很明确的:这个女人是触犯了加尔文教规第七戒的有罪的通奸者。
解读霍桑《红字》中的象征意义
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《红字》 读后感
《红字》读后感《红字》是美国作家纳撒尼尔·霍桑创作的一部长篇小说，该小说以17世纪普利茅斯殖民地为背景，讲述了一个关于爱情、罪恶与自由的故事。
读完这部作品，我深受触动，产生了许多思考。
首先，小说中的“红字”象征着犯下的罪行，这个标记给主人公海瑟·毕斯特带来了极大的痛苦和压力。
毕斯特因婚外情而生下孩子，被社会道德约束和偏见所困扰。
她的罪行被公开，她被迫佩戴着红色“A”字，以示儆戒和羞耻。
这个象征意味深远，引发了我对道德、罪恶和社会约束的思考。
作为一个现代人，我不禁问自己，为什么人们常常将道德标准加诸在他人身上？社会将自由放在高度重视的位置，但却限制着个人的选择和行为。
在小说中，毕斯特在承受着外界唾弃的同时，也表现出了她的坚强和不屈。
她不向道德规范妥协，坚信自己的爱情与孩子的存在。
而小说中的男主人公阿瑟·丹佛斯则展现了内心的挣扎和矛盾。
他爱着毕斯特，却因社会的压力而背叛了自己的爱。
他放弃了真实的情感，选择了表面的虚伪。
这让我思考了人性的复杂和自私。
我们是否应该对人们犯下的错误保持更多的宽容和理解？从阿瑟·丹佛斯身上，我看到了自己和他人的共通之处，激发了我对于价值观和道德选择的思考。
此外，在小说中，作者展现了对于女性权益的关注。
毕斯特被社会束缚，但她并不甘于被动接受命运的安排。
她表现出了批判和反叛的态度，试图摆脱束缚，追求自由。
她最终变得坚强和独立，为女性争取了应有的权益。
这反映了霍桑对当时社会对女性的固有偏见提出质疑，引发了我对性别平等和女性权益的思考。
通过阅读《红字》，我对人性、道德、罪恶、自由、性别等议题有了更深入的思考。
小说以其扣人心弦的情节和对社会问题的深刻触及，让我陷入了沉思。
我觉得这部小说警示我们，不论是过去还是现在，都需要保持对道德的解读和对人性的思考，才能更好地面对社会的挑战。
总之，读完《红字》后，我被故事中的人物和情节深深吸引，感受到了作者对社会问题的关注和思考。
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。
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。
《红字》中的象征主义
《红字》中的象征主义作者：导师：摘要《红字》是十九世纪美国著名的浪漫主义小说家霍桑的代表作，他常把自己的著作看作浪漫作品而不是小说。
《红字》突出的艺术特色是其丰富的象征手法，因此被称为美国历史上第一部象征主义小说。
作者以红字“A”为线索，通过女主人公海丝特的悲惨遭遇，深刻揭露了新英格兰时期清教殖民统治的社会现状。
本文拟通过对刑台、一系列黑色意象、人物和红字“A”这几个具有象征意义的意象的分析，揭示出象征主义这一艺术特色在全书中的作用和蕴涵的深意，从而能更好地理解全书的主旨。
关键词：象征主义，清教徒，意象，通奸罪Symbolism in The Scarlet LetterAuthor:Supervisor:ABSTRACTThe Scarlet Letter is the masterpiece of the well known romantic novelist, Nathaniel Hawthorne, in America in the 19th century. He often calls his works as a romance rather than a novel. Symbolism is the conspicuous artistic characteristic of The Scarlet Letter; therefore, it is also regarded as the first symbolic novel in the history of American fiction. Hawthorne uses the letter A as a clue to represent the society in New England, which is under the control of Puritans. In this article, several symbolic images, such as the scaffold, a series of ―Black‖ images, characters and the scarlet letter ―A‖, are analyzed, and the function and the hinted meaning of symbolism are made clear, so it leads to a better understanding of the theme of the book.Key words: symbolism, Puritan, image, adulteryAcknowledgementsCONTENTS摘要 (Ⅰ)Abstract (Ⅱ)1 In t rod u c ti on (1)2 Different Meanings of the Scarlet Letter “A” (3)2.1 Adultery (3)2.2 Alone and Alienation (3)2.3 Able, Admirable and Angel (4)2.4 Biblical Archetype (4)3 Symbolic Meanings of the Four Major Characters' Names (7)3.1 Hester Prynne (7)3.2Arthur Dimmesdale (8)3.3 Roger Chillingworth (9)3.4 Pearl (10)4 Symbolic Meanings of the Objects Described in the Novel (13)4.1 Light and Darkness (13)4.2 Prison (14)4.3 Rose Bush (14)4.4 Forest (15)5 Conclusion (16)References (17)1 IntroductionNathaniel Hawthorne is considered to be one of the greatest of American fiction writers. Hawthorne‘s lifelong fascination with New England social and religious history derived in part from his own family background. He was forced by poor finances to accept a post as surveyor in the Salem Custom House, a position he lost in 1849. Troubled about money and saddened by the recent death of his mother, Hawthorne began a novel that he had brooded over for years. As a result, Hawthorne is frequently credited with portraying Puritanism in The Scarlet Letter in a remarkably authentic and convincing manner.The intention of this study is to know what is symbol, and what is symbolism, and we are going to know the m from Hawthorne‘s use of symbols in The Scarlet Letter. Generally speaking, a symbol is anything which is used to represent something other than itself. In literature it is most often a concrete object which is used to represent something broader and more abstract-often a moral, religious, or philosophical concept or value. Symbols range from the most obvious and mechanical substitution of one thing for another, to creations as massive, complex, and perplexing as Melville‘s white whale in Moby Dick.As we know i t is in Hawthorne‘s use of symbols in The Scarlet Letter that he has made one of his most distinctive and significant contributions to the growth of American fiction. Indeed, this book is usually regarded as the first symbolic novel to be written in the United States.We are going to make a study in the different meanings of the scarlet ―A‖, the symbolic meaning of the four major character s‘name and the symbolic meanings of the objects described in the novel.Also, we would know from the study that Hawthorne was not a realist, but a symbolic novelist. Or, to put it in his own terms, he was writing not a ―novel‖ but a ―romance‖.He feels free to select both from the village and from the countryside which