清教主义对美国文学的影响的论文资料

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TITLE:Analysis of Influences of Puritanism on

American literature

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May, 2012

Analysis of Influences of Puritanism on American literature

BAI Chun-hui

Abstract:As a red line the Puritan tradition has specified the United States from colonial times to today's political culture and social culture. Puritanism is a milestone of the development and direction of American Literary. A national literary produce, development and prosperity always are influenced by its ideology, culture, customs and moral habits and values, etc. American literature has been strong influenced of Puritanism since its budding time, too. The effect is profound and extensive extremely, so it can not be ignored in the study of American literature. Through analyzing the origins, the philosophy, the characteristics and impacts on mainstream American values of Puritanism, in order to explore deeply the influence of Puritanism on American Literature, the essay says specifically that American Puritanism has impacted greatly on American literary writing attitudes, writing themes and symbolic writing styles, and so on.

Keywords: Puritanism; values; Literature; Attitude; Theme; Symbolism

1.Introduction

It is self-evident that the importance of understanding Puritanism to study American literature. the body of this article is divided totally into four parts: first, it introduces the Puritanism and its philosophy, in order to have an initial understanding of Puritanism; second, the analysis of some of the features of Puritanism, so that understand clearly their expression of ideas; then, it discusses Puritanism influences on American literature, which lists some representative works of writers for readers to understand the article very well; Finally, the part makes a summary of the entire article.

2. Puritanism and Its Philosophy

These first immigrants were far away from continental Europe in 1620 by the “Mayflower”, with mixed feelings to start their colonial pioneer in New England, Plymouth. According to statistics, from 1630 to 1640, foreign Puritans fled were about 60,000, of which a considerable portion of people crossed the ocean fearlessly and moved to the desolated North American continent, later in New England and other places to establish colonies. War of Independence broke out in 1775, at least 75% of people who grew up in a Puritan family in more than 260 million inhabitants of the 13 colonies. Due to the large number of Puritans were highly educated, had a religious cohesion, had a tremendous impact on the development of the colony, Puritans gradually became the mainstream American cultural groups, namely the WASP (a devout Protestant, with the white of English descent). They brought on “Justification by faith, the idea of calling, a city upon a hill” and other core Puritan conceptions to North America to practice their own beliefs and ideals in this barren

and unfamiliar land. The hardships and success of pioneering work make the New World colonists believe the relationship between individual effort and success. They realize that a sober, honest and industrious style is entrepreneurs’ a conception developed which provide the necessary quality. Moreover according to the Puritan doctrine, even though God had already decided his constituents, however, voters exactly who is unknown, so everyone wants to succeed through personal struggle, to prove their own is probably the darling of God. In this way, the importance of personal struggle, prompt the individualism of American character to begin to sprout, and led to the formation of the so-called "American Ideal". This ideal that one person in the bottom of society think he and his offspring can gain success and recognition through individual efforts, had inspired a generation of after generation and played a very important role in the American development process. After World War I, people shocked by the cruelty of war and the postwar depression. Then ideal was disillusioned, and appeared the emergence of the "Lost Generation". Even so, individualism, individuality is still a notable feature in the American character. This feature, although lost the religious fanaticism of Puritanism early, the pursuit of personal success is undoubtedly need the quality of the hard-working, self-control and hard-working Puritanism advocated. Moreover, the kind of the sacred sense of self-righteous Americans and superiority morally seems to be traced back to the initial self-styled as the Secession Puritan, because they think others are not as good as their own spirituality at the very start, their spirituality closer to God.

3. The Characteristics of Puritanism

3.1Original Sin and Predestination

The Puritans advocated that person should respect and obey God. This belief’s deep root is worry and fear about the original sin. In the Puritan view, humans are born evil, and this original sin can be passed down from generation to generation. Deeply influenced by Calvinism, the Puritans have a firm confidence- Puritanism, they believe that God determines everything, and before things happen, God unilaterally decide who should be saved, and who should leave. The Puritans believed that they are God's chosen people, God, beautiful and rich North America has given them as their native land, the purpose is to allow them this piece of land to build a New Jerusalem, the pursuit of freedom of belief and the new Garden of Eden. The historical development of mankind, they undertake a mission of the Holy Spirit. Voyage to North America, the leaders of Puritanism Winthrop quoted in the story of the Bible, as such predictions: We will become a city upon a hill in the entire world, the eyes of people around the world are looking at us, if we are in the process of realization of this undertaking to deceive God, if God help us like today we will become the laughing stock of the world.

