浅析红字中的象征主义手法

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浅谈《红字》中象征主义的用法

浅谈《红字》中象征手法的运用摘要：霍桑的《红字》自问世至今，一直受到广大读者和评论家的青睐。

小说充分体现了霍桑象征主义手法运用的高超技艺，本文对象征手法进行了剖析。

关键词：象征原罪红字A美国文艺复兴时期的著名作家霍桑，深受清教意识、超验哲学和神秘主义影响，他的代表作《红字》自问世至今，一直受到广大读者和评论家的青睐。

小说充分体现了霍桑象征主义手法运用的高超技艺，通过这一表现手法，他的行文摇曳多姿，引而不露，含而不发，耐人寻味。

一、在人物描写中运用象征手法小说中，霍桑在刻画人物时便赋予了他们深刻的寓意。

罗杰・奇林沃斯，这一邪恶的清教徒形象的最大特点是伪善和狠毒。

这个外表消瘦，畸形的老人在一个受人尊敬的“医生”的身份的伪装下，以治病抚伤为由，秘密地进行着复仇活动，一步步地偷窥，挖掘着人内心的秘密，慢慢地摧毁人的灵魂。

他为了满足自己的私欲，心安理得地将海丝特的青春占有，当发现自己妻子的背叛之后，为了报仇，他像一条毒蛇一样缠住狄梅斯迪尔不放，竭尽折磨狄梅斯迪尔的灵魂。

他虚伪地以“一个最可信赖的朋友”的面目出现，哄骗狄梅斯迪尔将“一切的恐怖、惭愧、痛苦、无效的悔恨、无法摆脱的内心谴责，都要对他和盘托出!”而他内心却是“绝无怜悯，绝无容赦!'”在海丝特与罗杰的谈话中，罗杰曾说：“我的手指只要对他一指，便会将他从他的讲坛弹到大牢里去，说不定还要上绞刑台呢!”这个阴险的小人自认为手中的强大力量正是当时教会的暴虐，严峻的统治。

珠儿是小说中极具神秘色彩的一个人物，她纯洁无邪，敏捷灵巧，却生来就要承受“恶魔之女”的罪名，她是性“罪过”的有形产物。

她的存在时时刻刻让人想起海丝特的“罪过”。

然而，珠儿对于海丝特而言，更是上帝对她莫大的恩赐。

珠儿是她美好爱情的结晶，代表着纯洁，她的名字象征着高贵。

因此，珠儿象征着海丝特承受罪过的极大勇气和激情。

二、红字A的象征意义霍桑对红字A的多种象征意义贯穿于全书中，赋予了它丰富多样的象征意义，从不同角度不同层次审视，出现不同或完全相反的象征意义。

论霍桑《红字》中的象征手法

论霍桑《红字》中的象征手法摘要：美国著名作家霍桑的《红字》被称为美国第一部象征主义小说，在这部优秀的作品中，作者运用了丰富的象征手法，深化了小说的主题，增强了作品的感染力以及表现力。

对于作者如何熟练地运用象征手法，值得我们深入探讨。

本文主要从红字“A”、场景、人物、人物名字、鲜花等方面，对象征手法的运用进行分析，旨在为相关研究者提供借鉴。

关键词：《红字》霍桑象征手法寓意霍桑是美国浪漫主义作家之一，其长篇小说《红字》发表于1850年。

1848年正好在纽约召开了美国第一届妇女权利大会，会上提出了男女平等、财产权等问题。

因此，这部长篇小说内容涉及婚外情以及激进的女性主义思想，大胆地挑战和颠覆了当时基督教的价值判断。

与此同时，霍桑《红字》中运用的象征手法，不仅对许多作家作品的创作产生了重要影响，同时还影响了现代派文学的象征主义。

此外，在现代作品创作过程中，对霍桑《红字》象征手法的分析进行探讨，对我国现代文学的发展具有重要的现实意义。

一、象征主义和象征手法概述象征主义一词源于希腊文，原意并不是指象征主义，几经演变以后，被引申为可以用某种观念或事物代表符号或者物品。

在文学界，“象征主义”这个名称第一次是出现在1886年诗人让·莫雷亚斯发表的《象征主义宣言》中，也标志着象征主义流派的产生。

实际上，象征主义在未被提出之前，许多作家在作品中就大量运用象征主义这种创作方法。

象征派主张创作作品不要直接、客观、如实地描写所见事实，而是通过利用特定形象，表达作者的精神世界以及观念。

19世纪末，英国发生了文学艺术活动，扩大了象征主义的影响，推动了20世纪美学的发展。

象征主义不仅被运用到文学界，还应用到戏剧、绘画等创作中。

在文学界，象征手法是创作的一种重要手法，主要是借助某种具体形象来表现思想情感。

在文学创作中，恰当地运用象征手法，可以使作品立意深远、主题深刻，给读者留下咀嚼回味的空间。

霍桑所创作的《红字》，大量运用了象征的手法，有比较明显的象征，也有许多隐晦的象征，其对象征手法的运用影响了《白鲸》的作者麦尔维尔、法国的波德莱尔，而且影响了一批美国卓有成就的作家，如海明威、菲兹杰拉德、福克纳等。

浅谈《红字》中的象征主义

浅谈《红字》中的象征主义摘要：《红字》表达人们想要远离清教主义和追求幸福生活的强烈意愿。

《红字》完美运用象征主义，增强了小说的艺术效果。

本文分析红字A的多种含义、四大主角的名字，以及文中出现的众多景物，研究这部小说的象征主义，帮助读者更好地理解象征主义。

关键词：《红字》象征主义清教主义艺术效果1.红字A的不同含义及象征意义的变化随着小说情节的发展，红字A被赋予了许多含义，这些意义的变化是很重要的，因为它们展示了人物的成长和道德的进步。

最初字母A被视为罪恶、通奸的象征，后来又被认为是孤独和疏远的象征，到小说最后，成为高尚、天使和崇拜的象征。

1.1 通奸（A for Adultery）由于海丝特与罗杰·齐灵渥斯通奸，她胸前被挂上了一个红字A，但这并不是唯一的惩罚，她还被迫游街，遭人围观唾弃。

这个字母象征着羞耻，使人视之如恶灵般避之不及。

海丝特鼓起一切勇气面对生活中的磨难和磨难，她并未像其他人一样离开波士顿，在另一个没有人知道她罪过的地方重新开始生活，她选择留下来，这显示了她的勇气和毅力。

1.2 孤独与疏离（A for Alone and Alienation）海丝特获释后，住在郊区的一间小屋里。

“它是由一位早期的定居者建造的，后来被遗弃了，因为周围的土壤太贫瘠，无法耕种，而相对偏远的地方却使它脱离了已经标志着移民习惯的社会活动的范围”（75）。

由于她的罪行，海丝特几乎没有社交生活，在某种程度上已经与世界疏远了。

人们讨厌海丝特，不愿与她接触。

显然，红字A象征着孤独和疏离。

1.3 能力、钦佩和天使（A for Ability，Admiration and Angel）随着时间的流逝，红字A逐渐转变为能力（Ability）、钦佩（Admiration）和天使（Angel）的象征。

那些因为海丝特的罪恶而责备她的人逐渐改变了对她的看法：“红字A代表着她精巧的针线活能力，以及她对急需帮助的人付出的爱心。

《红字》的象征手法探析

《红字》的象征手法探析冯荣刚（宝鸡市陈仓区坪头镇初级中学，陕西宝鸡，721301）摘要：纳撒尼尔·霍桑（1804-1864）是美国19世纪伟大的浪漫主义小说家，长篇小说《红字》是霍桑最杰出的代表作，也使霍桑誉满全球。

