美国文学史期末论《红字》象征意义
《红字》赏析
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《红字》赏析《红字》是美国作家纳撒尼尔·霍桑创作的一部经典小说,以美国殖民地时期为背景,描述了一个满是罪恶和偏见的社会环境中,主人公因犯下通奸罪而被判处戴上红字"A"标记,从而引发的一系列事件。
本文将从主题、人物形象及象征意义等几个方面对《红字》进行赏析。
首先,主题是《红字》最为突出和重要的元素之一。
在小说中,霍桑通过揭示人性的弱点和社会道德的束缚,探讨了罪恶、爱情与救赎等永恒的主题。
主人公海瑟尔·普林用女性的身份承受着严厉的社会谴责和道德压力,而她的伴侣阿瑟·丹皮尔则承担着隐瞒真相的重责。
小说通过描绘二人在罪恶与爱情之间的挣扎和对内心的反思,深刻探讨了人性的复杂与矛盾。
同时,小说还通过女性形象的呈现,对当时严格限制女性自由的社会现实进行了批判,呼唤着对女性权益的关注和思考。
其次,人物形象是《红字》具有鲜明个性和感染力的重要元素之一。
主人公海瑟尔·普林是一个充满坚韧与勇敢的形象。
创作初期,她以红色字母"A"标记的辱骂和谴责为代价,但她并没有被这个标记击垮,反而通过坚强的意志和自我救赎,逐渐重塑了自己的人生。
另一位形象深刻的人物是阿瑟·丹皮尔,他一度因为内心的罪恶感和恐惧而变得软弱,但最终在面对真相时,他选择担起责任,为爱情和家庭勇敢地负起了责任。
小说通过这些人物形象展示了人性的复杂性与脆弱性,让读者对他们的遭遇产生了深刻的共鸣和思考。
此外,象征意义是《红字》中一种重要的修辞手法。
红色字母"A"标记是整个小说的象征性意象,它既代表了主人公的罪恶,又是社会道德和偏见的体现。
红色作为暗示罪恶的象征,贯穿于整个故事的始终。
另外,荒野和丛林这两个地方也具有象征意义,它们代表了人性的原始状态和自由,成为主人公心灵的寄托和休养处。
通过这些象征性意象的运用,霍桑成功地为读者打开了一个意境深远、寓意悠长的故事世界。
《红字》中的意象及其象征意义
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教学争鸣新课程NEW CURRICULUM霍桑被认为是美国第一位最伟大的小说家,他的长篇小说《红字》被认为是美国文学史上第一部具有象征意义的小说。
他不但是一位伟大的浪漫主义小说家,同时也是19世纪美国杰出的象征主义先驱。
《红字》讲述了发生在北美殖民时期的恋爱悲剧。
女主人公海斯特嫁给了医生奇灵沃斯,他们之间却没有爱情。
在孤独中她与牧师丁梅斯代尔相恋并生下了女儿珍珠。
海斯特为通奸罪而被惩罚,戴上标志“通奸”的红色A字示众。
然而海斯特坚贞不屈,拒不说出孩子的父亲。
小说当中有大量的象征手法,不同的意象象征不同的意义,同样的意象也象征相同或不同的意义。
A字母的象征意义1.象征通奸红字A是最初因为海斯特背叛了自己的丈夫所代表的adultery,故事开头的场景是海斯特站在刑台上,胸前是个猩红色的A字,这是清教主义对犯通奸罪的一种惩罚方式。
海斯特不光彩的通奸行为被人看不起,她被看成是一个来自地狱的恶魔犯了极其严重的罪。
她虽然也对自己的通奸感到很羞愧,但她坦然地接受了惩罚,因为她相信幸福和真爱迟早会来!2.象征孤独和异化红字A不仅是通奸的象征,也象征着孤独和异化。
由于通奸,镇里的人看不起她,以不友好的方式对待她。
她选择寂寞地住在自己的小屋,远离城市,远离喧嚣,女儿珍珠是她唯一的陪伴,因此,红字A也是一个孤独和异化的象征。
3.象征能力、赞赏和天使随着时间的推移,海斯特用精美的刺绣和高尚无私的人格去帮助穷人和病人,红字A慢慢变成了能力,赞赏的天使的象征,人们不再认为她因通奸所受的惩罚是恰当的,她因为高洁的灵魂和善良的行为得到了邻居们的喜爱和尊重。
监狱和玫瑰丛的象征意义监狱象征着罪与罚。