Over the years, the sense of mission has been an important part of the mentality of the American social and cultural values. To many Americans, God given them sacred mission, asked them to set an example for the world in pursuit of their own practice and career, respected the ideas of freedom and justice, led human being be free from sin and towards the Promised Land . This sense of mission to save the world from

misery is always accompanied by the American history of the development process, strongly influenced the views and attitudes of Americans on the outside world. Tracing the source of many scholars believe that this awareness is largely originated the concept of the Puritanism of the city upon a hill.

All of these, when reflected in literature, is a eulogy, praising the great God, advertising the fundamentalist religious doctrines. They blame the human degradation and more important to praise the indomitable spirit the saints, to warn the world.

3.2 Limited Atonement and Hard Work

The Puritans believed that the most important thing is to prove someone own is God’s election as an ordinary person, according to the understanding of the Bible, so they feel they obliged to administer state affairs. They work hard, follow the saints in life, and restrain themselves with extreme moral standards. Thus, when the earliest settlers arrived in the primeval forest, and saw the vast wilderness land without reclaimed before them, they find that God must be a definite purpose to send them to there. The people chosen, they believe they should rebuild the federal restoration of lost paradise, and built a new Garden of Eden in the wilderness. Under this firm belief, the Puritans as well as all Americans believe that they are able to realize to loyalty to God.

On the point, it shows that mainstream American value is the idea of calling. The idea of vocation advocates mundane labor and occupation of each person engaged in which arrangements made by God, given to each person's vocation. God agreed people's way of life not to beyond the secular moral by their asceticism, but to each person to complete the responsibilities and obligations of their status in this world, so anyone in the secular life in this world do not escape, only fulfill their duties in the earth, via hard work, dedication to the glory of God, to prove that they are God's chosen people and gain a save. In accordance with the concept of calling, careers have any difference of high and low, gentle and simple, which have the equal value from God. In the Puritans opinion, a career whether it is useful, and can win the favor of God, depends on it provide the extent of the amount of wealth and private profit for the community.It is only a pragmatic spirit to get rich. In earthly activities, it is the most powerful evidence that a person become God's chosen people but not abandoned. Wealth is not the root of all evil, but the mark of God’s blessing. In this way, the fortune is God’s will, means that a person can fulfill professional responsibilities to be saved into heaven.

3.3Individualism and Entrepreneurship

Early Puritans believed that survival is not an easy task, even if they are full of unexpected dream. They must be bold and tough pioneer, explore and conquer the magical world and spread the blessings of God to every corner of the world. Them given the unique characteristics of individualism to themselves and their descendants, and the spirit of the early work has a strong sense of mission and a strong desire to succeed. Individualist promotes the individual objectives and activities. The entrepreneurial spirit is that people should perform the arrangement of God with the dedication and sense of responsibility. In the literature that individualism and

entrepreneurship is performance in the glorification of the American Creed and their fervent desire for the innovation of the American dream.

Individualism as a core of mainstream American values, derived from Puritanism, and over time, has penetrated into all aspects of American life. Individualism is in the embodiment of American daily life, such as Aggressive, outstanding personality, emphasizing individual rights and freedoms, respect for the privacy of others, advocating self-struggle, self-reliance and initiative, the courage to explore and the creation of something new, contempt for authority, and value equality, inclusive diversity at the same time frank expression of different views and opinions, and so on.