surrounds it, those details which will best help him to set the mood and convey the ideas of his ―romance‖. It is because they are helpful to him that he has used the scaffold, the forest, the rosebush, Mistress Hibbins, Governor Bellingham, the Election Sermon, the drab and solemn townspeople, and even the period itself. By allowing himself this latitude in his choice of details, he hascertainly been able to bring out or mellow the lights and deepen and enrich the shadows of The Scarlet Letter.And definitely, we would know the artistic characteristic—symbolism in The Scarlet Lette r from this study. We absolutely have a better understanding of the theme of the book through the analysis, the function and the hinted meaning of symbolism.2 Different Meanings of the Scarlet Letter "A"In this novel, the scarlet letter "A" changes its meaning many different times. This change is significant. It shows growth in the characters, and the community in which they live. The letter "A" begins as a symbol of sin. It then becomes a symbol of alone and alienation, and finally it becomes a symbol of able, angel and admirable.2.1 AdulteryThe letter "A", worn on Hester's bosom, is a symbol of her adultery against Roger Chilling worth. This is the puritan way of treating her as a criminal, for the crime of adultery. The puritan treatment continues, because as Hester walks through the streets, she will be looked down upon as if she is some sort of demon from hell that commits a terrible crime.This letter is meant to be worn in shame, and to make Hester feel unwanted. ―Here, she said to herself, had been the scene of her guilt, and here should be the scene of her earthly punishme nt…‖(Hawthorn,1998:74).Hester is ashamed of her sin, but she chooses not to show it. She commits this sin in the heat of passion, and fully admits it because, though she is ashamed, she also receives her greatest treasure, Pearl, out of it. She is a very strong woman to be able to hold up so well against what she must face. Many will have fled Boston, and seek a place where no one knows of her great sin. Hester chooses to stay though, which shows a lot of strength and integrity. Any woman with enough nerve to hold up against a town, which despises her very existence, and to stay in a place where her daughter is referred to as a "devil child," either has some sort of psychological problem, or is a very tough woman.2.2 Alone and AlienationThe scarlet letter "A" also stands for Hester's lonely life in New England.After she is released, Hester lives in a cottage near the outskirts of the city. "It had been built by an earlier settler, and abandoned, because the soil about it was too sterile for cultivation, while its comparative remoteness put it out of the sphere of that social activity which already marked the habits of the emigrants‖ (Hawthorn,1998:75). Hester's social life is virtually eliminated as a result of her shameful history. Hester comes to have a part to perform in the world with her native energy of character and rare capacity. However, there was nothing that made her feel as if she belonged to it. Every gesture, every word, and even thesilence of those with whom she came to contact, implied, and often expressed, that she was banished, and as much alone as if she inhabited another sphere, or communicated with the common nature by other organs and senses than the rest of human kind.She stood apart from moral interests… ―seemed to be the sole portion that she retained in the universal heart‖(Hawthorn, 1998:78). Hester has no friends in the world, and little Pearl is the only companion of her lonely life, so the scarlet letter ―A‖ also is a symbol of the words ―alone‖ and ―alienate‖.2.3 Able, Admirable and AngelLat er, the scarlet letter ―A‖ changes its meaning into being able, angel and admirable. The townspeople who condemned her now believe the scarlet letter to stand for her ability to her beautiful needlework and for her unselfish assistance to the poor and sick. ―The letter was the symbol of her calling. Such helpfulness is found in her so much power to do and power to sympathize - that many people refuses to interpret the scarlet letter ‗A' b y its original signification‖(Bell, 1971:148). At this point, a lot of the townspeople realize what a noble character Hester possesses.―Do you see that woman with the embroidered badge? It is our Hester – the town's own Hester –who is so kind to the poor, so helpful to the sick, so comforting to the afflicted!