《红字》被誉为美国第一部象征主义小说，究其原因是丰富的象征手法在这部小说中的运用，这一艺术手法对美国小说的发展起了巨大的影响作用。

本文从红字的多种象征意义,主要人物的人名寓意以及景物寓意等方面入手，研究《红字》中的象征手法。

首先，象征的多义性在小说中通过红字象征意义变化完美的展现出来，它分别象征了爱与生命、罪恶、羞耻和惩罚。

其次，随着小说的发展,字母“A”的意义也在不断的变化，赋予小说其发展性，其分别象征了通奸、孤独、疏远、能干、受人尊敬、天使等特征。

此外，小说从情节、细节、人物到背景，甚至动作，都无一例外地把丰富的象征内涵演绎到极致，这正是象征手法在小说中表现的另外一个特点，即系统性。

总之，作品中的象征手法贯穿始终、无处不在，加强了作品的艺术效果，也使《红字》在世界文学经典中赢得广泛声誉。

关键词：《红字》; 象征; 多重涵义性; 发展性; 系统性Analysis of the Symbolism in The Scarlet LetterAbstract: Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864) is one of the greatest romantic novelists in the 19th century of America. The novel The Scarlet Letter is his best repetitive work, which made him known all over the world. The Scarlet Letter is regarded as the first symbolism novel in the American literature because of the colorful symbols used in it, and this writing technique greatly influenced the development of the American literature.This paper analyzes the symbolism of The Scarlet Letter on the multi-conotational feature, the symbolic meaning of the four major characters‟ names and the symbolic meanings of the objects that are described in the novel. Firstly, the multi-conotational feature is perfectly shown by the scarlet letter “A”, which symbolizes love and life, crime, shame and punishment. Secondly, with the development of the novel, the symbolic meanings of the letter “A”also change constantly, which symbolizes adultery, alone and alienation, able, admirable, and angle, and some other special characteristics. In addition, from matters, details, characters to backgrounds or even actions, they are all, without any exception, possessed of symbolic meanings, which is the other feature of the symbolism used in this novel, i.e. the systematic feature.In conclusion，the symbolic writing techniques in this novel is everywhere and run through the whole novel, which strength it‟s art istic effect, and makes The Scarlet Letter win the reputation of world classic.Key Words: The Scarlet Letter; Symbolism; Multi-connotation; Development;SystematizationTable of Contents1. Introduction (1)2. The symbolic meanings of the Scarlet Letter “A” (1)2.1 Multi-connotation of symbolism (1)2.1.1 Love and l ife (1)2.1.2 Crime, shame and p unishment (1)2.2 Development of the the symbolic meanings of l etter “A” (2)2.2.1 Adultery (2)2.2.2 Alone and alienatio n (3)2.2.3 Able, admirable and a ngel (3)3. The Systematization of the Symbolism (4)3.1 The symbolic meanings of the four major c haracters‟n ames (4)3.1.1 Hester Prynne (4)3.1.2 Arthur Dimmes dale (5)3.1.3 Roger Chillingworth (6)3.1.4 Pearl (7)3.2 The symbolic meanings of the o bjects (9)3.2.1 Prison (9)3.2.2 Rosebush (10)3.2.3 Forest (11)3.2.4 S caffold (11)3.2.5 Light and darkness (12)4. Conclusion (13)Works Cited (14)1. IntroductionThe Scarlet Letter is recognized as Hawthorne‟s masterpiece and the most prestigious romantic novel of the in American literature. (Mao 162) In The Scarlet Letter, there are many artistic features which not only describe the fantastic romantic atmosphere, but also depict the delicate psychological activity. However, the most distinctive feature of the novel is the widely and extensively used symbolism and that is why The Scarlet Letter is regarded as the first novel of symbolism in American literature.In World Book Dictionary, a symbol is defined as something that stands for or represents something else, especially an idea, quality, or condition. Symbols can be objects, characters, figures, or colors used to represent ideas or concepts (532). As for symbolism, different critics and poets have different definition on it. French poet Mallarme said: “Symbolism is to imply the object little by little, for the performance of a state of mind” (Gong 56). Famous critic Nan Fan said: “Symbolism is to perform the specific image particularly or imply some sort of concept, philosophy or emotion” (Wu 1).Symbolism does not describe objects directly and simply, so it arouses reader‟s emotion by metaphors, and it is often with ambiguity and uncertainty, which gives ordinary things great artistic power. In The Scarlet Letter，Hawthorne express this kind of power successfully. This paper analyzes its artistic power of symbolism in its multi-connotation, development and systematization.2.The Symbolic Meanings of the Scarlet Letter “A”2.1 Multi-connotation of symbolism2.1.1 Love and lifeRed is the symbol of life and love, in the novel, red symbolizes purity, beauty, warm love between Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale, normal family and social life are based on them. In any healthy society, it is celebrated. However, inthe grim Puritanism society, the truth is often treated as a fallacy, human nature has been distorted, and a symbol of love's fire, the source of life, and the color, red is treated as a symbol of shame in the society.2.1.2 Crime, shame and punishment“In accordance with strict Puritan moral laws, the woman Hester Prynne is sentenced to an unusual punishment for her sin of adultery. She is hence forth to wear the letter “A”embroidered on her dress over her bosom as a permanent badge of shame. (Fred 88) This is the puritan way of treating her as a criminal, for the crime of adultery. The puritan treatment continues, because as Hester walks through the streets, she will be looked down upon as if she is some sort of demon from hell that commits a terrible crime. This letter is meant to be worn in shame, and to make Hester feel unwanted. “Here, she said to herself, had been the scene of her guilt, and here should be the scene of her earthly punishment…”(Hawthorne 74)2.2 Development of the l etter “A”In this novel, the scarlet letter “A”changes its meaning at many different times. As the development of the plots, the letter “A” is continuously endowed with new meanings, showing a dynamic “A”.Hawthorne did not clearly and directly tells the readers what the letter means, because it alters with the plots, settings and characters (Zhu 89). This change is significant. It shows growth in the characters, and the community in which they live. The letter “A” begins as adultery, a symbol of sin. It then becomes a symbol of alone and alienation, and finally it becomes a symbol of able, angel and admirable.2.2.1 AdulteryThe letter “A”, worn on Hester's bosom, is a symbol of her adultery against Roger Chillingworth. Hester is ashamed of her sin, but she chooses not to show it. She commits this sin in the heart of passion, and fully admits it, though she isashamed. She is a very strong woman to be able to hold up so well against what she must face. Many will have fled Boston, and seek a place where no one knows of her great sin. Hester chooses to stay though, which shows a lot of strength and integrity. Any woman with enough nerve to hold up against a town, which despises her very existence, and to stay in a place where her daughter is referred to as a devil child, either has some sort of psychological problem, or is a very tough woman.2.2.2 Alone and alienationThe scarlet letter “A” also stands for Hester‟s lonely life in New England. After she is released, Hester lives in a cottage ne ar the outskirts of the city. “It had been built by an earlier settler, and abandoned, because the soil about it was too sterile for cultivation, while its comparative remoteness put it out of the sphere of that social activity which already marked the habits of the emigrants” (Hawthorne 75). Hester‟s social life is virtually eliminated as a result of her shameful history. Hester comes to have a part to perform in the world with her native energy of character and rare capacity. However, there was nothing that made her feel as if she belonged to it. Every gesture, every word, and even the silence of those with whom she came to contact, implied, and often expressed, that she was banished, and as much alone as if she inhabited another sphere, or communicated with the common nature by other organs and senses than the rest of human kind. “She stood apart from moral interests… seemed to be the sole portion that she r etained in the universal heart.”(Hawthorne 78) Hester has no friends in the world, and little Pearl is the only companion of her lonely life, so the scarlet letter “A” also is a symbol of the words “alone” and “alienate”.2.2.3 Able, admirable and angelLater, the scarlet letter “A” changes its mea ning into being able, angel and admirable. The townspeople who condemned her now believe the scarlet letter to stand for her ability to her beautiful needlework and for her unselfish assistanceto the poor and sick. “The letter was the symbol of her calling. Such helpfulness is found in her so much power to do and power to sympathize—that many people refuses to interpret the scarlet letter …A‟ by its original signification.” (Hawthorne 148) At this point, a lot of the townspeople realize what a noble character Hester possesses. “Do you see that woman with the embroidered badge? It is our Hester —the town‟s own Hester—who is so kind to the poor, so helpful to the sick, so comforting to the afflicted!”(Hawthorne 149) The townspeople soon begin to believe that the badge served to ward off evil, and Hester grows to be quite admirable amongst the people of the town. Hester overcomes the shame of her sin through the purity and goodness of her soul. Unselfishly offering her time and love to those who need her most proves that she is not worthy of the fate which has been dealt to her.The three changes in the scarlet letter are significant; they show the progressive possession of her sin, her lonely life, and her ability. Hester is a strong admirable woman who goes through more emotional torture that most people go through in their lifetime.3. The Systematization of the Symbolism3.1 The symbolic meaning of the four major c haracters’ names3.1.1 Hester PrynneHester Prynne is one of the major characters in The Scarlet Letter.The writer gives her much symbolic meaning by giving her this name. Hester sounds this gives us like Hes ter, Zeus‟ sister in Greek mythology, who is a very beautiful goddess. a sense that Hester is a passionate beautiful woman. In this novel, she is the symbol of the truth, the goodness and the beauty. Nathaniel Hawthorne describes her in Chap ter Two like this: “The young woman was tall, a figure of perfect elegance on a large scale, she had dark and abundant hair, so glossy that it threw off the sunshine with a gleam, and a face which, besides being beautiful from regularity of feature and richness of complexion, had the impressivenessbelonging to a m arked brow and deep black eyes…” (Hawthorne 50) Also, Hester is the homophone of the word haste. At first, she gets married to Roger Chillingworth, an ugly man who gives his best years to feed the hungry dream of knowledge. Not having got the news about her husband who should have arrived by ship from England, she falls love with Arthur hastily and gives birth to Pearl, for which she is condemned to wear on the breast of her gown the scarlet letter “A”, which stands for adultery. But Hester‟s adultery haste is nothing but a very natural thing to do.Also, Hawthorne uses the homophone of prurient, as her family name, which indicates the root of her sins. Hester Prynne is the symbol of love, and her desire stands for the evil aspects in human nature.3.1.2 Arthur DimmesdaleArthur Dimmesdale is a well-regarded young minister, whose initials are AD, which also stands for adultery. The author obviously tells us Author Dimmesdale is the partner in sin of Hester Prynne by giving him this name. The word Dimmesdale also has many symbolic meanings. Dim means dark and weak, and dale means valley, so the dimdale here is actually a symbol of the “dim-interior” of the clergyman. He loves Hester deeply, and he is the father of Pearl, but he can only show his passion for her in the forest or in darkness. His response to the sin is to lie. He stands before Hester and the rest of the town and proceeds to give a moving speech about how it would be in he r and the father‟s best interest for her to reveal the father's name. Though he never actually says that he is not the other partner, he implies it by talking of the father in third person. Such as, “If tho u feelest it to be for thy soul‟s peace, and that thy earthly punishment will thereby be made more effectual to salvation, I charge thee to speak out the name of thy fellow-sinner and fellow-sufferer” (Hawthorne 63). He concedes his guilt for seven years, at the same time; he is tortured by his sin for so many years. He punishes himself by believing that he can never be redeemed. He feels that he will never been seen the same in the eyes of God, and that noamount of penit ence can ever return him to God‟s good graces. He hates his hypocrisy to sin, but dares not tell the truth that he is the fellow-sinner of Hester. When he finally decides to expose the truth and tell his followers of how he deceives them, his fixation on his sin has utterly corroded him to the point of death. The only good that comes out of conceding his guilt is that he passes away without any secrets, for he is already too far gone to be able to be saved. At the end of the story, the writer put the morals which press upon the readers from the poor minister‟s miserable experience into one sentence, “Be true! Be true! Be true! Show freely to the world, if not your worst, yet some trait whereby the worst may be inferred!” (Hawthorne 236)3.1.3 Roger ChillingworthRoger Chilling worth, like all of Hawthorne‟s main characters, is complex and d ifficult to see through. The words “chilling” and “worth” compose the surname Chillingworth. Chilling comes from the word “chilly”, which means this man is a merciless avenger. He is calm in temperament, kindly, but keeps evil intentions. It is he that has destroyed Hester's flower like youth, and indirectly leads to Hester‟s tragedy. After he discovers that his wife bore another man‟s child, Roger gives up his independence. He used to be a scholar, who dedicates his best years to feed the hungry dream of knowledge, “but his new allegiance becomes finding and slowly punishing the man who seduces his wife. For seven y ears, he digs into the minister‟s heart with keen pleasure. He searches the minister‟s thoughts; he causes the poor minister to die daily a livi ng death. He searches into the minister‟s dim interior for a long time, and turns over many precious a tread, and as wary an outlook, as a thief entering a chamber where a man lies only half asleep, or if it may be, broad awake, with purpose to steal the very treasure which this man g uards as the apple of his eyes” (Hawthorne 119) When he fi nally found the scarlet letter “A”on the bosom of the minister, he busted out a ghastly rapture. When he does these, he is turning from a victim to a sinner. Chillingworth is also means t hat the avenger‟s life is worthless. When hefinds his wife betrays him, he dedicates all his time to seeking revenge. He gives up his identity, living with the minister and being by his side all day, every day. His largest sacrifice is by far, his own life. After spending so much time dwelling on his revenge, Chillingworth forgets that he still has a change to lead a life of his own. So after Dimmesdale reveals his secret to the world. “ All his strength and energy—all his vital and intellectual force—seemed at once to desert him; in so much that he positively withered up, shriveled away, and almost varied from mortal sight, like an uprooted wee d that lies wilting in the sun.”(Hawthorne 236) Chillingworth dies less that a year later because he has nothing left to live for. The poor forlorn creature is more wretched than his victim is.3.1.4 PearlPearl is one of the most complex and misunderstood symbols in the book, the daughter of Hester Prynne. Pearl, throughout the story, develops into a dynamic symbol—one that is always changing. Pearl was a source of many different kinds of symbolism. From a living scarlet letter to a valuable thing with high price, then to be the moral in this novel, she was a kind of burden, yet love for Hester.The most significant symbolic meaning of Pearl in the novel is her association with the scarlet letter “A”. When Hester stood fully revealed before the crowd, it is her first impulse to clasp Pearl closely to her bosom; “not so much by an impulse of motherly affection, as that she might thereby conceal a certain token, which was wrou ght or fastened into her dress.”(Hawthorne 50) “In a moment, however, wisely judging that one token of her shame would but poorly serve to hide another, she took the baby on her a rm…”(Hawthorne50) Hester embroidered the scarlet letter with gold thread fantastically, and she had allowed the gorgeous tendencies of her imagination their full playing contriving Pearl's g arb. “And, indeed, of the child‟s whole appearance, that it irresistibly reminded the beholder of the token which Hester Prynne was doomed to wear upon her bosom.”(Hawthorne 93) Pearl really was the scarlet letter, the scarlet letter inanother form; the scarlet letter endowed with life.Pearl is a girl of rich and luxu riant beauty. “There was fire in her and throughout her; she seemed the unpremeditated offshoot of a passionate moment.”(Hawthorne 93) The Bible says, “the kingdom of heaven is like merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it”(Matthew 13-14). Hester named the infant “pear l”, as being of great price—purchased with all she had, her only treasure!Pearl also serves as moral in this novel, the moral she is meant to teach is that Hester and Dimmesdale should fully commits their sin and then take responsibility for their sin. The first thing Pearl see in her infancy is the scarlet letter on her mother‟s bosom. As a baby, she even reaches up and touches the letter, causing her mother intense agony at the shame it generated in her. Later, she plays a game when she throws flowers at her mother and jumps around in glee every time, she hits the scarlet letter. She also makes her own letter “A” to wear. When she finds Hester removes the scarlet letter from her chest in the forest, Pearl starts screaming and convulsing and refuses to cross the stream until Hester reattaches the letter. She is really a constant mental and physical reminder to Hester of what she has done wrong. With Pearl at her side, Hester will never escape the punishment of her wrong deed.Moreover, Pearl is the person who eventually makes Dimmesdale admits his crime. She constantly asks why the minister keeps putting his hand over his heart, and figures out that it is for the same reason that her mother wears the scarlet letter. Meanwhile, Pearl‟s stand of urging the minister to commit his sin is firm. When Dimmesdale stands on the scaffold where Hester suffered her public humiliation several years before, he meets Hester and Pearl, who have been at Governor Winthrop‟s deathbed, taking measurements for a robe. He invites them to join him on the stand. When all three hold hands, Pearl asks Dimmesdale, “Wilt thou stand here with mother and me, tomorrow noontide?”(Hawthorne 140) Dimmesdale answers, “Not so, my child, I shall, indeed, stand with thy mother and thee, one other day, but not tomorrow.”(Hawthorne 141) Pearl laughs andattempts to pull away her hand until the minister promises to take her hand and her mother‟s hand at “the great judgment day”. When they later meet in the forest, Hester says to Pearl, “He loves thee, my little Pearl, and loves thy mother too. Wilt thou love him?” Pearl says, “Doth he love us?” then asks, “Wilt he go back with us, and hand in hand, we three tog ether, into the town?” The answer is “not now”. So when Dimmesdale impresses a kiss on her brow before they leave the forest, “Pearl broke away from her mother, and, running to the brook, stooped over it, and bathed her forehead, until the unwelcome kiss was quite washed off …” (Hawthrone 194) At the end of the novel, when the minister climbs up the scaffold with the help of Hester and Pearl, confessing his sin to his followers, Pearl kisses his lips. She accepts her father finally. Pearl‟s role as the livi ng scarlet letter is over, and Dimmesdale, who finally takes responsibility for his sin, has learned the moral, which she is meant to teach.3.2 The symbolic meanings of the objects3.2.1 PrisonThe description of the prison indicates that it is old, rusted, yet strong with an iron-clamped oaken door. This represents the rigorous enforcement of laws and the inability to break free of them. The prison also serves as the symbol of the authority of the regime, which will not tolerate deviance.The opening chapter introduces several of the images and the themes within the story to follow. “ The founders of a new colony, whatever Utopia of human virtue and happiness they might originally project, have invariably recognized it among their earliest practical necessities to allot a portion of the virgin soil as a cemetery, and another portion as the site of a prison.”(Hawthorne 45) The prison represents several different symbols. Foremost it is a symbol for the Puritanical severity of law. Hawthorne directly challenges this notion by throwing the name Ann Hutchinson into the opening pages. Hutchinson was a religious woman who disagreed with the Puritanical teachings, and as a result was imprisoned in Boston. Hawthorne claims that it is possible the beautiful rosebushgrowing directly at the prison door sprang from her footsteps. “But, on one side of the portal, and rooted almost at the threshold, was a wild rose-bush, covered, in this month of June, with its delicate gems, which might be imagined to offer their fragrance and fragile beauty to the prisoner as he went in, and to the condemned criminal as the came forth to his doom, in token that the deep heart if Nature could pity and be kind to him.”(Hawthorne 46) This implies that the Puritanical authoritarianism may be too rigid, to the point of obliterating things of beauty. In the deep, dark portions of the forest, many of the pivotal characters bring forth hidden thoughts and emotions. The forest track leads away from the settlement out into the wilderness where all sign mandates of law and religion, to a refuge where men, as well as women, can open up and be themselves. It is here that Dimmesdale openly acknowledges Hester and his undying love for her. It is also here that the two of them can openly engage in conversation without being preoccupied with the constraints that Puritan society place3.2.2 RosebushThe narrator of The Scarlet Letter chooses to begin his story with the image of rosebushes next to the prison door. The rosebush symbolizes the ability of nature to endure and outlast man's activities. “This rosebush, by a strange chance, has been kept alive in history; but whether it had merely survived out of stern old wilderness, so long after the fall of the gigantic pines and oaks that originally overshadowed it—or whether, as there is fair authority for believing, it had sprung up under the footsteps of the sainted Ann Hutchinson, as she entered the prison doo r—we shoul d not take upon us to determine”(Hawthorne 42). The narrator mentions vary significance to the rosebush, never admitting or denying them.The rose bush is a symbol of passion. As will later become obvious, Hester Prynne‟s sin is one of passion, thus linking her crime to the image of the rosebush. Hawthorne also indirectly compares Hester with Ann Hutchinson via the rosebush, and again makes the same parallel in Chapter 13, another view ofHester. Hawthorne cleverly links the rosebush to the wilderness surrounding Boston, commenting that the bush may be a remnant of the former forest, which covered the area. This is important, because it is only in the forest wilderness where the Puritans‟ laws fail to have any force. Thus the image of the rosebush serves to foreshadow that some of the passionate wilderness, in the form of Hester Prynne, may have accidentally made its way into Boston. The rosebush in full bloom indicates that Hester is at the peak of her passion. This parallels the fact that Hester has just born a child as a result of her passion. The child is thus comparable to the blossoms o n the rosebush. Hawthorn‟s comment that the rose may serve as a “moral blossom” in the story is therefore actually saying that Hester‟s child will serve to provide the moral of the story.3.2.3 ForestAfter Hester is released from prison, she finds a cottage in the woods, near the outskirts of the city. Her choice of habitation is crucial to the symbolism within the novel. The forest represents love, or the wilderness where the strict morals of the Puritan community cannot apply. Thus, when Hester makes her home on the outskirts of the city, directly on the edge of the woods, she is putting herself in a place of limbo between the moral and the immoral universes. This is important because it shows that Hester does not live under the strict Puritanical moral code, but rather tries to live in both worlds simultaneously. Hawthorne uses the forest to provide a kind of shelter for members of society in need of a refuge from daily Puritan life.3.2.4 ScaffoldThe scaffold is a place of public condemnation for Hester Prynne. Whenever the scaffold is mentioned, it signifies ignominy and alludes back to the sin of adultery. Walking in the shadow of a dream, as it were, and perhaps actually under the influence of a species of somnambulism, Mr. Dimmesdale reached the spot where, now so long since, Hester Prynne had lived through her first hours ofpublic ignominy. The same platform or scaffold, black and weather-stained with the storm or sunshine of seven long years, and foot-worn, too, with the tread of many culprits who had since ascended it, remained standing beneath the balcony of the meeting house.3.2.5 Light and darknessPuritan severity toward sex and matrimony and its tendency is to suppress bright color and true felling. (Chang 75) The novel is filled with light and darkness symbols because it represents the most common battle of all time, good versus evil. When Hester and her daughter are walking in the forest, Pearl exclaims: “Mother, the sunshine does not love you. It runs away and hides itself, because it is afraid of something on you bosom. Now see! There it is, playing a good way off. Stand you here, and let me run and catch it. I am but a child. It will not flee from me, for I wear nothing on my bosom yet.” (Hawthorne 168) Hester tries to stretch her hand into the circle of light, but the sunshine vanishes. She then suggests that they go into the forest and have rest. This short scene actually represents Hester's daily struggle in life. The light represents what Hester wants to be, which is pure. The movement of the light represents Hester's constant denial of acceptance. Hester's lack of surprise and quick suggestion to go into the forest, where is dark, shows that she never expected to be admitted and is resigned to her station in life. Another way light and darkness is used in symbolism is in the way Hester and Dimmes dale‟s plan to escape is doomed. Hester and Dimmesdale meet in the shadows of the forest with a gloomy sky and a threatening storm overhead when they discuss their plans for the future. The gloomy weather and shadows exemplify the fact that they can't get away from the repressive force of their sins. It is later proven when Dimmesdale dies on the scaffold! Instead of leaving with Hester and going to England. A final example occurs in the way Hester and Dimmesdale can not acknowledge their love in front of others. When they meet in the woods, they feel that, “No golden light had ever been as precious as the gloom of this dark forest.”(Hawthorne 199) This emotion foretells that they will never last together openly because their sin has separated them too much from normal life.。