American historian Degler said, "Individualism is the core of Puritanism bequeathed to future generations. If Americans are individualists, Puritanism is the main source of individualism." Puritanism was born in English Reformation period, subjected to the European continental Martin Luther and John Calvin Protestant ideological influence It is the great rebellion against authority, to resist the spirit of privilege, and perform a strong puritanical individual prominent and demonstrate self-awareness. The theoretical come from the source of the Protestant advocate of “J ustification by faith”

4. American Literature Was Influenced by Puritanism

From produce of Puritanism to Transcendentalism in the 19th century, the influence of Puritanism have shaped America's national spirit in the hundreds of years, nurturing the national literature of the United States. This effect has felt in all aspects of social and cultural so far. Do not understand Puritanism, you can not really understand the United States and American literature.The early literature in the United States, regardless of religious fanaticism in the early colonial literature, or the concepts of narrative about the legendary Romantic literature of Puritanism original sin, or Transcendentalism Literature strengthen harmony with people and nature and pure moral attention, we can see the impact of Puritanism. Subsequently, whether it is realism, naturalism, the Lost Generation, American value, contemporary literature, attention of the fate of individuals, or preference aloof stray hero is different from the literature characteristics of other country. These American features of individuality and stubborn of deviation theme are still relevant to Puritanism. Thus, to the United States, Puritanism is not just a doctrine, but also a culture deep-rooted impact on the American character and American literature. In certain sense, it is Puritanism that the American people and American literature has its own characteristics.

4.1 Important Aspects of Puritanism Influences on American Literature

Though the understanding of Puritanism contribution in American literature, Puritanism influenced on American literature from the three aspects: the writer's values and attitudes, literature writing theme, and symbolic skills.

4.1.1Values and Attitude s—Optimistic Individualism

Puritans in the new world looking forward to living in perfect command, eager to create a new Garden of Eden in order to set an ideal society. When they face of danger and difficulties, the inspiration of the holy mission will make them full of optimism and fearless. The optimistic spirit of Puritanism left to the Americans, shaping the optimism of American toward their life and the whole world.

In the literature, the attitude is showed as a celebration of American Creed. The optimistic spirit of Puritanism has been fully reflected in the works of many American writers. In this Hawthorne’s period actually has the Renaissance in the United States, which is the first time literary activities in the United States - Transcendentalism. Transcendentalism emphasizes intuition, and it believe that people can perceive the outside world through perception and intuition, to achieve harmony and unity with God and nature; it emphasis on individualism, believe that the individual is the most important element in the society, the ideal state is self-sustaining. On the surface, transcendentalism abandoned the religious factor, essentially retained the significant features of the Puritan: pure morality; harmony and unity of human being, God and natural; God is everywhere; thrifty attitude to life, etc. Based on these ideas, we see excellent spokesperson for Emerson and Thoreau's prose. Emerson's Nature described the relationship amount of people, God and nature, and people can find the heart by intuition, to achieve co mmunication with God. Thoreau's “Walden "described about life, and people in harmony with nature, and condemned the excessive pursuit of human material. Thus, Transcendentalism is essentially like a moral compass, tend to the best side of humanity, and believed that the personal dignity and worth, and called on people to abandon the old customs and traditions, to create a new kind of their own American literature. Whitman, in his work Leaves of Grass, sang warmly a praise of the new nation in the continental United States, and was full of confidence and hope for the future of the United States, which is inseparable from the optimism of the pioneers of Puritanism.In addition, the early settlers had pursued Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence referred to freedom, democracy and happiness. The influence of the spirit of the Declaration of Independence had lasted later a hundred years.

4.1.2Them e—Contradiction

The Puritans believed that God has absolute power, he can save mankind, and human beings can get the favor of God, their belief that the occupational success comes from their faith in God. According to their view, the hard work is the only way to be forgiven by God. The divine desire of the pursuit of wealth urges them to continue to use the border, to conquer ambitiously nature and to develop of their "callings". Puritanism in the United States advocated frugality, to some extent, to promote the development of capitalism and a profound impact on the behavior of the Americans. They are afraid of liberation from slavery (from the Old World), and then another trap (new world). This contradiction become another timeless theme, and become the Americans lingering literary dream.

It was not only a profound impact on the behavior of the Puritan, but also seriously tied up their freedom thought by diligence efforts, the pious introspection and asceticism of Puritanism and so on. From generation to generation writers