‖(Hawthorn,1998:149). The townspeople soon begin to believe that the badge served to ward off evil, and Hester grows to be quite admirable amongst the people of the town. Hester overcomes the shame of her sin through the purity and goodness of her soul. Unselfishly offering her time and love to those who need her most proves that she is not worthy of the fate which has been dealt to her.The three changes in the scarlet letter are significant; they show the progressive possession of her sin, her lonely life, and her ability. Hester is a strong admirable woman who goes through more emotional torture that most people go through in a lifetime.2.4 Biblical ArchetypeThe scarlet letter "A" also can be seen the symbol of Adam. It tells us that Hester's sin is the original sin of human being, it is forgivable.The writer shows his sympathy by describing the scarlet letter "A" on Hester's clothing as an ornament and a decoration. Hester's making the scarlet letter "A" into a thing of beautyoffends many bystanders, who comment that, "it were well if west ripped Madame Hester's rich gown off her dainty shoulders"(Hawthorn, 1998:51).However, as a young woman observes, "not a stitch in that embroidered letter, but she has felt it in her heart" (Chen Suying, 1997:21). The feeling of sympathy, only expressed by one of the characters throughout this scene, is used by Hawthorne to criticize the puritans for their strictness. The society is too strict in its ways, and Hawthorne shows his contempt for the treatment of Hester by constantly reinforcing how cruelly the people talk about her. Hawthorne says at the end of Chapter One," Finding it (rosebush) so directly on the threshold of our narrative, which is now about to issue from that inauspicious portal, we could hardly do otherwise than pluck one of its flowers, and present it to the reader. It may serve, let us hope, to symbolize some sweat moral blossom, that may be found alone the track, or relieve the darkening close of a tale of human frailty and sorrow"(Hu Shangtian, 1999:23). This kind of sympathy can be seen in the novel everywhere.To Hester, the scarlet letter "A" also stands for her lover, Pearl's father, Arthur Dimmesdale. Her fantastically embroidering the scarlet letter "A", which means adultery, is somehow a way she shows her passion for Arthur.Her refusing to tell the name of Pearl's father is a way to protect him.Her choosing to remain in New England after she is released is because it is the place where her lover stays. " There dwelt, there trod the feet of one with whom she deemed herself connected in a union, before the bar of final judgment, and make that their marriage-alter, for a joint futurity of endless retribution"(Hawthorn,1998:74). She wears the scarlet letter for seven years, and misses her lover in this way. Only when she meets Arthur again in the forest seven years later, deciding to flee to somewhere else, does she throw the scarlet letter away. After Dimmesdale's death, Hester and Pearl disappear for several years. Despite living with her daughter, Hester comes back to live the rest of her life in her cottage again, and picks up the scarlet letter for the third time. To Hester, there is a more real life in New England than in that unknown region where Pearl has founded a home."Here had been her sin, here, her sorrow, and here was yet to be her penitence" (Hawthorn, 1998:238). Moreover, here is where her lover lies. Hester eventually dies and is buried in the King's Chapel Cemetery. " It was near that old and sunken grave, yet with aspace between, as if the dust of the two sleepers had no right to mingle. Yet one tombstone served for both."--- " ON A FIELD, SABLE, THE LETTER, GULES"(Hawthorn, 1998:240).3 Symbolic Meanings of the Four Major Characters' NamesIn addition to the scarlet letter ―A‖, there are four major characters‘ names which have abundant symbolic meanings.3.1 Hester PrynneHester Prynne is one of the major characters in The Scarlet Letter.The writer gives her much symbolic meaning by giving her this name. Hester sounds like Hestier, Zeus' sister in Greek mythology, who is a very beautiful goddess. This gives us a sense that Hester is a passionate beautiful woman.In this novel, she is the symbol of the truth, the goodness and the beauty.Nathaniel Hawthorne describes her in Chapter Two like this: "The young woman was tall, a figure of perfect elegance on a large scale, she had dark and abundant hair, so glossy that it threw off the sunshine with a gleam, and a face which, besides being beautiful from regularity of feature and richness of complexion, had the impressiveness belonging to a marked brow and deep black eyes…"(1998:50). For so many years, Hester refuses to speak out the name of her partner in sin, but takes over all the punishment by herself. Instead