浅谈小说《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。

浅谈《红字》中的人物分析及象征意义

浅谈《红字》中的人物分析及象征意义摘要：《红字》是美国19 世纪浪漫主义文学时期两大文坛巨匠之一的纳撒尼尔.霍桑的代表作之一，它被认为是美国第一部象征主义的小说，霍桑在该作品中大量地运用了象征主义写作手法，极大地提升了作品的文学性和艺术性。

与此同时，将美国的浪漫主义文，手法和美国清教道德理念相结合，具有一定的说教色彩，注重道德关注，该书以殖民地时期残酷的宗教统治为背景，反映了当时社会对女性的压迫，突出展现人在追求幸福中的强大动力，揭露当时社会的残酷法律条例，以及条例对人的精神摧残。

关键词：《红字》象征主义；海斯特.白兰；丁梅斯代尔；齐灵渥斯《红字》红字一书主要描述了英国的一位年老的，丑陋的医生齐灵渥斯送自己年轻、美丽的妻子海斯特.白兰到一个新的地方去波士顿建立美丽的家园。

在海斯特.白兰在遵循丈夫的嘱托建立美丽家园时，惊闻自己的丈夫齐灵渥斯已经死亡。

在这块她相对陌生的土地上，她遇见了年轻有为的、帅气的牧师。

在孤独中海斯特.白兰和牧师丁梅斯代尔相恋，并且生下了女儿珠儿，白兰被当众惩罚，拒绝说出珠儿的亲生父亲，戴上了标志通奸的字母“A”。

一、字母A 的象征该篇小说描述的不是海斯特.白兰犯罪堕落的过程，也不是众多戴着有色眼镜看她的人，而是描述海斯特.白兰勇敢地极力地默默地、无偿地资助他人。

随着时间的流逝，“A”不再是一个固定的符号，它的意义出现了改变。

“A”，最早代表Adultery，意思是犯罪，耻辱和堕落，是海斯特被人们认为堕落和不贞的象征，是对海兰通奸罪的表面认定；之后“A”代表Able，意为能力，有相应的能力，或者相应的才能；之后“A”代表Angle，象征着天使。

“A”的意义的变化，标志着一个女孩如何成熟的过程。

当然也有部分学者认为“A”有其他的含义，如原罪的符号，亚当之罪；也有学者把A 当作美国的象征，美国早期的清教徒迫于生计，漂洋过海来到美国。

“A”字的变化就表现的是美国的成长。

亚瑟.丁梅斯代尔，珠儿的父亲，同时也是众人眼中最年轻有为、最具有说服力、最具有演讲力的牧师。

《红字》中象征主义手法的运用分析

《红字》中象征主义手法的运用分析
《红字》是中国著名诗人李清照的一首词，以赤字无助地被抛弃为主题。

文中，作者利用象征手法，来讽刺那些贪财无度的奢侈之人，又把人性的短处暴露于众。

一、写实主义手法：文中写出被抛弃的“红字”，这个“红字”本来可以象征情书或者爱国热情，但作者写出却是“穷苦人家”把它当成“士多啤梨”来供养家。

这种写实之作，与抛弃的“红字”的象征性有较大的矛盾，深刻地揭示了当今人性的贪婪情绪，即“以物易物”，无情地把破烂衣服等“红字”卖给乞丐。

二、山水象征法：李清照在词中穿插山水景象，以打动读者的情感。

他提到巴陵“泻入清溪，晴天变月”，仿佛山水在夕阳的余辉中，却隐含着那些被抛弃的“红字”的无奈与悲凉，他又写道“未到桃花谷，却自芦苇林”，象征被抛弃的“红字”早早的失去了属于自己的求爱之情，已经永远不能靠近桃花谷之处。

三、寓言手法：寓言手法在词中运用较多，作者用离奇的象征与拟人化，让读者比较容易理解作者所暗示的人性本质之薄弱。

“闲花重叠，求爱不择”，把“红字”的求爱喻成闲花的落叶，说明当年原本有多緿荣的爱情，但是被他人贪恋，结果只有夹杂着哀凉的“红字”抛弃于门前。

“一旦随风去，何日复归？”，把“红字”喻成飘动的“风”，暗示着那些因贪念而失去了的感情，是永远也不能挽回的。

通过《红字》这首词，李清照利用着象征主义手法，深刻地揭示了贪心和无情的人性本质，又让人们深深地反省自己的一些不正确的行为。

《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。

浅析《红字》中地点的象征意义

浅析《红字》中地点的象征意义每一个时期的文章都有它独特的文学特点。

19世纪的美国文化观、道德观、宗教观多继承了西方传统的观念模式。

作为生活在这一时代的美国浪漫主义的小说家,霍桑在作品中采用了象征手法,尤其是对地点描写,揭示了文章的主题,同时为主人公提供了表达思想的空间。

一、监狱监狱这个场景在小说中曾多次出现,也可以说小说是以监狱开篇, 它揭露了《红字》主题之一,即人人心中皆有的“恶”。

在小说的一开始就有这样一段话:“新殖民地的创建者们, 无论他们当初如何计划着人类品德和幸福的乌托邦,一定会从最初的需要出发,划出一块处女地作为墓地;另一块修建监狱。

”监狱在小说中拥有多层含义。

首先,这一株文明社会的黑花, 它是罪恶的滋生地,象征了文明生活中对犯罪的惩罚:海丝特在这里接受对她的惩罚,接着齐灵渥斯在监狱里与海丝特碰面开始了他的阴谋。

监狱的牢门锈痕斑斑看上去比新大陆的任何陈迹都古老,和其他与罪恶相关的事物一样,监狱也似乎从不曾经历过自己的青春韶华。

这代表着法律的严酷制度对人物自由的限制,压抑人性的迸发。

再者,监狱也是孤独和疏远的标志,预示着海丝特摆脱限制之后的生活将会是充满孤独。

她被放逐到社会的边缘地区,孤苦伶仃遭到他人的疏远。

二、刑台刑台也是故事发展中的一个具有象征意义且至关重要的场景。

刑台本是处决犯人的地方,是清教社会残酷法典的象征;它是罪人公开认罪之处,象征了对罪恶的惩罚。

刑台是串起整部小说的重要线索,它总共出现了三次,分别在小说的开头、中间和结尾。

第一次出现是在第二章,海丝特胸前佩戴红字A被押上刑台示众。

在这里海丝特受到示众惩罚,从这一天她将被波士顿的居民排斥。

海丝特孤独地站在刑台上开始了她痛苦的生活,与此同时小说也拉开了序幕。

刑台第二次出现是在小说的第十章。

丁梅斯代尔由于内心的痛苦,夜游似地来到了刑台忏悔自己的罪恶。

他虽然没有像海丝特那样在刑台上受到公开惩罚,但也默默接受它对自己心灵的鞭笞。

刑台第三次出现是在小说结尾,丁梅斯代尔在作完布道以后,走上刑台,坦白罪过,接受公开的惩罚。

An Analysis of Symbolism in The Scarlet Letter 浅析《红字》中象征主义手法的运用

本科生毕业论文An Analysis of Symbolism in TheScarlet Letter浅析《红字》中象征主义手法的运用姓名学号专业指导教师An Analysis of Symbolism in The Scarlet LetterA Thesis Submitted toForeign Languages Department ofHenan University of Economics and Law inPartial Fulfillment of the Requirements for theDegree of Bachelor of ArtsByXXXSupervisor: XXXMay 30, 2011毕业论文开题报告AbstractNathaniel Hawthorne is a great romantic novelist in America in the 19th century. As a great romantic novelist, Hawthorne is outstanding in handling application of symbolism.The Scarlet Letter is Hawthorne’s most important symbolic novel, which is the best work of Hawthorne and one of the indubitable masterpieces of American Literature. And it is this novel that makes Nathaniel Hawthorne known all around the world. In this work, Hawthorne uses the symbolism so skillfully that it enhances the artistic effects of his work greatly. In The Scarlet Letter, symbolism runs through the whole novel. The most important symbol is the scarlet letter itself. Not only does ―A‖ manifest in various forms, but also it has changing meanings from ―adultery‖ to ―able‖, even ―a nge lic‖ in the novel. Besides, the name of the four major characters in the novel: Hester Prynne, Arthur Dimmesdale, Roger Chillingworth and Pearl also have their own symbolic meanings. Some other objects and natural surroundings that are described in the novel such as the jail, the forest, the rose bush and so on are all endowed with a deep symbolic significance. The author of the thesis will explore the usage of symbolism in The Scarlet Letter from the three aspects mentioned above and analyze Hawthorne’s sk illful use of symbolism in The Scarlet Letter.Key Words: the scarlet letter；symbolism；Hester Prynne；Pearl摘要纳撒尼尔·霍桑是十九世纪美国伟大的浪漫主义小说家。