在开篇第一章,监狱就是孤独和异化的象征,预示着海斯特将要过的生活是种监狱一样的生活。
玫瑰丛恰好与黑暗的监狱相反,它自由地生长,没有边界的束缚,与残酷的清教主义的教条形成了鲜明的反差。
霍桑形容监狱是一朵开在文明社会的黑暗之花。
海斯特生活在异化的炼狱之中,丁梅斯代尔生活在隐藏的原罪中,奇灵沃斯被他的复仇欲所控制,只有珍珠是自由纯洁的。
《红字》中的象征意义
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《红字》中的象征意义摘要:美国著名小说家纳撒尼尔·霍桑的代表作《红字》,是美国第一部象征主义小说。
《红字》充满了阴郁和神秘的色彩,所有的人物像是鲜亮的照片放在了满是尘埃的玻璃下,明明是清楚的,却笼罩着如雾气般沉重的基调,只有那个鲜红耀眼的a字可以看得清清楚楚,成为照片的核心。
整个小说展现了一种英国清教的宗教色彩,且以大量的人物心理活动贯穿始终,使不复杂的结构因为心理活动的描写变得丰富起来,象征主义让整个小说变得鲜活有意境。
文章就《红字》中的象征意义展开论述。
关键词:《红字》象征主义小说象征意义《红字》是美国19世纪影响最大的小说。
亨利·詹姆斯曾说《红字》是“本世纪最优秀的富有幻想力的小说”。
董衡巽在美国文学简史(上册)提道:“它是道德的代表,还是非道德的象征,是对清教道德规范的抨击,还是对它的赞颂,作者似乎没有对人物的褒贬,除了宗教戒规外,没有行为是非界限。
”纳撒尼尔·霍桑的小说多采用象征手法,要归因于他思想中神秘主义的影响,正如英美文学评论家朱虹所说:“在霍桑的作品中,最常见的一个现象就是:由于作家的主观精神的照射,客观事物既是它自己,同时又是别的什么。
吴亮在象征主义小说说:“客观物质世界仅仅是假象,而它的‘灵性’才是本质。
”他说,‘一切都是灵性,就好比灵魂与躯体的关系一样。
’”这种观点决定了霍桑在创作中不对客观事物作真实的描摹,而是借象征揭示客观事物背后的隐秘含义。
一、字母“a”的象征意义充满象征意义与神秘色彩的“a”字几乎贯穿小说的每一个场景,链接着每一个人物。
它附在海斯特的衣服上,刻在她死后的墓碑上,刺在丁梅斯代尔的身体上,甚至神秘地出现在天空中。
小说中的“a”最初是作为通奸的标志出现在读者面前的,这里“a”是通奸罪(adultery)的第一个字母。
海斯特从第一次登上刑台开始,就在胸前佩戴了象征耻辱和惩罚的“a”,它的意义是很明确的:这个女人是触犯了加尔文教规第七戒的有罪的通奸者。
解读霍桑《红字》中的象征意义
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《红字》 读后感
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《红字》读后感《红字》是美国作家纳撒尼尔·霍桑创作的一部长篇小说,该小说以17世纪普利茅斯殖民地为背景,讲述了一个关于爱情、罪恶与自由的故事。
读完这部作品,我深受触动,产生了许多思考。
首先,小说中的“红字”象征着犯下的罪行,这个标记给主人公海瑟·毕斯特带来了极大的痛苦和压力。
毕斯特因婚外情而生下孩子,被社会道德约束和偏见所困扰。
她的罪行被公开,她被迫佩戴着红色“A”字,以示儆戒和羞耻。
这个象征意味深远,引发了我对道德、罪恶和社会约束的思考。
作为一个现代人,我不禁问自己,为什么人们常常将道德标准加诸在他人身上?社会将自由放在高度重视的位置,但却限制着个人的选择和行为。
在小说中,毕斯特在承受着外界唾弃的同时,也表现出了她的坚强和不屈。
她不向道德规范妥协,坚信自己的爱情与孩子的存在。
而小说中的男主人公阿瑟·丹佛斯则展现了内心的挣扎和矛盾。
他爱着毕斯特,却因社会的压力而背叛了自己的爱。
他放弃了真实的情感,选择了表面的虚伪。
这让我思考了人性的复杂和自私。