of running from the hostile colonists, Hester withstands their insolence and pursues a normal life. She proves her worth with her uncommon sewing skills and provides community service. Hester's own sin gives her "sympathetic knowledge of the sin in other hearts." Even though the people she tries to help "often reviled the hand that was stretched forth to succor them," she continues her services because she actually cares. At last, the colonists come to think of the scarlet letter as "the cross on a nun's bosom", which is not small accomplishment.Also, Hester is the homophone of the word haste. At first, she gets married to Roger Prynne, an ugly man who gives his best years to feed the hungry dream of knowledge. Not having got the news about her husband who should have arrived by ship from England, she falls love with Arthur hastily and gives birth to Pearl, for which she is condemned to wear on the breast of her gown the scarlet letter "A", which stands for adultery. But Hester's adultery haste is nothing but a very natural thing to do. In the Holy Bible, Adam and Eve, the very ancestors of human being, who live in the Garden of Eden, eat the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden tricked by the serpent. After that, they begin to know good and evil,and also they begin to know sex. Adultery is nothing but the original sin of human being. God's punishment to them is just sending them forth from the Garden of Eden. But in The Scarlet Letter, Hester is tortured physically and mentally for her sin. Hester says to Dimmesdale in the forest later, ―What we did had a consecration of its own, we felt so!‖(Hawthorn, 1998:179). In essence, their sin is no worse than Adam and Eve's. The punishment of puritan society is somehow too hard on a woman who is led by human instinct.3.2 Arthur DimmesdaleArthur Dimmesdale is a well-regarded young minister, whose initials are AD, which also stands for adultery. The author obviously tells us Author Dimmesdale is the partner in sin of Hester Prynne by giving him this name.The word Dimmesdale also has many symbolic meanings. Dim means dark and weak, and dale means valley, so the dimmesdale here is actually a symbol of the "dim-interior" of the clergyman. He loves Hester deeply, and he is the father of Pearl, but he can only show his passion for her in the forest or in darkness. His response to the sin is to lie. He stands before Hester and the rest of the town and proceeds to give a moving speech about how it would be in her and the father's best interest for her to reveal the father's name. Though he never actually says that he is not the other partner, he implies it by talking of the father in third person. Such as, "If thou feelest it to be for thy soul's peace, and that thy earthly punishment will thereby be made more effectual to salvation, I charge thee to speak out the name of thy fellow-sinner and fellow-sufferer"(Hawthorn, 1998:63). He concedes his guilt for seven years, at the same time; he is tortured by his sin for so many years. He punishes himself by believing that he can never be redeemed. He feels that he will never been seen the same in the eyes of God, and that no amount of penitence can ever return him to God's good graces. He hates his hypocrisy to sin, but dares not tell the truth that he is the fellow-sinner of Hester. When he finally decides to expose the truth and tell his followers of how he deceives them, his fixation on his sin has utterly corroded him to the point of death. The only good that comes out of conceding his guilt is that he passes away without any secrets, for he is already too far gone to be able to be saved.At the end of the story, the writer put the morals which press upon the readers from the poor minister's miserable experience into one sentence," Be true! Be true! Be true! Showfreely to the world, if not your worst, yet some trait whereby the worst may be inferred!" (Hawthorn, 1998:236).3.3 Roger ChillingworthRoger Chillingworth, like all of Hawthorne's main characters, is complex and difficult to see through. The words ―chilling‖ and ―worth‖ compose the surname Chillingworth. Chilling comes from the word ―chilly‖, which means this man is a merciless avenger. He is calm in temperament, kindly, but keep evil intentions. Being a man already in decay and misshapen from his birth hour, he married Hester, a woman with youth and beauty, deluding himself with the idea that intellectual gifts might veil physical deformity in a young girl's fantasy. He married Hester not because he loved her but because he wanted to light a household fire in his lonely and chilly heart.He is a bookworm who