论《红字》中象征主义手法的运用

论《红字》中象征主义手法的运用摘要：I.引言- 介绍《红字》- 简要说明文章的主题II.象征主义手法的定义和特点- 解释象征主义- 描述象征主义手法的特点III.《红字》中象征主义手法的具体运用- 分析《红字》中的象征元素- 解释这些象征元素在小说中的意义IV.象征主义手法在小说中的作用- 讨论象征主义手法如何增强小说的主题和表达力- 分析象征主义手法如何影响读者对小说的理解V.结论- 总结文章的主要观点- 提出对《红字》中象征主义手法的评价正文：I.引言《红字》是美国著名作家纳撒尼尔·霍桑的代表作之一，也是美国文学史上的一部经典之作。

小说以十七世纪晚期的美国为背景，讲述了一个关于罪恶、惩罚和救赎的故事。

在这部小说中，霍桑巧妙地运用了象征主义手法，使得小说的主题和表达力更加深刻。

本文将从象征主义手法的定义和特点出发，详细分析《红字》中象征主义手法的具体运用，以及这些手法在小说中的作用。

II.象征主义手法的定义和特点象征主义是一种文学手法，它通过使用具有象征意义的符号、形象或意象来表达作家的思想、情感和主题。

这些象征元素可以是任何事物，如动物、植物、数字、颜色、形状等。

象征主义手法的特点是含蓄、隐喻和具有多重意义，这使得作品具有更丰富的内涵和更强烈的表现力。

III.《红字》中象征主义手法的具体运用在《红字》中，霍桑运用了许多象征主义手法。

其中最著名的是“红字”，它象征着主人公海丝特·白兰的罪行——通奸。

红字被霍桑赋予了深刻的象征意义，它代表了海丝特的内心痛苦、社会压力和道德谴责。

此外，红字还具有时间、空间和命运的象征意义，展示了罪恶对人的一生的影响。

除了红字之外，《红字》中还有许多其他的象征元素。

例如，小说中的森林象征着自然和神秘的力量，而丁梅斯代尔牧师的书房则象征着知识和理智。

这些象征元素使得小说具有丰富的内涵和多层次的意义。

IV.象征主义手法在小说中的作用象征主义手法在《红字》中起到了增强主题和表达力的作用。

论霍桑《红字》中象征手法的运用

论霍桑《红字》中象征手法的运用摘要：纳撒尼尔?霍桑Nathaniel Hawthorne是美国19世纪伟大的浪漫主义小说家，长篇小说《红字》The Scarlet Letter是霍桑最杰出的作品。

《红字》被称为美国第一部象征主义的小说，它以深邃的主题、出色的艺术手法形成了自己独特的风格。

本文旨在通过分析红字“A”、海丝特?白兰、亚瑟?丁梅斯代尔、罗杰?齐灵渥斯和珠儿等四个主要人物和几个具体场景描写的象征意义来探究霍桑《红字》中象征手法的运用。

关键词：霍桑；《红字》；象征手法；红字“A”；人物；场景霍桑的《红字》是19世纪美国杰出的浪漫主义小说，它以17世纪中叶清教统治下的波士顿为背景，围绕海丝特?白兰Hester Prynne、亚瑟?丁梅斯代尔Arthur Dimmesdale、罗杰?齐灵渥斯Roger Chillingworth和珠儿Pearl等四个主要人物的善恶、爱恨、惩罚与报复展开，同时揭露了19世纪资本主义发展时代美国社会法典的残酷、宗教的欺骗和道德的虚伪。

故事讲述女主人公海丝特和丈夫齐灵渥斯从英国移居尚属其殖民地的美国波士顿，途中齐灵渥斯被印第安人俘虏，海丝特只好只身一人来到波士顿，在孤独中她和年轻英俊、学识渊博的牧师丁梅斯代尔相恋并生下一女珠儿，此事被当地的清教徒视为耻辱，他们把海丝特抓起来投进监狱，游街示众，并威胁她戴上象征耻辱的红色“A”字。

失踪的齐灵渥斯回来后，认为海丝特是他的耻辱，发誓报复海丝特和丁梅斯代尔，他在身体和精神上折磨他，并以此为生活的目的。

丁梅斯代尔最终承受不了精神上的痛苦和折磨坦白了自己的罪过，心力交瘁地死在了海丝特的怀中。

一年后，齐灵渥斯也郁郁而终，之后海丝特带着珠儿离开波士顿。

若干年后，珠儿结婚，海丝特一人回到波士顿，始终佩戴着红色“A”字，直到死后葬在丁梅斯代尔的旁边。

霍桑竭力通过海斯特所遭受的迫害来谴责教会对人性的残酷摧残，暴露了政教合一体制下殖民地社会的冷酷虚伪，探讨了有关罪恶和人性的道德、哲理问题。

论《红字》中象征主义手法的运用

论《红字》中象征主义手法的运用《红字》是美国作家纳撒尼尔·霍桑创作的一部小说，被誉为美国文学的经典之一。

在这部小说中，霍桑运用了丰富的象征主义手法，使作品更具深意，凸显了主题。

首先，作者通过字母"A"的象征意义，揭示了主人公海岱尔的罪恶和羞耻。

海岱尔身上带有红字“A”作为标记，代表着她犯下的奸淫罪行。

这个象征物不仅是对海岱尔的惩罚，也是社会对她的审判和嘲讽。

通过这一手法，作者生动地描绘了海岱尔内心的挣扎和痛苦。

其次，作者利用红字的象征意义，突显了道德观念在社会中的束缚和压迫。

红字的存在成为一种道德标尺，让人们无法忽视海岱尔的罪行。

这种道德束缚不仅限制了她的行动，也让社会对她产生了偏见和歧视。

通过这一手法，作者反思了社会对道德的过度强调所带来的负面影响。

此外，在小说中出现的野生红花也具有象征主义的含义。

红花象征着自由、热情和生命的力量。

当海岱尔佩戴红花时，她摆脱了社会对她的压迫，展现出属于自己的力量和追求。

这一象征手法强调了个体的反抗和追求自由的重要性。

最后，作者通过大自然的描写和象征物的运用，将主题进一步拓展和深化。

大自然中的红色景观如红色的阳光、红色的树叶等，为整个故事增添了视觉上的强烈感受，并与主题紧密相关。

这种象征手法使读者能够更好地理解和感受到主人公的内心世界。

综上所述，通过《红字》中象征主义手法的运用，霍桑创作了一部思想深邃、意义丰富的作品。

作者巧妙地利用象征物体现了主人公的内心挣扎、社会的审判和道德的束缚，同时也突出了个体的反抗和追求自由。

《红字》的成功在于通过细腻的描写和准确的象征运用，将主题表达得淋漓尽致，深深地触动了读者的情感和思考。

浅析红字中的象征主义手法

An Analysis of Symbolism in The Scarlet LetterByTang GuaiguaiUnder the Supervisor ofZhu LipingSubmitted in Partial Fulfillment of the RequirementsFor the Degree of Bachelor of ArtsEnglish Department School of Foreign LanguagesLanzhou Jiaotong UniversityJune 2015摘要纳桑尼尔.霍桑是美国19世纪浪漫主义小说家.处在美国文艺复兴时期的霍桑，崇尚民主与自由,而同时又不能完全摆脱心灵深处清教思想的束缚。