continue to the conflict of criticism and reflection, divinity and humanity, faith and free, original sin innocence, good and evil to constitute an eternal theme in American literature. Also Hawthorne’s r epresentative novel “The Scarlet Letter”, for example, in the novel, Hawthorne focuses on depicting different characters for the understanding of the evil, and their influences of the sin and the sense of guilt they committed. Heroine, Hester Prynne is the character writer used most ink up in the novel. On the surface, she committed the intolerable crimes of the Puritans: lust and adultery, but Hawthorne showed a deep compassion and tolerance to Hester. Guilt and innocence embodies Hester's body the through in a peculiar way. Reverend Dimmesdale is piety and zeal, and won Catholics love, but as the same, he not only committed the crime of adultery, but can not take responsibility for cowardice to conceal their crimes. Hester's husband is the victim from the surface, but He was cold, selfish, and mentally tortured his wife and has been planning revenge on the priest, then become the perpetrator of the crime of jealousy and evil. Hester's daughter Pearl is an innocence girl, she brought infinite comfort and joy for her mother. She is Hester’s the spiritual pillar. Just such a wonderful life, could not be better to be interpretation of the concept of human original sin that Puritanism. Pearl is a product of adultery, her birth is the best comment of Hester’s “A” (adultery) on her chest. Different characters interpret all kinds of evil through of their behavior, and in different ways to deal with the guilt that always haunts around. Hawthorne demonstrated vividly own evil theme in this novel.

4.1.3Writing Skills - Symbol

Symbolism is an important part of the religion and art. Many cultures have a complex attribute that the symbolic systems of certain thing are specified. In fact, many writers and the majority of works are usage of symbolic meaning. Symbol becomes the core component of rhetoric of fiction writers. The symbol is the systematic use of symbolic marks or represent of implied something. In the most direct sense, language used is symbolical. In a narrower sense, the symbolic significance has special importance.

Puritan has influenced on American literature, however, not only reflected in the values and attitudes and themes, but also a symbol as a literary tradition of rhetoric. In fact, the earliest Puritans themselves are the best instance of the symbolic. They came to the United States hopes to create a new Garden of Eden, to implementation with the indomitable courage, to become devout Puritan, and the material world is a sign of God.

Hawthorne works was impacted on Puritanism. It is not only reflected in the author's concern about theme of religious original sin and the lingering sense of guilt, but also reflected in Hawthorne's literary creative techniques. Puritanism stressed that the Bible is a religious interpretation of the Code, and all doctrines and the problem of educational administration should look for answers from the Bible. Thus the biblical narrative and literary means become the object of Puritan Writers to learn and imitate, and Hawthorne is no exception. The Bible in order to promote Christian religious doctrine and values, often use metaphor, contrast, stories and legends. Hawthorne will absorb and develop the literary means, several times in his work with the symbolic means of literature to strengthen their point of view to increase the literary appeal. The scarlet letter in his words “The Scarlet Letter” reflect s an important symbol of the whole theme, at the same time in the last, the theme is sublimated—change from the

adulterer to the angel. Not only that, The Scarlet Letter’s scene description, character name and the looks of the characters embody the application of the symbol of literary techniques. Hyster’s the "A" logo, Dimmesdale’s guilty mind, C hilling Worth’s vicious torture are portrayed painstakingly and the usage of symbolism is to expose the characters' psychological and good and evil concepts in the struggle of the soul. By the writers and the works are impact deeply on Puritanism, not only a true reflection of the Puritan view of life, also criticized the suppression of human nature of Puritanism. Chillingworth, Hester's husband, the name is similar with English word “chilly” and “worse” in the pronunciation. It suggests that this character is a selfish indifference guy; Hester daughter Pearl, the person like her name, she is the beautiful and lovely girl, and is her mother’s most intimate and precious pearl.

4.2 Puritan Ideology in the Embodiment of Colonial literature

North American colonists, in the first century after the colonial New World, wrote countless text. These works belong to the scope of description and narrative. These words displayed that the colonialists experienced the long and arduous long-distance sailing, and this continent in front of them, and the mysterious stranger on Indigenous Populations, also the immigrants’ behaviors and whatever they did in this New World demeanor, and to send comfort and hope to pursue the spirit of the gospel of God. This descriptive text are both secular and sacred dual function: on the one hand it is hoping to attract more immigrants from the mainland; on the other hand also hope to faithfully record the immigration deeds to prove that development in North America is God's will, to confirm North American immigrants as God's voters not live up to the trust of God, and so on. In some sense, the popular literature of the colonial period in North America is genuinely geared to immigration to spread the idea of Puritanism. Although this period is not a literary Albert, it still created a number of extraordinary narratives. This period, Puritan Ideology was expressed mainly by William Bradford, John Winthrop, Jonathan Edwards and Anne Brad Lancaster Littleton, and so on.