spends his best time in libraries, and shows no love to his young wife. It is he that has destroyed Hester's flower like youth, and indirectly leads to Hester's tragedy. After he discovers that his wife bore another man's child, Roger gives up his independence. He used to be a scholar, who dedicates his best years "to feed the hungry dream of knowledge," but his new allegiance becomes finding and slowly punishing the man who seduces his wife. He soon becomes obsessed with his new mission in life, and when he targets Reverend Dimmesdale as the possible parent, he disguises himself as one trust friend of the minister, attaching himself to him as a parishioner. For seven years, he digs into the minister's heart with keen pleasure. He searches the minister's thoughts; he causes the poor minister to die daily a living death. He searches into the minister's dim interior for a long time, and turns over many precious a tread, and as wary an outlook, as a thief entering a chamber where a man lies only half asleep,---― or, if it may be, broad awake,--- with purpose to steal the very treasure which this man guards as the apple of his eyes"(Hawthorn, 1998:119). When he finally found the scarlet letter "A" on the bosom of the minister, he busted out a ghastly rapture, When he does these, he is turning from a victim to a sinner. Chillingworth is also means that the avenger's life is worthless. When he finds his wife betrays him, he dedicates all his time to seeking revenge. He gives up his identity, living with the minister and being by his side all day, every day. His largest sacrifice is by far, his own life. After spending so much time dwelling on his revenge, Chillingworth forgets that he still has a change to lead a life ofhis own. So after Dimmesdale reveals his secret to the world, " All his strength and energy---- all his vital and intellectual force--- seemed at once to desert him; in so much that he positively withered up, shriveled away, and almost vanied from mortal sight, like an uprooted weed that lies wilting in the sun"(Hawthorn, 1998:236). Chillingworth dies less that a year later because he has nothing left to live for. The poor forlorn creature is more wretched than his victim is --- the avenger had devoted himself.3.4 PearlPearl is one of the most complex and misunderstood symbols in the book, the daughter of Hester Prynne. Pearl, throughout the story, develops into a dynamic symbol - one that is always changing. Pearl was a source of many different kinds of symbolism. From being a living scarlet letter, to a valuable thing with high price, then to the moral in this novel. She was a kind of burden, yet love for Hester.The most significant symbolic meaning of Pearl in the novel is her association with the scarlet letter ―A‖. When Hester stood fully revealed before the crowd, it is her first impulse to clasp Pearl closely to her bosom; "not so much by an impulse of motherly affection, as that she might thereby conceal a certain token, which was wrought or fastened into her dress"(Tian Junwu, 1999:50). "In a moment, however, wisely judging that one token of her shame would but poorly serve to hide another, she took the baby on her arm…‖(Tian Junwu, 1999:50 ). Hester embroidered the scarlet letter with gold thread fantastically, and she had allowed the gorgeous tendencies of her imagination their full playing contriving Pearl's garb. ―and, indeed, of the child's whole appearance, that it irresistibly reminded the beholder of the token which Hester Prynne was d oomed to wear upon her bosom‖(Tian Junwu, 1999:93) .Pearl really was the scarlet letter, the scarlet letter in another form; the scarlet letter endowed with life.Pearl is a girl of rich and luxuriant beauty. ―There was fire in her and througho ut her, she seemed the unpremeditated offshoot of a passionate moment‖(Tian Junwu, 1998:93). The Bible says," the kingdom of heaven is like merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it"(Matthew,1980: 13-14). Hester named the infant "pearl", as being of great price,--- purchased with all she had,--- her only treasure! if Pearl had never been born, Hester would have never been found guilty ofadultery, and thus never would have had to wear that burden upon her chest. Without that burden, Hester would have led a much better life than the one she had throughout the novel. Although Hester has so much trouble with Pearl, she still feels that Pearl is her treasure. Pearl is really the only thing that Hester has in her life. Once in a while, Pearl will bring joy to Hester's life, and that helps her to keep on living. If Pearl isn't in Hester's life, Hester will almost surely have committed suicide. This can be proved in Chapter 8, The Elf-child and the Minister. After Hester gets the permission to still keep Pearl at her side, Mistress Hibbins invites her to go to the forest to meet the Black Man together with her. But Hester refuses and says, with a triumphant smile,‖ "I must tarry at home, and keep watch over my little Pearl. Had they taken her from me, I would willingly have gone with thee into the forest, and signed my name in the Black Man's book too, and that with mine own blood!