因而他既是一个清教势力的批判者，又是清教思想的继承者。

《红字》是霍桑长篇小说的代表作。

其突出的艺术特色是其丰富的象征主义，因此被称为第一部象征主义小说. 小说中各种事物的象征寓意都呈现出多义性、系统性、和隐晦性。

本文拟从小说红字“A”,这一贯穿全文的意象，主要人物的名字以及场景描写等这三方面来探讨其多重的象征主义。

通过分析作品中的各种象征主义来揭示作者的创作意图,从而更好地理解小说的主旨。

第一章主要介绍了霍桑和《红字》及相关研究，并简单解释了象征主义及其作用。

主体部分分为三部分，第一部分分析红色字母A随着故事情节发展而具有的不同的象征意义即通奸—痛苦—能干—天使。

第二部分详细阐述了四个主要人物名字的象征意义，美丽直率的海斯特，孤僻忧郁的丁梅斯代尔，冷漠无情的奇灵渥斯，以及阳光女孩珠儿。

第三部分主要对作品中描述的意象的象征意义具体分析。

结语部分总结全文。

关键词：霍桑；《红字》；象征主义AbstractNathaniel Hawthorne is a famous American romantic novelist in nineteenth century. As in American Renaissance, Hawthorne advocates democracy and freedom, but at the same time, he is bounded and cannot completely get rid of the deep influence of Puritanism. Therefore, he is a critic of Puritanism, and is the successor of Puritanism. The Scarlet Letter is the masterpiece of Hawthorne’s long novel. The prominent artistic feature of The Scarlet Letter is its rich symbolism; therefore it is called the first symbolism novel. The symbolism meanings of all kinds of objects in the novel show the polysemy, motility, and even contradictory.This paper will explore the multiple symbolic meaning from the scarlet letter “A”, the names of t he main characters and objects that described in the novel. Through the analysis of various symbolisms, we can reveal the composing intention of author, and better understanding of the novel's theme. This paper consists of the three parts including introduction, main body and conclusion.The introduction part mainly introduces Hawthorne and The Scarlet Letter and the related researches. The main body includes three parts. The first part chiefly analyses the different symbolic meaning of the scarlet letter “A” that changes with the development of the story. The second part expounds the symbolic meaning of the four main characters’ names. Beautiful and candid Hester, unsocial and gloomy Dimmesdale, cold and detached Chilingworth and sunny girl Pearl. The third part mainly describes the symbolic meaning of the images that written in the novel, such as prison, scaffold, and rose-bush and forest. The final part is conclusion.Key words: Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter, symbolismContents摘要 (I)Abstract ........................................................................................................................ I I Contents (III)Chapter One Introduction (1)1.1 Introduction to Nathaniel Hawthorne and The Scarlet Letter (1)1.2 Literature Review (2)1.3 Significance of the Study (3)Chapter Two The Symbolic Meaning of the Scarlet letter “A” (4)2.1 Adultery (5)2.2 Anguish (5)2.3 Able (6)2.4 Angel (7)Chapter Three Symbolic Meaning of the Main Characters’ Names (8)3.1 Hester Prynne (8)3.2 Arthur Dimmesdale (9)3.3 Roger Chillingworth (10)3.4 Pearl (11)Chapter Four The Symbolic Meaning of the Objects and Settings (13)4.1 The Prison (13)4.2 The Scaffold (13)4.3 The Rose bush (14)4.4 The Forest (15)Chapter Five Conclusion (16)References (18)Acknowledgments (19)Chapter One Introduction1.1 Introduction to Nathaniel Hawthorne and The Scarlet LetterNathaniel Hawthorne is a famous American novelist and short story writer. He is the most important American romantic representative in the late nineteenth century, and also one of the greatest novelists in the history of American literature. Hawthorn's works belong to romanticism or, more specifically, dark romanticism. Many of his works are inspired by Puritan New England, combining historical romance loaded with symbolism and deep psychological themes, bordering on surrealism. His themes often center on the inherent evil and sin of humanity, and his works often have moral messages and deep psychological complexity. His published works include novels, short stories, and biography. His later writings also reflect his negative view of the Transcendentalism movement.The Scarlet Letter is the representative work of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s long novel, which focuses on the performance of the author’s thought and artistic features. When this book was published, it achieved a success. Hawthorne used symbolism widely in The Scarlet Letter and made four major figures together skillfully with the only word “A”. The use of symbolism in the story is full of mystery that enriches the ideological content of the works, and also increases the novel’s artistic charm. It leaves imaginative space and infinite aftertaste to readers. The Scarlet Letter’s biggest success is the skillful use of symbolism and the excellent control ability. Hawthorne’s rich and unique symbolism opened a symbolic novel as an independent literary variety precedent. Hawthorne became one of founders of modern literature of symbolism, also makes the scarlet letter became the first American’s cross-border book, and won the world reputation in literary works.1.2 Literature ReviewNathaniel Hawthorne is one of the most influential American romantic novelists in the nineteenth century. Because of Hawthorne’s moral ambiguity, his rich visual imagination, his deep exploration of the dreams capes of individuals, communities, and the nation, and especially his “power of blackness” as Melville called it, his works keep intriguing great interests and huge passion of the critics of different times and different perspectives.The Scarlet Letter is considered as one of the greatest works in American literature. The reasons why it is so famous are that its ambiguous connotations, delicate representations, mystical imaginations, thrilling moral implications as well as its ambiguous attitude towards women. Critics study it from different angles and levels, but all the critics gave the highest evaluation to The Scarlet Letter. In recent years, there are many domestic and foreign academic attics which are writing the scarlet letter, for example, Bianjun has studied the psychological description in the scarlet letter; Yang Xiaomei has analyzed Hawthorne’s ambivalent attitude towards women in the scarlet letter; Jin Xiaowei has studied Hawthorne’s Christian thoughts, and so on.However, another attraction is Hawt horne’s skillful use of symbolism in The Scarlet Letter. Symbolism is one of the most important writing skills, which endows the concrete images with abstract meaning to enlighten the reader’s imagination and to express a deeper meaning. If we want to explore the deeper significance through the surface, it is not a simple thing. It must involve in many disciplines and theoretical problems, so this paper will study the symbolism of The Scarlet Letter.1.3 Significance of the StudyThe Scarlet Letter is Nathaniel Hawthorne’s representative work. Hawthorne used skillful symbolism in The Scarlet Letter, which made The Scarlet Letter became the first symbolic novel in the world. Hawthorne expresses super space, and super material for "another world" through the symbolism that consciousness cannot achieve, and put the infinite meaning in the finite things.This paper mainly analyzes the significance symbolic meaning of the scarlet letter “A”, the main characters’ names and the objects described in the nov el. Through the study of the symbolism of The Scarlet letter,it can not only make the symbolism significance of characters clearer to the readers, but also shed light on the symbolic significance of objects. At the same time, the history of the America at that time will be clearly shown to readers. And then, it broadens readers’ horizons. By the research of the symbolism of the Scarlet letter, it will provide a new view to readers about symbolism. It helps people to further understand Hawthorne’s opinion a nd his other works. It also helps people learn to use skillful symbolism in their own writings. Meanwhile, readers can find the themes of the novel in different aspects, and then understand the novel completely.Chapter Two The Symbolic Meaning of the Scarlet letter“A”Symbol, a kind of artistic creation, mainly depends on the specific things to express the abstract meaning, in order to induce the reader’s imagination and association, so as to achieve an ideological realm to afford much food for thought. It ranges from the most obvious and substitution of one thing for another, to massive, complex and perplexing creations. Characters, names, scenes and even events can be used symbolically.In the 19th century, with the fast developments of the economy, American has stepped into a new stage, while the traditional Puritanism still influenced thoughts of people. Furthermore, 19th century is also the time of culture renaissance; the Transcendentalism and the Mysticism are very popular at that time. Influenced by Puritanism, Transcendentalism and Mysticism, Hawthorne is motivated to make a much deeper exploration on human nature and cause his ambiguity and conflicts in inner heart. On one hand, he realizes that the strict Puritanism destroy the freedom and happiness of people, on the other hand, he cannot eradicate the tradition thoughts such as “ original sin” from his mind since he was born. Such struggle and conflicts make him feel ambiguous and confused about life and world. He cannot find a good way to change this world and reveal his ideal; as a result, he chooses symbolism to show his plight and dilemma. The reason why he chooses it is that symbolism can make his intention have more than one meaning, so that he can reveal his contradictory thoughts.“A” has rich symbolic meaning and mystery color, and it almost appears in every scene of this novel and links every character skillfully. It is sewn on Hester's coat, carved on her tombstone after her death, mystically tattooed on Dimmesdale’s chest, even miraculously appeared in the sky during the development process of the story. The scarlet letter “A” has the richest symbolic meaning in the novel. But the symbolic meaning of “A” is not immutable and frozen; it will change with the story developing an d the anther’s basis on the point. Now I will analyze the symbolic meaning from theromantic angle of modern people.2.1 AdulteryThe scarlet letter “A” is a symbol of adultery when it first appears in the story. “A” is the first letter in the English a lphabet. “First” is “origin”, firstly it means beginning. According to the Christian doctrine, “origin” means degenerate, and it is the original sin that no one could avoid, and it is also the original degeneration of human’s ancestors. In this work, the s carlet letter “A” is a symbol of Puritan punishment, and it represents the shamed adultery. According to the request of puritan doctrine at that time, a woman who has adultery must adorn the scarlet letter that embroidered on her gown as a punishment, in order to show her crime to people. Let people that a little crime will pay a heavy price, in order to set a good example to execute one as a warning to others. Hester fall in love with minister Dimmesdale without knowing her husband live or not, that beyond the bottle line of morality. Finally it is known by others because the birth of Pearl. Then Hester is judged by ministers at Scaffold, even though the ministers alternate between coercion and temptation to force her to tell who Pearl’s father was, Hester never ever says that. Therefore, Hester is punished to adorn the scarlet letter “A” in her whole life, to show her crime to people, so at the beginning of this story, “A” means adultery.2.2 Anguish“A” also stands for anguish, which can be found from the two main characters. Firstly, it is Hester. She loves life, has high prospect and great expectation for love. However, finally she marries an old pedant Chilingworth who is incapable of giving her any happiness, and he has ugly appearance and physical deformity. This is her first step into the deep suffering. After she immigrates to the new world, she meets her true lover—Dimmesdale. However, because of limitation of marriage and exigency of puritan doctrine, even though they fall in love with each other under those pressures, they bring endless pain to both of them. Hester had bear the scarlet letter “A” in herwhole life, no matter how many meanings does the “A” have, the primary meaning is adultery, and finally she brings it into her grave. In order to protect her lover from affront, she is willing to endure all of sufferings in silence and it last for seven years. In spite of such sacrifice, this poor and persistent woman never wins the beautiful love that she has been looking forward to.Another anguish person is Dimmesdale, the pain he born does not come from the outside world, but himself. The scarlet letter “A” Hester adorned is a symbol of shame, but it is also a beautiful decoration. But for D immesdale, “A” is an invisible brand, and a painful suffering. Having no courage to admit his crime, Dimmesdale became Hester’s inquisition faintheartedly. However, even though his crime is not been exposed, the pain buried deeply in his heart does not have spiritual comfort. He is contradicted and complicated, and he wanders between confessing his crime and his clergyman status. All of those pains depresses him breakdown.2.3 AbleThe symbolic meanings of red letter “A” are more than “adultery and anguish”. Later, its meaning changes into “able, and admirable”. At the beginning, all people in downtown blamed Hester for committing adultery. However, the red letter “A” showed the ability that she is skillful in needlework, and the virtue that she tries her best to help poor and sick people. Her skill in needlework firstly can be seen from the decoration for the scarlet letter “A”, she stitched the “A” on her gown with gold thread that makes it beautiful and elegant. Hester makes it become a fine art, and it becomes one of her beautiful ornament as time passes. Her skill in needlework also can be seen from the colorful and pretty clothes of her daughter—Pearl. Even Hester herself always worn simple and plain gown, but she always tried her best to make exquisite clothes for Pearl. Hester was so skillful in needle that makes her famous in whole downtown. Even when many people still accuse her of her crime, they begin to ask Hester to make an excellent needlework for them, especially for the rich and the noble. Her outstanding needle works not only allow her to maintain a stable life, but also prove she was very able.2.4 AngelWith the time going, Hester always helps the poor and the sick without any repaying, and she even does not dare to hope others would accept her. However, after years of Hester’s help, service and showing sympathy to the poor downtown’s people, “A” is gradually regarded as a symbol of “admirable and angle”. “The letter is the symbol of her beautiful characters. Such helpfulness is found in her so much power to do and power to sympathies --- which many people refuse to interpret the scarlet letter “A” by its original signification.” At this time, people realize Hester had a noble character, and she is an admirable woman. “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!” people in town began to believe that Hester is the angle who gave her love and time to the people who needed it. Finally, Hester use her spiritual innocence and kindness to redeem for her crime, and became an able, admirable angle.Chapter Three Symbolic Meaning of the Main Characters’NamesIn British and American literature, it is a common writing way to give characters in works the special name. Those names not only help authors to enrich the portrayal of character, but also show readers the relationship between characters and themes. This feature also can be seen from the names that Hawthorne gave to the four main characters in The Scarlet Letter.This special way of naming will make the works more wonderful, and it will centrally reflect the rich symbolic meaning of names, thus it can help readers to grasp the theme of works deeply and comprehensively. In this chapter, we will carefully analyze the symbolic meaning of main characters’ names. 3.1 Hester PrynneThe heroine of story—Hester Prynne, as a poor women who is retaliated by her heartless husband, but she does not lose courage of life. Her inner heart is full of strength and yearning for beautiful life. There is no doubt that the meaning of her name is the reflection of her personality traits, this is reason why the author give this name to her.The word “Hester” has two main meanings. Firstly, “Hester” put readers in mind of Hesti-a-- sister of Zeus, a goddess who controls the kitchen range. She stands for warmth, so author give this name to the heroine to show his profound meaning. In story, Hester is always happy to others even though she is also in trouble. She not only feeds Pearl by her skillful needle works but also help the poor and the sick. The behavior of Hester makes this chill world warmer. Secondly, Hester sounds like “hastier”, which is the comparative of “hasty”. It means thoughtless and rash, actually, Hester’s marriage is hasty. No matter what reason is it; the decision that she marries old and ugly Chilingworth is so rash that she does not feel happy at all. After she immigrates to the new world, she falls in love with young and handsome ministerDimmesdale without careful consideration. Her crime is exposed when she gives birth to Pearl. Then she is punished by ministers to wear the scarlet letter in her whole life.The meaning of Hester’s name makes us cautious deeply about what is author’s intention of creation? On one hand, Hawthorne appreciates highly Hester’s helpful actions; on the other hand, he makes her pay a painful price for her hasty behavior. Why does he let Hester goes into the hole she digs for herself, and then makes her shiny because of her kindness and diligence? It is because the author has been deeply influenced by Puritanism thoughts. He wants to approve of Hester’s behavior, but at the same time, he is afraid for criticism. He feels this kind of behavior goes against the doctrine of puritanism. All of this indicates that the theme of this work is ambiguous, or in other words, it is diversified. You had to admit that the author has great originality in the portrait of Hester Prynne, which highlight the theme convincingly by its rich symbolic meaning.3.2 Arthur DimmesdaleThe hero of this story is Arthur Dimmisdale who is a well-regarded minister. Dim means dark and weak and dale means valley, so it means Dimmesdale is a “dim—interior” clergyman. Actually, His pain completely comes from himself not the outside world. He is a very hypocritical and cowardly man. He could not resist his lust and impetuosity and do the things he should not to do that go against the god he believed. However, he has no courage to admit his crime, because he is admirable and respectable minister, and he is perfect in the eyes of common people. As a model and good example, his followers even regard him as angle.In order to protect his honor and status, he had to conceal his crime. However, he is very anguish in his inner heart because of moral torment, spiritual self-accusation and the devotional respect of his congregations. Such contradictory that the outside and the inside are not in agreement make him feel utmost pressure and depressed. In the end of this work, in order to avoid unbearable pressure, the minister stands in the scaffold and throws back his clothes to show his crime to the world. The scarlet letter “A” on his breast is bared under the sun. However, how could this world appears onhis breast? Is it the minister who branded the letter by himself in order to confess his sin? Or is it the god who marks this letter to punish his crime? Despite Hawthorne does not tell readers how this letter comes, it strengthens artistic appeal of this work and make readers have free imagination.The initials of Arthur Dimmesdale are AD, which stands for Adam. It proves that the crime that Hester and Dimmesdale commits just like the Adam and Eva. Adam is attracted by Eva, and then eats the Forbidden Fruit. Finally they annoy the god and are driven out of the Garden of Eden. As a noble minister, Dimmesdale also do the things that he should not do, and he is finally abandoned by gods because of his crime, so then propels him towards the road of death. In short, the author makes readers learn the destiny of Arthur Dimmesdale from his name, how wonderful it is!3.3 Roger ChillingworthRoger Chillingworth is one of the main characters in this work. He is the representatives of intellectuals, but he is old, ugly and physical deformity. Actually, he is the man who commits the unforgivable crime. For a long time, he goes against his conscience, and lives alone relying on his crazy revenge on Dimmesdale and Hester.His name Roger sounds like rogue, obviously, it shows that he is a hoodlum and in immoral behavior in the work. He marries Hester not because he loves her but he needs someone to light the household fire in his lonely and chilly heart. He cannot satisfy young and beautiful Hester’s good expectation for the true love. Such miserable marriage destroys He ster’s youth and leads to Hester’s tragedy directly. From this aspect, it is Roger chillingworth that attributes to the scarlet letter and the later crime.When he escapes from the Indians and comes back to the new world, he sees his wife is criticized for adultery by chance. At this time, he loses his sense completely and plans to revenge crazily. Even though he does not love Hester, he does not let her go to find her love but forces her to tell who is adulterer. After Hester refuses to tell him the truth, he decides to find the man by himself. He neither intends to help Hester get rid of troublesome life, nor consoles her in the mental. After he knows that theadulterer is Arthur Dimmesdale, he pretends to be a doctor and tortures the young minister crazily. In this moment, Chillingworth has lost his human nature completely, and his heart is full of hatred. The man who lives with animosity usually does not have good end, when he destroys others, he also destroys himself too.His surname Chillingworth is made of chilling and worth. Chilling comes from the word “chilly”, which means the man is cold and merciless. Hester pleads him many times to stop his revenge to Dimmesdale, but he never gives up. He has crazily tortured Dimmesdale for seven years, finally makes the young minister’s mental breakdown. After Dimmesdale dies, Chilingworth loses courage and hope of life because for a long time, he has lost himself and just lives for revenge, so soon he dies too.3.4 PearlFirstly, Pearl is the beautiful daughter of Hester and Dimmesdale, and she is the only sunny person in the novel. The word “pearl” is originated from the Bible stories and it means the very previous things. Even though the birth of Pearl explores the secret between Hester and Dimmesdale , and makes them pay the high price for their crime, Pearl still is a priceless treasure in their heart.Moreover, Pearl is the only spiritual sustenance of Hester and encourages her to face with the unbearable humiliation an d blame. Just as the description in the work “she named the infant ‘Pearl’, as being of great price—purchased with all she had—her mother’s only treasure!” Hawthorne compares Pearl to many beautiful things. She is a beautiful flower, a brilliant sunbeam, and most importantly, she provides an emotional anchor for Hester. The existence of Pearl conciliates Hester’s heart and makes her forget the suffering she bearing.Secondly, Pearl sounds like purl, which means the author wants to compare little Pearl to a clear murmuring stream. Pearl is not only the reminders of Hester and Dimmesdale’s crime, in other words, she is a mirror or an alarm bell for their crime; but also she is the soul sanctifier of Hester and Dimmesdale, which supervise and urge them to correct their errors and make a fresh start. There are relevant descriptionsin the work: Hester and Dimmesdale meet in the brook and Pearl in other side, even though they are close to each other, Pearl never crosses the stream and comes to them. Just as the m inister says “the stream is the boundary of two worlds”. If the stream is the boundary of innocence and evil, then Pearl is the little demon on the other side.Among the four main characters, only Pearl is perfect in the moral, and innocent in the heart. As a symbol of beauty and innocence, there is no doubt that her existence is a power of aspiration, which make us believe that life and society are beautiful and hopeful.Chapter Four The Symbolic Meaning of the Objects andSettingsIn the novel, except for the symbolic meaning of the scarlet letter “A” and four main characters’ names, the objects and settings that are described in the work also have the rich symbolic meaning, such as the prison, the scaffold, the rose bush, and the forest.4.1 The PrisonAt the beginning of this story, the prison is introduced firstly in chapter one as “the founders of a new colony, whatever Utopia of human virtue and happiness they might originally project, have invariably recognized it among their earliest practical necessities to allot a portion of the virgin soil as a cemetery, and another portion as the site of prison”. It shows that the old, rusted, yet strong with an “iron—clamped oaken door” prison represents the harshness and sacrosanct authori ty of puritan society. Prison should have been the production of human civilization to punish the evil. However, in the novel, prison is the black flower of civilized society, and it is the symbol of puritanical severity and frightfulness. The traditional moral idea has warped the mind of human beings; the good and evil have been distorted. Actually, prison has been the shackles of human nature. The door of prison was heavily timbered with oak, and studded with iron spikes. Such oak door and sharp spikes represents the rigorousness and restraint, ignorance and brutality, stubbornness and decay of this religious customs.4.2 The ScaffoldThe scaffold plays an important role in the entire work, and it is the symbol of judgment of god. The scaffold appears many times in the work; it not only represents the strict moral code of Puritan community but also is the place where people admit their crime and atone for their crime. In chapter three “The recognition”, Hesterstands on the scaffold with holding Pearl in the arms for three hours to accept the question of ministers and the rebuke of the general public. Dimmesdale cannot bear the torture and stands on the scaffold in the deep night under illusion that he takes Hester and Pearl to confess his crime to the world. He wants to gain the redemption; however, his penance in the deep night is meaningless. He must confess his sin in the day in public; he can get the remission of the sin in the heart. At the end of story, Dimmesdale calls up all his courage to stand on the scaffold with taking the Hester and Pearl by the hands and confess his sin in the light of day before a crowd of people.Finally, the confession gives him the sense of peace and ends his pain and suffering. He accepts his love and his daughter eventually. The scaffold is a symbol of crime and public humiliation, and it is a means of punishment. Besides, the scaffold is also a place of atonement as well, it gives the guilty people an opportunity to get redemption and born again. So scaffold is the symbol of acknowledge of the sin, only in here, can Hester and Dimmesdale admit their sin and finally set themselves from the inner bitterness.4.3 The Rose bush“But, on one side of the portal, and rooted almost at the threshold, was a wild rose-bush! Just as the author describes in the novel, before the ugly prison, a beautiful rose-bush is in full bloom. This rose-bush represents human beings’ original natural desire and tenacious vitality, and it is the symbol of beauty and kindness. No matter how harsh and prison is, but the ideal human nature never ends, just like the wild rose-bush blooming. Meanwhile, rose-bush shows the blazing passion of Hester, which results to her sin, and she gives birth to Pearl as the peak of her passion. Hawthorne compares the Pearl to the rose-bush, and criticizes the flower as the “moral blossom”. The fruit of this flower is the child of Hester and Dimmesdale, that is to say, Pearl will serve to provide the moral of the story.The author is much cautious about the source of the rose-bush, whether is it grows naturally in there or another rebellious woman lefts it when she is put in jail. In。