William Bradford, one of the greatest figures of the New World during the colonial period, aboard the "Mayflower" sailing, became the first European immigrants settled in New England. From 1622 to his death, during the 36 years, he almost every year was elected colonial governor. He believes that he is the tool to convey the will of God, therefore he committed to the religious revolution. In 1630, he felt the responsibility to record the actions of a colony of immigrants to confirm th e will of God on this "allowed to give the land” was achieved, so began to write “Plymouth plantation history”. This work record the major events from the 1620 "Mayflower" immigrants to leave Europe to 1647 when he stopped writing, and his views on these events. Bradford's "Plymouth Plantation History," has a distinctive clue that is the Christian spirit of Puritanism. Bradford believes that the Christian God exist all the time and place, even the immigrants were forced to leave Europe, settled in the savage land, the whole process of the establishment of the colony, is also fully God's plan. God want these God’s voters to complete an important thing as the Jews in the Bible completed the cause to prove the greatness of God by the achievements of

the opened up colonial. Although the author in this work praises greatly Puritans’ courage, tenacity and perseverance under the difficult environment demonstrated his view of Indians with the obvious European sense of superiority. This is mainly reflected in the desc ription of the 1637 “Peko war”. The overall style of“Plymouth plantation history” is calm, frank, and unperturbed. He raises some important points that are more concentrated reflection of the characteristics of the at that time colonial thinking, and are the main parts of the key of understanding the ideological and cultural politics in the United States today.

John Winthrop has been a central figure of the development of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. From the date of the navigation heading for the New World beginning to Winthrop death in 1649, he had been to write the log and left later generations an evaluable wealth. The log shows the Puritan desire find God's will for their good deeds behavior, to prove the purpose of the holy through the chores of life. Winthrop's political creed is also basis on the motto of the Calvinist-based that is due to the "original sin", the people fall. He firmly believes that God finished the implementation of the law through the holy "Regent" in the New World. He believes that the almighty God is the most wise, and disposal arrangements of the human condition, some wealthy, some poverty, some prominent, some humble, but God is fair. This idea is reflected in his words “an example of the Christian fraternity”. Throughout the Winthrop’s work, we can see that he was the high integrity person, because his followers looked up him as the colonial Mose—the defenders and practice of orthodoxy.

Although the principles of Puritanism were against all forms of entertainment and literature has been largely negative attitude, the poetry has spared to some extent, because they believe that poetry can convey the will of God through its beautiful rhyme and rhythm. From publishing Anne Bradstreet Poems the Tenth Muse Lately Spring up in America in 1650, poetry of the colonial colonialism enriched gradually from the content and form. Bradstreet was the first colonial poet and also an authoritative advocator of the spirit of Puritanism. His poetry was influenced very obviously by the Bible. Some of her excellent works reflect Christian who was struggling in the wild environment, and finally aided by the spirit of Christ, to overcome the desire of the excessive pursuit of material life, to make the spirit of sublimate to a new realm of history. In her another words body and soul, Anne described the struggle each other between existing two sides of one person at the same time. She said that two sisters ethics, a value worldly wealth and vanity, called "flesh"; another but longing for spiritual sublimation to a higher level of "holy land" is called "soul". This poem reflects the ambivalence of Anne; also expressed her Religious belief when she was faced with the choice of material and contradictions. This idea was proved in Anne’s another poem "The Feelings after Our House Was B urn”. Anne's poetry described the theme of an important Puritan ideology, that is: God lead the way and divine spirit supports the colonists, they must be able to overcome any hardship, to build an ideal "realm of freedom".