我们是否应该对人们犯下的错误保持更多的宽容和理解?从阿瑟·丹佛斯身上,我看到了自己和他人的共通之处,激发了我对于价值观和道德选择的思考。
此外,在小说中,作者展现了对于女性权益的关注。
毕斯特被社会束缚,但她并不甘于被动接受命运的安排。
她表现出了批判和反叛的态度,试图摆脱束缚,追求自由。
她最终变得坚强和独立,为女性争取了应有的权益。
这反映了霍桑对当时社会对女性的固有偏见提出质疑,引发了我对性别平等和女性权益的思考。
通过阅读《红字》,我对人性、道德、罪恶、自由、性别等议题有了更深入的思考。
小说以其扣人心弦的情节和对社会问题的深刻触及,让我陷入了沉思。
我觉得这部小说警示我们,不论是过去还是现在,都需要保持对道德的解读和对人性的思考,才能更好地面对社会的挑战。
总之,读完《红字》后,我被故事中的人物和情节深深吸引,感受到了作者对社会问题的关注和思考。
浅谈小说《红字》中的多重象征意义
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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
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外国文学研究NG NG 6论5红字6中的象征主义孙丹丹5红字6是19世纪美国著名浪漫主义作家霍桑的优秀长篇杰作,是美国文学史上第一篇用象征手法创作的小说。
作家在其创作过程中广泛运用了象征的创作手法,从而使得小说中的人物、场所及大自然中的其他景物都带上了特殊的象征意义,使故事情节充满神秘色彩;与此同时,象征手法的运用丰富了作品的思想内涵,增加了小说的艺术魅力,给读者留下了无限的想象和无穷的回味。
象征主义是霍桑在本书中使用的主要技能之一,也是理解这部小说的最关键要素。
一、5红字6中主要人物的象征意义海丝特身材高挑、年轻、漂亮,典型的淑女形象,有着一双大大的眼睛和一头黑色的长发,完全就是/圣母0的形象。
这样一个女性如何面对她的命运?在书中第二章我们看到,当她走出监狱的大门时,/她往外推了一把监狱长)))这个动作带有明显的个人尊严和个性力量,走出了监狱的大门,就像完全出于她个人的自由意志。
0当被绑在绞刑架上当众游街宣告她不名誉的罪行时,她表现出了令人难以置信的勇气和胆量,坚决拒绝说出她女儿的父亲。
但她却受到了当时清教社会的严厉惩罚,被关进监狱。
她胸前戴着红字/A 0,过了七年非常孤寂、清贫与艰苦的生活,但她没有被严酷的生活所压倒,而是同样有勇气鼓励她的情人和她一起逃往欧洲。
虽然没有成功,但却表现了她对爱情和生活的强烈信念。
她热爱自己的女儿)))她的爱情果实。
她非常同情其他的不幸者,重新赢得了邻居们的信任并最终为红字给她带来的耻辱讨回了公正。
小说的最后一章中写道:/但是,当海丝特的充满了劳苦、深思和自我奉献的七年一掠而过后,她胸前的红字不再是召来人们嘲讽和咒骂的印记,而已成为人们为之感到悲伤的东西,成为人们以敬畏的眼光去打量的东西。
当然,这些眼光都带着深深的崇敬。
0从小说中可以看到:/当海丝特拒绝被当众游街时,她同样拒绝了社会准则。
她把那种因犯罪而被拖着走的景象转化成了依照她的自由选择而前进的行为。
她接受了通奸的罪名,但都是根据她自己的准则而接受的;她胸前的红字-A.刺绣变成了一个更复杂的象征,成了一个对一些-有罪的.事情还以公正的象征,成了她激情本性中一个重要的、有生命力的东西。
《红字》中的象征主义
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《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。
论文:论《红字》中人物姓名象征意义