‖(Hawthorn, 1998:98). It is Pearl that saves Hester from Satan's snare.Pearl also serves as moral in this novel, The moral she is meant to teach is that Hester and Dimmesdale should fully commits their sin and then take responsibility for their sin. The first thing Pearl see in her infancy is the scarlet letter on her mother's bosom. As a baby, she even reaches up and touches the letter, causing her mother intense agony at the shame it generated in her. Later, she plays a game when she throws flowers at her mother and jumps around in glee every time, she hits the sc arlet letter. She also makes her own letter ―A‖ to wear. When she finds Hester removes the scarlet letter from her chest in the forest, Pearl starts screaming and convulsing and refuses to cross the stream until Hester reattaches the letter. She is really a constant mental and physical reminder to Hester of what she has done wrong. With Pearl at her side, Hester will never escape the punishment of her wrong deed.Moreover, Pearl is the person who eventually makes Dimmesdale admit his crime. She constantly asks why the minister keeps putting his hand over his heart, and figures out it is for the same reason that her mother wears the scarlet letter. Her role as a living scarlet letter is to announce to the whole world who the guilt parents are. After Dimmesdale manages to keep the mother and daughter together in the governor's hall, Pearl responses amazingly. She takes his hand and places her cheek against it.This simple gesture is full of meaning, because it implies that Pearl recognizes Dimmesdale as being connected to her. Meanwhile, Pearl's stand of urging the minister to commit his sin is firm. When Dimmesdale stands on the scaffold where Hester suffered herpublic humiliation several years before, he meets Hester and Pearl, who have been at Governor Winthrop's deathbed, taking measurements for a robe, he invites them to join him on the stand. When all three hold hands, Pearl asks Dimmesdale,‖ Wilt thou stand here with moth er and me, tomorrow noontide?‖(Hawthorn, 1998:140). Dimmesdale answers,‖ Not so, my child, I shall, indeed, stand with thy mother and thee, one other day, but not tomorrow‖(Hawthorn, 1998:141). Pearl laughs and attempts to pull away her hand until the minister promises to take her hand and her mother's hand at ―the great judgment day‖. W hen they later meet in the forest, Hester says to Pearl, ―He loves thee, my little Pearl, and loves thy mother too. Wilt thou love him?‖ Pearl says,“Doth he love us?‖ then asks, ―wilt he go back with us, hand in hand, we three together, into the town?‖ The answer is ―not now‖. So when Dimmesdale impresses a kiss on her brow before they leave the forest, ―Pearl broke away from her mother, and, running to the brook, stooped over it, and bathed her forehead, until the unwelco me kiss was quite washed off…‖(Hawthorn, 1998:194). At the end of the novel, when the minister climbs up the scaffold with the help of Hester and Pearl, confessing his sin to his followers, Pearl kisses his lips. She accepts her father finally.Pearl's role as the living scarlet letter is over, and Dimmesdale, who finally takes responsibility for his sin, has learned the moral, which she is meant to teach.4 Symbolic Meanings of the Objects Described in the NovelIn The Scarlet Letter, most of the objects that are described have many symbolic meanings.4.1 Light and DarknessThe novel is filled with light and darkness symbols because it represents the most common battle of all time, good versus evil. When Hester and her daughter are walking in the forest, Pearl exclaims:" Mother, the sunshine does not love you. It runs away and hides itself, because it is afraid of something on you bosom. Now see! There it is, playing a good way off. Stand you here, and let me run and catch it. I am but a child. It will not flee from me, for I wear nothing on my bosom yet‖ (Hawthorn, 1998:168). Hester tries to stretch her hand into the circle of light, but the sunshine vanishes. She then suggests that they go into the forest and have rest. This short scene actually represents Hester's daily struggle