霍桑《红字》中的象征主义解读

霍桑《红字》中的象征主义解读《红字》是美国文学史上的经典之作，霍桑在小说中巧妙运用了许多象征主义手法，使得小说具有深刻的寓意和内涵。

本文将从人物、颜色和场景三个方面对《红字》中的象征主义进行解读。

一、人物方面的象征意义首先，小说中的主人公赛琳娜·普林丝是象征“禁欲性”的代表人物。

她因为私通了教士，而被判穿着“A”字母的红色“罪恶”的标志，过着孤独和困苦的生活。

其次，赛琳娜的丈夫罗杰·查琳是象征“复仇”和“报应”的人物。

他在小说中一直在寻找私通者的身份，最终发现是赛琳娜，并计划复仇。

最后，小说中的教士阿瑟·德米辛是象征“双重性”的人物。

他作为教士，本应该代表着道德和伦理，但却和赛琳娜私通，暴露出他的内心深处的矛盾和欲望。

二、颜色方面的象征意义在小说中，红色是最为显眼的颜色。

它既代表着赛琳娜被判穿着的“A”字母，也代表着罗杰·查琳的心中充满的复仇欲望。

此外，红色还代表了罪恶、欲望和魔鬼等负面的含义。

与红色相反的是黑色，它代表着死亡和悲哀。

小说中描写赛琳娜·普林丝的丧葬，墓碑是黑色的，这象征着她的人生悲惨和不幸。

三、场景方面的象征意义小说中的林景是象征着赛琳娜·普林丝的内心。

在林景中，她和教士阿瑟·德米辛私通，这象征着她内心深处的欲望和矛盾。

而在小说结尾，林景又成为了赛琳娜离开世界的场所，这象征着她生命的终结和悲哀。

此外，在小说中还有许多细节的描写，如花草、阳光、天空等，都是象征着不同的含义，寓意深刻。

总之，霍桑在《红字》中运用了众多的象征主义手法，将人物、颜色和场景等元素有机地融合在一起，使得小说具有了深刻的内涵和寓意。

读者通过对这些象征意义的解读和理解，也能更好地领悟小说所表达的思想与精神。

借象征之名寓道德之意--《红字》中的象征主义和道德观

德观关键词 : 了字》红象征主义景物描写道德观
是关于通奸及其灾难性后果的传奇故事，写神圣不可侵犯的教律子以人神秘而强大的影响 .用海丝特的孤独、忍辱负重及 f 梅斯代尔的自虐有力地写尽了神秘和不可裹读的宗教信仰，同时又把结局写成了牧师战胜神性回归人性为爱而亡。而作为海斯特的丈失却又背上心债成为道德的罪人。白兰的“ ” A 字在时间中以她崇高清白的品行而改变了意义。小说的结尾让这个自始自终为爱、为自山坚定奋斗的形象惊奇地回归了。象征主义对主题意义的定义是对传统宗教文化的槟弃，还是最终的妥协呢? 这也是霍桑个人的矛盾性，创造中的矛盾性。《红字》中霍桑很好地将白己的多义、模糊、矛盾的创造思想寄寓象征这一文化创作手法中借助《字》红中人物的命运诱发读者的想象和联想，表达一种耐人寻味的思想感情，小说中人名、从人物的性格、情节的各种象征，霍桑小说的主题不是立靶，不是有限的主旨。而是
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A” 开头这决非偶然，丁梅斯代尔是倍受人民尊重的牧师，由于他高贵的地位特别是由于他对上帝的迷信，他始终是宗教的奴隶。海斯特则能勇敢无畏地坦承自己所有的爱。她精心绣成的华丽的' A'’ 正把它看成她的Ar hu做在心上。而 t Ar hur 如同A t dam崇尚他们的天父上帝，在精神上、思想上不能摆脱宗教教义的屈从地位。
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《红字》中的象征意义探讨

《红字》中的象征意义探讨摘要：《红字》是美国19世纪最伟大的浪漫主义作家纳撒尼尔·霍桑的成名作，也是他最著名的代表作。

这部著作巧妙的借助象征手法，使作品中的人物、场景等都带上了特殊的象征意义，故事情节也充满了神秘色彩，给读者留下了无限的遐想空间，达到了言有尽而意无穷的效果，因此被视为美国第一部象征主义小说。

本文主要在细读文本的基础上，探讨《红字》中的象征意义，以加深对这部小说的理解。

关键词：《红字》；象征意义《红字》纳撒尼尔·霍桑的杰出代表，也最能代表其思想和艺术风格。

霍桑生活在美国文艺复兴时期，他受清教意识、神秘主义等思想的影响较大，他一方面反抗清教主义，揭露宗教的虚伪，但另一方面也受其束缚，无法完全解脱出来。

这种矛盾性反映在作品中通过象征主义完美的演绎出来。

《红字》是美国文学史上第一部用象征手法创作的小说，贯穿作品始终，被称为美国第一部象征主义小说。

小说讲述了北美殖民时期发生的恋爱悲剧。

故事的女主人公叫海丝特·白兰，是一个美丽、年轻的女人。

她出生于英国的一个破落贵族家庭，因为家道中落，不得已嫁给了一个身体畸形的老学者——罗杰·齐灵渥斯，婚姻没有给她带来幸福。

后来，他们决定移居波士顿，齐灵渥斯在海上失踪，传言说已经身亡。

在波士顿的独居生活中，海丝特与一个年轻的牧师阿瑟·丁梅斯戴尔真心相爱。

一个美丽的女人与一个英俊多才的牧师发生了不该发生的事情，很快被人们所察觉，海丝特也被冠上了通奸的罪名而被投入监狱。

小说开头就是海丝特怀中抱着刚出生三个月的婴儿——女儿小珠，胸前佩戴着刺眼的红色“A”字，在刑台上示众。

人们通过多种方式审问、逼迫海丝特说出孩子的父亲到底是谁，但海丝特拒不交代。

在刑台上海丝特看到了混在人群中，两年前被传身亡的丈夫齐灵渥斯。

示众三小时结束后，海丝特因为不交代同犯又被投入了监狱。

海丝特的丈夫来到监狱让海丝特告知他谁是奸夫，海丝特不说，并且告知齐灵渥斯，自己不爱他。

浅谈《红字》中象征主义及浪漫主义手法的应用

浅谈《红字》中象征主义及浪漫主义手法的应用1、《红字》的主题思想《红字》以两百多年前的殖民地时代的美洲为题材，但揭露的却是19世纪资本主义发展时代美利坚合众国社会典法的残酷、宗教的欺骗和道德的虚伪。

主人公海丝特被写成了崇高道德的化身。

她不但感化了表里不一的丁梅斯代尔，同时也在感化着充满罪恶的社会。

至于她的丈夫奇林渥斯，小说则把他写成了一个一心只想窥秘复仇的影子式的人物。

他在小说中只起情节铺垫的作用。

2、《红字》象征手法《红字》用略带神秘色彩的自然景象烘托环境、渣染气氛和映衬人物心理的手法俯拾皆是，最突出的便是丁梅斯代尔牧师和海丝特及珠儿在夜晚和密林中的两次会见：由红字连系在一起的几个主要人物的同时出场，如同戏剧中迭起的高潮，把全书紧织在一个严密的结构之中。