New England the last one and the most talented defenders of Calvinism, is Jonathan Edwards, in many respects he is called the most distinguished American

Puritan. Edwards Colonial America's one of the most influential writers, is one of the greatest America's theologians. In 1727, he appointed to the well-known pastor of the Church of Northampton, Massachusetts. In Northampton, he tried to arouse the religious consciousness, and to teach believers should wholeheartedly rely on God, and to screen for the inne r perception of God's spirit. Edwards’whole life had left hundreds of sermons and lectures, as well as many important theological writings. His masterpiece, “Sinners in the Hands of The A nger God“become a classic sermon in the history of the United States. Arousing the sense of guilt of followers was the purpose of Edwards’ sermons, so let them fear God and devote for God. In another works “Personal Narrative", said: "I often meditate on the glory of God and the goodness of the Lord Jesus Christ, my feeling was sweet and joy. I think that God is the glory of cute ... God first authority, God freely gives grace ... people absolutely need to rely on the operation of the Holy Spirit, which for me is the glory, also is my great joy. I am most happy to in frond of God and worship him as the highest God and pray for his great mercy.” H is work is the recognition of God’s omnipresent, obedience to God, spiritually integrated with God, to gain inner joy and contentment. Compared with Edwards, Franklin was impacted on Puritan Ideology and Enlightenment at the same time. In his "Autobiography" he listed 13 such as diligence, frugality and temperance, and so on. These virtues are mostly preached the tenets of Puritanism. He is more concerned about the real world. Person should prove that they are God's chosen people through self-struggle, starting from scratch and create wealth. The image of Franklin on behalf of Americans is a concentrated expression of the "American dream". His works reflect the awakening spirit of the North American people of rising capitalism periods and the style of the time of the pursuant happy life.

Romantic of the early nineteenth century filled with continental Europe began to affect the United States. It advocates to focus on the spirit, to respect for individuals and to extol the natural, which combined with the North American Puritanism, so it have given rise to Transcendentalism which represents the highest stage of American romanticism. Ralph Emerson's "Nature" and Henry Thoreau’s "Walden" (or Life in the Woods) is the representatives of Transcendentalism. Under influence of Edwards, their works stressed the importance of the human spirit, people is sacred for feeling the existence of God, as well as eulogized the nature. Henry David Thoreau, in order to practice his own transcendent ideology spent more than two years of wild life, beside of Walden Lake. He sang the beauty of nature and the harmonious coexistence of man and nature, critical of the prevalent worship of money and materialism in the United States. He considered that people only in nature can find the true value of life.

5. Conclusion

English Puritans brought Puritanism to North America from the United Kingdom, and dominated with the particular circumstances of the Americas, New World, to become American Puritanism. Under the guidance of this spirit, the Puritans worked hard, kept making progress, and laid the prototype of the Americas. In American culture process, puritan theological thought infiltrated in the social life and literature art, and this art was interpreted and developed through the Literary Imagination.

Although the Puritan theological idea gradually fading in the long years of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the Puritans written texts with filled of religious in the period of colonization has played an indelible role in the history in the form of the basic idea of the Americans.

Bibliography:

1 Zhang Shimin, 2003(3). Puritan Literature and Their Significance [J], Social Scientists, pp.5-18

2 Zhu Shida, 2001, Contemporary American Culture [M] Social Sciences Academic Press, pp13-19

3 Zhang Chong, 2007，(1), New U.S. Literary History [M], Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press, pp83

4 James Bryce, 1891, The American Commonwealth, London, Macmillan vol. 2, p599

5 Max Weder, 1987, The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism [M], Guang Xi Momel University press, pp38, pp142

6 Rob, Horton, Herdert, Edwards, 1991, The Ideological background of U.S.Literary [M], People’s Literature Press, pp84, pp127

7 Sam Huntington, 2005, Who Are We?-The Challenges to America’s National Identity [M], Beijing, Xinhua Publishing House, pp86-88

8 Alexis de Tocqueville, 1945, Democracy in American, New, Vintage, vol, p32

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中文摘要

摘要：清教传统像一条红线规范了从殖民时代到如今的美国的政治文化与社会文化。清教思想对美国文学的发展和走向有着里程碑式的意义。一个民族文学的产生、发展和繁荣都要受到思想、文化、风俗、道德习惯及价值观念等方面的影响。美国文学从其萌芽状态起就受到清教思想的强烈影响。这种影响是极为深刻和广泛的，因而在研究美国文学的过程中是不容忽视的。通过对清教主义的起源及其理念、清教主义的特点和它对美国主流价值观的影响进行分析，论述清教思想对美国文学中的写作态度价值观，写作主题以及象征写作手法的影响，旨在从深层探究清教思想对美国文学的影响。

关键词：清教主义；价值观；文学；写作主题；象征手法