in life. The light represents what Hester wants to be, which is pure. The movement of the light represents Hester's constant denial of acceptance. Hester's lack of surprise and quick suggestion to go into the forest, where is dark, shows that she never expected to be admitted and is resigned to her station in life. Another way light and darkness is used in symbolism is in the way Hester and Dimmesdale's plan to escape is doomed. Hester and Dimmesdale meet in the shadows of the forest with a gloomy sky and a threatening storm overhead when they discuss their plans for the future. The gloomy weather and shadows exemplify the fact that they can't get away from the repressive force of their sins. It is later proven when Dimmesdale dies on the scaffold! Instead of leaving with Hester and going to England. A final example occurs in the way Hester and Dimmesdale can not acknowledge their love in front of others. When they meet in the woods, they feel that," No golden light had ever been so precious as the gloom of this dark forest‖(Hawthorn, 1998:199). This emotion foretells that they will never last together openly because their sin has separated them too much from normal life.4.2 PrisonThe opening chapter introduces several of the images and the themes within the story to follow.“The founders of a new colony, whatever Utopia of human virtue and happiness they might originally project, have invariably recognized it among their earliest practical。
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《美国文学史》期末论文2015-2016学年第二学期论文题目: 论《红字中的象征主义》英文题目:An Analysis of the Symbolism of theScarlet Letter姓名: 王舒学号:1345752211专业: 英语日期: 2015 年 6 月29 日An Analysis of the Symbolism of The Scarlet Letter Chapter One Introduction1.1Research Background1.1.1 Life Career and Literary Career1.1.2 The Origin of The Scarlet Letter1.2Purpose and Significance of the Study1.3Organization of the ThesisChapter Two The Organization of Symbolism2.1 Symbolic Meaning of the Main Characters’ Names2.1.1 Hester Prynne2.1.2 Arthur Dimmesdale2.1.3 Roger Chillingworth2.1.4 Pearl2.2 Symbolic Meaning of the Letter “A”2.2.1 Adultery2.2.2 Alone2.2.3 Angel2.2.4 Arthur DimmesdaleChapter Four ConclusionAn Analysis of the Symbolism of the Scarlet LetterChapter one Introduction1.1Research Background1.1.1 Life Career and Literary CareerHawthorne was born in Salem in 1804. His family has a long Puritan tradition. His father is a sea captain, died in Dutch when Hawthorne was only four. And his mother relied on relatives in rearing the children. Besides, some of his ancestors were a judge relate to the Salem Witchcraft Trails of 1692. Therefore, the familygradually fortune declined. Young Hawthorne was witnessed the process and aware of the misdeeds of his puritan ancestors, so he had deep understanding of evil in human life, people called “that blackness in Hawthorne”. This affected many works of him and stated truth in his books.He aspired to be a writer in his middle age. In 1821, he went to Bowdoin College where he made friends with Wadsworth Longfellow and Franklin Pierce, who was the fourteenth President of the United States. Franklin helped him when he was in financial difficulties. After graduation, he spent 12 years in seclusion on literary apprenticeship, reading widely and practicing writing. In 1839, Hawthorne has worked in Boston customs for two years. Later, he entered into Brook Farmland and contacted with the idea of transcendental. Then, Hawthorne went to Salem customs, in which affected the work “The Scarlet Latter” directly.In 1842, Hawthorne got married and lived in Concord, made friends with his neighbors, Emerson and Thoreau and others. Finally, he died in 1864 and buried in Sleepy Valley cemetery. Hawthorne’s first novel is about his school life, which was a failure novel. So he burnt all his copies in great rage. Later, he published a collection of short stories, called Twice-Told T ales in 1837, which attracted some popular and critical attention. Another successful short story collection, Mosses from an Old Manse came out in 1846 and brought him great fame and made him finally financially comfortable. In 1850, a novel, The Scarlet Letter came out, which made him known by others and made his name as a writer of no small talent. In 1851, The House of the Seven Gables came out, to be followed by The BlithedaleRomance in 1852 and The Marble Faun in 1860.1.1.2 The Origin of the Scarlet LetterThe story of The Scarlet Letter is very simple but very moving. The story is set in New England in seventeenth century Boston, which is under Puritan command.A young beautiful woman, named Hester Prynne, is sent ahead to