《红字》是美国浪漫主义作家霍桑创作的长篇小说。

人物介绍1、海丝特年轻美丽姑娘的海丝特·白兰在还不懂得什么是爱情的花样年华，嫁给了一位面容苍白、眼色阴沉、身材略有畸型的年长学者齐灵渥斯。

他们的婚姻并非爱的结合，维系其婚姻的可能是某种利益或者宗教思想的束缚。

然而，给这段不幸的婚姻雪上加霜的是，齐灵握斯两年内音讯全无，并最终传来他葬身大海的噩耗。

孤苦无依的海丝特与才貌相当、德高望重的年轻牧师丁梅斯代尔产生了爱情，并孕育了女儿珠儿。

本来两个人的爱情和结合应该是合情合理的，然而却被世俗所不齿，海丝特因此担上了“通奸”的罪名，被迫终身佩戴红字“A”，精神上受尽了折磨和屈辱。

2、珠儿海丝特的女儿珠儿是罪恶耻辱与神圣爱情的矛盾结合体。

海丝特精心地打扮小珠儿，使可爱奔放的她像个天使，一颦一笑，举手投足都闪烁着一种希望的光芒和生命的光辉，带给人们冲破清教束缚的希望。

虽然自小被这个社会所抛弃，跟着母亲受到众人的歧视，嘲讽和迫害，珠儿却桀骜不驯，充满活力。

珠儿身上洋溢着的那股生命的活力和果赘不驯的反叛力是自觉的、先天的，足以超越任何社会、时代的束缚。

珠儿的美和野性的反叛同齐灵渥斯的丑形成强烈的对比：博学多识的老医生却是如此丑陋不堪，而作为母亲罪恶象征的小女孩则仍保持着自然人的纯真，在霍桑的宗教意识里，小珠儿便是“天使”，代表着希望，是霍桑美好理想的寄托，也体现了他对宗教的幻想。

小说《红字》的写作手法

小说《红字》的写作手法
《红字》是一个揭示人性的故事，描写了一个女人因通奸而受到屈辱和惩罚。

在这个故事中，作者用了多种写作手法来深刻地展现人性和社会的复杂性。

1.象征主义
2.意识流和内心独白
小说中还出现了意识流和内心独白的手法。

这些技巧帮助读者更深刻地理解女主人公的内心感受、思想和动机。

作者通过这种方式，让读者了解到女主人公在面对社会的谴责时所承受的痛苦、内心的挣扎和疑虑。

这个手法不仅让人物更加立体化，同时也让人物的感情更加真实。

3.色彩主题
作者还巧妙地将颜色运用到小说中，表现出更加微妙的主题。

例如，红色象征着罪行和性爱，黑色象征着阴谋和恶意。

这些色彩运用的手法不仅美学，更深层意义的是突出主题和意义，体现出作者的深刻洞察力和强烈的美感。

4.象征与隐喻
作者还采用象征与隐喻的手法，使故事更加丰富和深刻。

例如，女主人公手中的玫瑰被视为一种负面象征，暗示她的通奸行为。

这种手法增强了故事的象征主题，深化了读者对自由、激情和罪行的理解。

总之，《红字》是一部重新界定文学的作品，它不仅揭示了人性的缺陷和社会的残酷性，而且探索了深层的象征和隐喻，使读者感受到更加深刻和意义的美感和思考。

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.The Scarlet LetterAn Analysis of Symbolism inByTang GuaiguaiUnder the Supervisor ofZhu LipingSubmitted in Partial Fulfillment of the RequirementsFor the Degree of Bachelor of Arts页脚..English Department School of Foreign LanguagesLanzhou Jiaotong UniversityJune 2015页脚..摘要纳桑尼尔.霍桑是美国19世纪浪漫主义小说家.处在美国文艺复兴时期的霍桑，崇尚民主与自由,而同时又不能完全摆脱心灵深处清教思想的束缚。