America by his husband-----an aging English scholar. However, for two years, he does not arrive here. But two year later, he is bewildered to see his wife in pillory, wearing a scarlet letter “A” on her breast and holding a baby in her arms. She is considered the guilty of adultery and brought to trial. The old scholar pretends to be a physician and changes his name Rogar Chillingworth. Gradually, he discovered that his wife’s lover is the young clergyman, Arthur Dimmesdale. Hester refuses to name her lover all the time and looked down on by others. Dimmesdale suffered physical and mental torture. But Hester response to the scarlet letter is a positive one. She lives a quiet life with her daughter, Pearl. She helps her fellow creatures as a sister if many of sorts or as a skilled embroiderer in modest manner, and finally wins other’s love and admiration. Because the scarlet letter “A”, the church members suggest Pearl be taken away from Hester, and Dimmesdale has a poor health. She plans to leave America with Dimmesdale, but he refused her help. He dies in the end in her arms while confessing his sin at a public gathering. Chillingworth withers. Pearl is married into a noble family.1.2 Purpose and Significance of the StudySymbolism is not only a significant feature of Hawthorne’s works, but also a major feature of Romanticism. Therefore, study of Hawthorne’s masterpiece, the scarlet letter, symbolism can help the readers knows more about the novel and read his works without any difficulties. When we learn a symbolism of a novel, we could study it from the characters, situations, environment and others. It is very important for readers to understand a novel’s thesis.1.2Organization of the ThesisIn The Scarlet Letter, symbolism is used not only in the main characters but also in the capital letter “A”which symbolism adultery, alone, alienation, angel and Arthur Dimmesdale.Chapter Two The Organization of Symbolism2.1 Symbolic Meaning of the Main Characters’ Names2.1.1Hester PrynneHester Prynne is one of the main characters in this novel. Hawthorne endows her name with much symbolic meanings. Firstly, when we see the word “Hester”, we may contact it with Hastier, who is the sister of Zeus in Greek mythology. She is kitchen goodness. She is also very beautiful god. Hawthorne names his main character Hester, which give readers a strong sense that Hester is a beautiful,passionate and warm-hearted woman. In this novel, Hester tries her best to help others and as a skilled embroiderer in an unobtrusive and undemanding manner. Whatever she goes, she is warm-hearted and king. Besides, the sound of “Hester” is similar to “Hastier”, which is difficult to distinct them. Not only is her behavior like goodness, but also her beautiful appearance.Secondly, Heater is the homophone of the word “Haste”, which means doing something quickly so that you are careless and make mistakes. She gets married to Roger Chillingworth, who is an ugly and old man and devotes all his life to his books, his wife just could get a little love from him. As a young woman, she goes through everyday loneliness without living a normal life. She does not have a baby with Roger. So she feels sexual inhibition. What’s more, her husband sent her to America, while he disappeared for two years without any news. Hester falls in love with Arthur quickly, a young clergyman. As a result, her fortunate life starts with hasty.Hester’s surname also has its symbolic meaning. First of all, “Prynne” sounds like “Prurient”. Hester’s husband is so old that he could not give her sexual love. Which makes Hester loves the young man so hastily. As a result, she is put into prison and forced to wear the letter “A” all the time and everywhere for the crime. Hawthorne uses Prynne to suggest the origin pain of Hester.What’s more, “Prynne”is similar to “Prune”so that affect reader’s understanding. Hawthorne not only point out the reason for Prynne’s guilty, but also believes that she could recover from the pain in the late of life. When Hestergets out the prison, she never abandons herself, but has courage to face the cold world. She has a positive attitude to face the scarlet letter and the rumors in this town.The last but not least, “Pry” the first syllable of “Prynne”, which with the meaning of spying on somebody. The author wants to discover the evil from the life of Prynne. In many years without contacting others, Prynne has been thinking her guilty, it also make her aware of the evil spirit beneath the surface of the saints. If you put people’s mind on the table, may be everyone has a scarlet letter. Everyone has sins in their deep mind。