因而他既是一个清教势力的批判者，又是清教思想的继承者。

《红字》是霍桑长篇小说的代表作。

其突出的艺术特色是其丰富的象征主义，因此被称为第一部象征主义小说. 小说中各种事物的象征寓意都呈现出多义性、系统性、和隐晦性。

本文拟从小说红字“A”,这一贯穿全文的意象，主要人物的名字以及场景描写等这三方面来探讨其多重的象征主义。

通过分析作品中的各种象征主义来揭示作者的创作意图,从而更好地理解小说的主旨。

第一章主要介绍了霍桑和《红字》及相关研究，并简单解释了象征主义及其作用。

主体部分分为三部分，第一部分分析红色字母A随着故事情节发展而具有的不同的象征意义即通奸—痛苦—能干—天使。

第二部分详细阐述了四个主要人物名字的象征意义，美丽直率的海斯特，孤僻忧郁的丁梅斯代尔，冷漠无情的奇灵渥斯，以及女孩珠儿。

第三部分主要对作品中描述的意象的象征意义具体分析。

结语部分总结全文。

关键词：霍桑；《红字》；象征主义页脚..页脚..AbstractNathaniel Hawthorne is a famous American romantic novelist in nineteenth century. As in American Renaissance, Hawthorne advocates democracy and freedom, but at the same time, he is bounded and cannot completely get rid of the deep influence of Puritanism. Therefore, he is a critic of Puritanism, and is the successor of The Scarlet Letter is the Puritanism. masterpiece of Hawthorne's long The Scarlet Letter is artistic feature of its rich novel. The prominent symbolism; therefore it is called the first symbolism novel. The symbolism meanings of all kinds of objects in the novel show the polysemy, motility, and even contradictory.This paper will explore the multiple symbolic meaning from thescarlet letter “A”, the names of the main characters and objects that described in the novel. Through the analysis of various symbolisms, we can reveal the composing intention of author, and better understanding of the novel's theme. This paper consists of the three parts including introduction, main body and conclusion.The ScarletThe introduction part mainly introduces Hawthorne and Letter and the related researches. The main body includes three parts.The first part chiefly analyses the different symbolic meaning of the scarlet letter “A”that changes with the development of the story. The页脚..second part expounds the symbolic meaning of the four main characters' names. Beautiful and candid Hester, unsocial and gloomy Dimmesdale, cold and detached Chilingworth and sunny girl Pearl. The third part mainly describes the symbolic meaning of the images that written in the novel, such as prison, scaffold, and rose-bush and forest. The final part is conclusion.The Scarlet Letter, symbolism Key words: Hawthorne,Contents摘要 (I)Abstract (III)Contents (IV)Chapter One Introduction (1)The Scarlet Letter ....... 1.1 Introduction to Nathaniel Hawthorne and 1 1.2 Literature Review . (2)1.3 Significance of the Study (3)Chapter Two The Symbolic Meaning of the Scarlet letter “A” (5)页脚..2.1 Adultery (6)2.2 Anguish (7)2.3 Able (8)2.4 Angel (9)Chapter Three Symbolic Meaning of the Main Characters' Names (11)3.1 Hester Prynne (11)3.2 Arthur Dimmesdale (13)3.3 Roger Chillingworth (14)3.4 Pearl (16)Chapter Four The Symbolic Meaning of the Objects and Settings ........184.1 The Prison (19)4.2 The Scaffold (19)4.3 The Rose bush (21)4.4 The Forest (22)Chapter Five Conclusion (23)References (26)Acknowledgments (19)页脚..页脚..Chapter One IntroductionThe Scarletand Hawthorne Introduction to Nathaniel 1.1LetterNathaniel Hawthorne is a famous American novelist and short story writer. He is the most important American romantic representative in the late nineteenth century, and also one of the greatest novelists in the history of American literature. Hawthorn's works belong to romanticism or, more specifically, dark romanticism. Many of his works are inspired by Puritan New England, combining historical romance loaded withsymbolism and deep psychological themes, bordering on surrealism. His themes often center on the inherent evil and sin of humanity, and his works often have moral messages and deep psychological complexity. His published works include novels, short stories, and biography. His later writings also reflect his negative view of the Transcendentalism movement.The Scarlet Letter is the representative work of NathanielHawthorne's long novel, which focuses on the performance of the author's thought and artistic features. When this book was published, it achieved a success. Hawthorne used symbolism widely in The Scarlet Letter and made four major figures together skillfully with the only word “A”. The use of symbolism in the story is full of mystery that enriches the页脚..ideological content of the works, and also increases the novel's artistic charm. It leaves imaginative space and infinite aftertaste to readers. The Scarlet Letter's biggest success is the skillful use of symbolism and the excellent control ability. Hawthorne's rich and unique symbolism opened a symbolic novel as an independent literary variety precedent. Hawthorne became one of founders of modern literature of symbolism, also makes the scarlet letter became the first American's cross-border book, and won the world reputation in literary works.1.2 Literature ReviewNathaniel Hawthorne is one of the most influential Americanromantic novelists in the nineteenth century. Because of Hawthorne's moral ambiguity, his rich visual imagination, his deep exploration of the dreams capes of individuals, communities, and the nation, and especially his “power of blackness”as Melville called it, his works keep intriguing great interests and huge passion of the critics of different times and different perspectives.The Scarlet Letter is considered as one of the greatest works in American literature. The reasons why it is so famous are that its ambiguousconnotations,delicaterepresentations,mystical页脚..imaginations, thrilling moral implications as well as its ambiguousattitude towards women. Critics study it from different angles and levels, The Scarlet Letter. In critics gave the highest evaluation tothe but all recent years, there are many domestic and foreign academic attics which are writing the scarlet letter, for example, Bianjun has studied the psychological description in the scarlet letter; Yang Xiaomei has analyzed Hawthorne's ambivalent attitude towards women in the scarlet letter; Jin Xiaowei has studied Hawthorne's Christian thoughts, and so on.However, another attraction is Hawthorne's skillful use of symbolism The Scarlet Letter. Symbolism is one of the most important writing skills, in which endows the concrete images with abstract meaning to enlighten the reader's imagination and to express a deeper meaning. If wewant to explore the deeper significance through the surface, it is not a simple thing. It must involve in many disciplines and theoreticalThe Scarlet Letter. problems, so this paper will study the symbolism of 1.3 Significance of the StudyThe Scarlet Letter is Nathaniel Hawthorne's representative work.The Scarlet Letter, which made TheHawthorne used skillful symbolism in页脚..Scarlet Letter became the first symbolic novel in the world. Hawthorne expresses super space, and super material for another world through the symbolism that consciousness cannot achieve, and put the infinite meaning in the finite things.This paper mainly analyzes the significance symbolic meaning of the scarlet letter “A”, the main characters' names and the objectsTheof symbolism study of the described in the novel. Through theScarlet letter, it can not only make the symbolism significance of characters clearer to the readers, but also shed light on the symbolic significance of objects. At the same time, the history of the America at that time will be clearly shown to readers. And then, it broadens readers' horizons. By the research of the symbolism of the Scarlet letter, it will provide a new view to readers about symbolism. It helps people to further understand Hawthorne's opinion and his other works. It also helps people learn to use skillful symbolism in their own writings. Meanwhile, readers can find the themes of the novel in different aspects, and then understand the novel completely.页脚..Chapter Two The Symbolic Meaning of the Scarlet letter “A”Symbol, a kind of artistic creation, mainly depends on the specific things to express the abstract meaning, in order to induce the reader's imagination and association, so as to achieve an ideological realm to afford much food for thought. It ranges from the most obvious and substitution of one thing for another, to massive, complex and perplexing creations. Characters, names, scenes and even events can be used symbolically.In the 19 century, with the fast developments of the economy,th American has stepped into a new stage, while the traditional Puritanismstill influenced thoughts of people. Furthermore, 19 century is also the th time of culture renaissance; the Transcendentalism and the Mysticismareverypopularatthattime.InfluencedbyPuritanism,Transcendentalism and Mysticism, Hawthorne is motivated to make a much deeper exploration on human nature and cause his ambiguity and conflicts in inner heart. On one hand, he realizes that the strict Puritanism destroy the freedom and happiness of people, on the other hand, he cannot eradicate the tradition thoughts such as “original页脚..sin”from his mind since he was born. Such struggle and conflicts make him feel ambiguous and confused about life and world. He cannot find a good way to change this world and reveal his ideal; as a result, he chooses symbolism to show his plight and dilemma. The reason why he chooses it is that symbolism can make his intention have more than one meaning, so that he can reveal his contradictory thoughts.“A”has rich symbolic meaning and mystery color, and it almost appears in every scene of this novel and links every character skillfully. It is sewn on Hester's coat, carved on her tombstone after her death, mystically tattooed on Dimmesdale's chest, even miraculously appeared in the sky during the development process of the story. The scarlet letter “A”has the richest symbolic meaning in the novel. But the symbolic meaning of “A”is not immutable and frozen; it will change with the story developing and the anther's basis on the point. Now I will analyze the symbolic meaning from the romantic angle of modern people.2.1 AdulteryThe scarlet letter “A”is a symbol of adultery when it first appears in the story. “A”is the first letter in the English alphabet. “First”is “origin”, firstly it means beginning. According to the Christian doctrine, “origin”means degenerate, and it is the original sin that no one could avoid, and it is also the original degeneration of human's ancestors. In页脚..this work, the scarlet letter “A”is a symbol of Puritan punishment, and it represents the shamed adultery. According to the request of puritan doctrine at that time, a woman who has adultery must adorn the scarlet letter that embroidered on her gown as a punishment, in orderto show her crime to people. Let people that a little crime will pay a heavy price, in order to set a good example to execute one as a warning to others. Hester fall in love with minister Dimmesdale without knowing her husband live or not, that beyond the bottle line of morality. Finally it is known by others because the birth of Pearl. Then Hester is judged by ministers at Scaffold, even though the ministers alternate between coercion and temptation to force her to tell who Pearl's father was, Hester never ever says that. Therefore, Hester is punished to adorn the scarlet letter “A”in her whole life, to show her crime to people, so at the beginning of this story, “A”means adultery.2.2 Anguish“A”also stands for anguish, which can be found from the twomain characters. Firstly, it is Hester. She loves life, has high prospect and great expectation for love. However, finally she marries an old pedant Chilingworth who is incapable of giving her any happiness, and he has ugly appearance and physical deformity. This is her first step into the deep suffering. After she immigrates to the new world, she meets her页脚..true lover—Dimmesdale. However, because of limitation of marriageand exigency of puritan doctrine, even though they fall in love with each other under those pressures, they bring endless pain to both of them. Hester had bear the scarlet letter “A”in her whole life, no matter how many meanings does the “A”have, the primary meaning is adultery, and finally she brings it into her grave. In order to protect her lover from affront, she is willing to endure all of sufferings in silence and it last for seven years. In spite of such sacrifice, this poor and persistent woman never wins the beautiful love that she has been looking forward to.Another anguish person is Dimmesdale, the pain he born does not come from the outside world, but himself. The scarlet letter “A”Hester adorned is a symbol of shame, but it is also a beautiful decoration. But for Dimmesdale, “A”is an invisible brand, and a painful suffering. Having no courage to admit his crime, Dimmesdale became Hester's inquisition faintheartedly. However, even though his crime is not been exposed, the pain buried deeply in his heart does not have spiritual comfort. He is contradicted and complicated, and he wanders between confessing his crime and his clergyman status. All of those pains depresses him breakdown.2.3 AbleThe symbolic meanings of red letter “A”are more than “adultery页脚..and anguish”. Later, its meaning changes into “able, and admirable”. At the beginning, all people in downtown blamed Hester for committing adultery. However, the red letter “A”showed the ability that she is skillful in needlework, and the virtue that she tries her best to help poor and sick people. Her skill in needlework firstly can be seen from the decoration for the scarlet letter “A”, she stitched the “A”on her gown with gold thread that makes it beautiful and elegant. Hester makes it become a fine art, and it becomes one of her beautiful ornament as time passes. Her skill in needlework also can be seen from the colorful and pretty clothes of her daughter—Pearl. Even Hester herself always worn simple and plain gown, but she always tried her best to make exquisite clothes for Pearl. Hester was so skillful in needle that makes her famous in whole downtown. Even when many people still accuse her of her crime, they begin to ask Hester to make an excellent needlework for them, especially for the rich and the noble. Her outstanding needle works not only allow her to maintain a stable life,but also prove she was very able.2.4 AngelWith the time going, Hester always helps the poor and the sickwithout any repaying, and she even does not dare to hope others would accept her. However, after years of Hester's help, service and showing sympathy to the poor downtown's people, “A”is gradually页脚..regarded as a symbol of “admirable and angle”. “The letter is the symbol of her beautiful characters. Such helpfulness is found in her so much power to do and power to sympathies --- which many people refuse to interpret the scarlet letter “A”by its original signification.”At this time, people realize Hester had a noble character, and she is an admirable woman. “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!”people in town began to believe that Hester is the angle who gave her love and time to the people who needed it. Finally, Hester use her spiritual innocence and kindness to redeem for her crime, and became an able,admirable angle.页脚..Chapter Three Symbolic Meaning of the Main Characters' NamesIn British and American literature, it is a common writing way to give characters in works the special name. Those names not only help authors to enrich the portrayal of character, but also show readers the relationship between characters and themes. This feature also can beseen from the names that Hawthorne gave to the four main characters The Scarlet Letter. This special way in of naming will make the works more wonderful, and it will centrally reflect the rich symbolic meaning of names, thus it can help readers to grasp the theme of works deeply and comprehensively. In this chapter, we will carefully analyze the symbolic meaning of main characters' names.3.1 Hester PrynneThe heroine of story—Hester Prynne, as a poor women who is retaliated by her heartless husband, but she does not lose courage of页脚..life. Her inner heart is full of strength and yearning for beautiful life. There is no doubt that the meaning of her name is the reflection of her personality traits, this is reason why the author give this name to her. The word “Hester”has two main meanings. Firstly, “Hester”put readers in mind of Hesti-a-- sister of Zeus, a goddess who controls the kitchen range. She stands for warmth, so author give this name to the heroine to show his profound meaning. In story, Hester is always happy to others even though she is also in trouble. She not only feeds Pearl by her skillful needle works but also help the poor and the sick. The behavior of Hester makes this chill world warmer. Secondly, Hestersounds like “hastier”, which is the comparative of “hasty”. It means thoughtless and rash, actually, Hester's marriage is hasty. No matter what reason is it; the decision that she marries old and ugly Chilingworth is so rash that she does not feel happy at all. After she immigrates to the new world, she falls in love with young and handsome minister Dimmesdale without careful consideration. Her crime is exposed when she gives birth to Pearl. Then she is punished by ministers to wear the scarlet letter in her whole life.The meaning of Hester's name makes us cautious deeply aboutwhat is author's intention of creation? On one hand, Hawthorne appreciates highly Hester's helpful actions; on the other hand, he makes her pay a painful price for her hasty behavior. Why does he let页脚..Hester goes into the hole she digs for herself, and then makes her shiny because of her kindness and diligence? It is because the author has been deeply influenced by Puritanism thoughts. He wants to approve of Hester's behavior, but at the same time, he is afraid for criticism. He feels this kind of behavior goes against the doctrine of puritanism. All of this indicates that the theme of this work is ambiguous, or in other words, it is diversified. You had to admit that the author has great originality in the portrait of Hester Prynne, which highlight the theme convincingly byits rich symbolic meaning.3.2 Arthur DimmesdaleThe hero of this story is Arthur Dimmisdale who is a well-regarded minister. Dim means dark and weak and dale means valley, so it means Dimmesdale is a “dim—interior”clergyman. Actually, His pain completely comes from himself not the outside world. He is a very hypocritical and cowardly man. He could not resist his lust and impetuosity and do the things he should not to do that go against the god he believed. However, he has no courage to admit his crime, because he is admirable and respectable minister, and he is perfect in the eyes of common people. As a model and good example, his followers even regard him as angle.In order to protect his honor and status, he had to conceal his crime. However, he is very anguish in his inner heart because of moral torment,页脚..spiritual self-accusation and the devotional respect of his congregations. Such contradictory that the outside and the inside are not in agreement make him feel utmost pressure and depressed. In the end of this work, in order to avoid unbearable pressure, the minister stands in the scaffold and throws back his clothes to show his crime tothe world. The scarlet letter “A”on his breast is bared under the sun. However, how could this world appears on his breast? Is it the minister who branded the letter by himself in order to confess his sin? Or is it the god who marks this letter to punish his crime? Despite Hawthorne does not tell readers how this letter comes, it strengthens artistic appeal of this work and make readers have free imagination.The initials of Arthur Dimmesdale are AD, which stands for Adam. It proves that the crime that Hester and Dimmesdale commits just like the Adam and Eva. Adam is attracted by Eva, and then eats the Forbidden Fruit. Finally they annoy the god and are driven out of the Garden of Eden. As a noble minister, Dimmesdale also do the things that he should not do, and he is finally abandoned by gods because of his crime, so then propels him towards the road of death. In short, the author makes readers learn the destiny of Arthur Dimmesdale from his name, how wonderful it is!3.3 Roger ChillingworthRoger Chillingworth is one of the main characters in this work. He is页脚..the representatives of intellectuals, but he is old, ugly and physical deformity. Actually, he is the man who commits the unforgivable crime.For a long time, he goes against his conscience, and lives alone relying on his crazy revenge on Dimmesdale and Hester.His name Roger sounds like rogue, obviously, it shows that he is a hoodlum and in immoral behavior in the work. He marries Hester not because he loves her but he needs someone to light the household fire in his lonely and chilly heart. He cannot satisfy young and beautiful Hester's good expectation for the true love. Such miserable marriage destroys Hester's youth and leads to Hester's tragedy directly. Fromthis aspect, it is Roger chillingworth that attributes to the scarlet letter and the later crime.When he escapes from the Indians and comes back to the new world, he sees his wife is criticized for adultery by chance. At this time, he loses his sense completely and plans to revenge crazily. Even though he does not love Hester, he does not let her go to find her love but forces her to tell who is adulterer. After Hester refuses to tell him the truth,he decides to find the man by himself. He neither intends to help Hester get rid of troublesome life, nor consoles her in the mental. After he knows that the adulterer is Arthur Dimmesdale, he pretends to be a doctor and tortures the young minister crazily. In this moment, Chillingworth has lost his human nature completely, and his heart is full页脚..of hatred. The man who lives with animosity usually does not have good end, when he destroys others, he also destroys himself too.His surname Chillingworth is made of chilling and worth. Chillingcomes from the word “chilly”, which means the man is cold and merciless. Hester pleads him many times to stop his revenge to Dimmesdale, but he never gives up. He has crazily tortured Dimmesdale for seven years, finally makes the young minister's mental breakdown. After Dimmesdale dies, Chilingworth loses courage and hope of life because for a long time, he has lost himself and just lives for revenge, so soon he dies too.3.4 PearlFirstly, Pearl is the beautiful daughter of Hester and Dimmesdale,and she is the only sunny person in the novel. The word “pearl”is originated from the Bible stories and it means the very previous things. Even though the birth of Pearl explores the secret between Hester and Dimmesdale , and makes them pay the high price for their crime, Pearl still is a priceless treasure in their heart.Moreover, Pearl is the only spiritual sustenance of Hester and encourages her to face with the unbearable humiliation and blame. Just as the description in the work “she named the infant ‘Pearl', as being of great price—purchased with all shehad—her mother's only treasure!”Hawthorne compares Pearl to many beautiful things. She is a beautiful flower, a brilliant sunbeam, and页脚..most importantly, she provides an emotional anchor for Hester. The existence of Pearl conciliates Hester's heart and makes her forget the suffering she bearing.Secondly, Pearl sounds like purl, which means the author wants to compare little Pearl to a clear murmuring stream. Pearl is not only the reminders of Hester and Dimmesdale's crime, in other words, she is a mirror or an alarm bell for their crime; but also she is the soul sanctifier of Hester and Dimmesdale, which supervise and urge them to correct their errors and make a fresh start. There are relevant descriptions in the work: Hester and Dimmesdale meet in the brook and Pearl in other side, even though they are close to each other, Pearl never crosses the stream and comes to them. Just as the minister says “the stream is the boundary of two worlds”. If the stream is the boundary of innocence and evil, then Pearl is the little demon on the other side.Among the four main characters, only Pearl is perfect in the moral,and innocent in the heart. As a symbol of beauty and innocence, there is no doubt that her existence is a power of aspiration, which make us believe that life and society are beautiful and hopeful.页脚..Chapter Four The Symbolic Meaning of the Objects and SettingsIn the novel, except for the symbolic meaning of the scarlet letter “A”and four main characters' names, the objects and settings that are described in the work also have the rich symbolic meaning, such as页脚..the prison, the scaffold, the rose bush, and the forest.4.1 The PrisonAt the beginning of this story, the prison is introduced firstly inchapter one as “the founders of a new colony, whatever Utopia of human virtue and happiness they might originally project, have invariably recognized it among their earliest practical necessities to allot a portion of the virgin soil as a cemetery, and another portion as the site of prison”. It shows that the old, rusted, yet strong with an “iron—clamped oaken door”prison represents the harshness and sacrosanct authority of puritan society. Prison should have been the production of human civilization to punish the evil. However, in the novel, prison is the black flower of civilized society, and it is the symbol of puritanical severity and frightfulness. The traditional moral idea haswarped the mind of human beings; the good and evil have been distorted. Actually, prison has been the shackles of human nature. The door of prison was heavily timbered with oak, and studded with iron spikes. Such oak door and sharp spikes represents the rigorousness and restraint, ignorance and brutality, stubbornness and decay of this religious customs.4.2 The ScaffoldThe scaffold plays an important role in the entire work, and it is the页脚..symbol of judgment of god. The scaffold appears many times in the work; it not only represents the strict moral code of Puritan community but also is the place where people admit their crime and atone for their crime. In chapter three “The recognition”, Hester stands on the scaffold with holding Pearl in the arms for three hours to accept the question of ministers and the rebuke of the general public. Dimmesdale cannot bear the torture and stands on the scaffold in the deep night under illusion that he takes Hester and Pearl to confess his crime to the world. He wants to gain the redemption; however, his penance in the deep night is meaningless. He must confess his sin in the day in public; he can get the remission of the sin in the heart. At the end of story,。