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论《红字》中人物姓名的象征意义摘要:《红字》作为纳撒尼尔·霍桑的代表作,是美国第一部象征主义小说。
小说中运用大量的象征手法给予自然、人物、事物深层的涵义,其中各主人公的姓名就具有典型的象征意义。
本文将从象征主义角度剖析海斯特·白兰、奇灵渥斯、丁梅斯代尔和珠儿的名字,以期使读者更好地理解小说中的善与恶、道德与爱情、个人与社会的关系。
关键词:红字;人物名字;象征主义一、引言《红字》是19世纪美国浪漫主义作家纳撒尼尔·霍桑创作的长篇小说。
小说以二百多年前的美洲殖民地为题材,讲述的是女主人公海斯特·白兰嫁给自己并不喜欢的医生奇灵渥斯后,又与牧师丁梅斯代尔通奸并生下女儿珠儿。
由于当时殖民地受清教统治,而清教徒所信奉的“原罪说”、“完全的堕落”和“通过上帝的仁慈所带来的有限的救赎”[1]这样的教义是海斯特成为了不耻之人。
多年来,她要戴着自己亲手缝制的“红字”与女儿珠儿一起站到绞刑架上受人们的指责、嘲笑并接受救赎。
但是,她顽强不屈、忍辱负重的精神和乐于助人、善良美好的品质最终使人们了解真相,使恶人受到惩罚,也为自己赢来了尊重。
象征主义文学在19世纪中叶起源于法国,在20世纪初传至欧美大陆,法国诗人夏尔·波德莱尔和美国诗人爱伦坡是象征主义的先驱。
霍桑的文学创作深受超验主义倡导者爱默生的影响,爱默生在论述自然的本质时说“每一种自然现象都是魔种精神现象的象征物”[2],而霍桑认为客观物质世界仅仅是假象,其“灵性”才是本质。
因此,霍桑在自己的文学作品中,尤其是《红字》的创作中运用大量的象征,使小说中充满主观想象色彩,以此来描绘人物的心理感悟和感官直觉。
二、《红字》中人物姓名的象征意义小说中人物的姓名具有丰富的象征意义,能表现出人物的性格、品质等方面的特征,因此,本文将对主人公海斯特·白兰、奇灵渥斯、丁梅斯代尔、珠儿的姓名进行讨论,体会其深层象征意义,使读者更深入地理解各个人物的个性与品质。
_红字_中的象征意义
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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。
霍桑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上了特殊的象征意义,从而细致剖析了罪与罚的宗教意识对人性道德本质的深远影响。
关键词:纳撒尼尔·霍桑;《红字》;象征意义象征是文学创作的一种艺术方法,它借助具体的形象来表现抽象的意义。
纳萨尼尔·霍桑是美国19世纪杰出的浪漫主义小说家。
他的代表作《红字》在思想内容和艺术手法上独具一格,尤其是象征性寓意的写作手法在《红字》中表现得淋漓尽致。
该故事是关于罪、理智和自然情感之间冲突的寓言,从中我们不仅看到了作家对17世纪清教社会的批判,也看到他对任何人类社会的心理和控诉的清晰认识。
霍桑不仅把基本道德和人类心理交融在一起,而且有效运用象征来赋予作品的价值。
小说中的象征意义体现在以下几个方面:一、红字A的象征意义红字是小说中最具代表性的象征,被赋予了极为丰富的象征意义。
在小说的最开始,字母“A”是女主人公海丝特罪恶的象征,随着故事的发展,字母“A”最终成为了“能干”、“受钦佩”、“天使”的代名词。
首先,A是字母表中的第一字母,也就意味着开始,基督教的观点认为开始是无人幸免的原罪,或是世界之初的堕落。
在这里A代表通奸罪(Adultery),随着情节的发展,被赋予了多重含义。
其次,海丝特是一个感情丰富、渴望幸福的女人。
海丝特能做一手好活计,她第一次出现在众人面前时胸前佩戴的A形标记就可以看出。
凭借这种活计,海丝特仍可以养活自己以及孩子。
除了维持生计,海丝特拿出一点钱打扮自己的孩子,而其余的则捐献给慈善事业,施舍给穷苦百姓。
海丝特天性善良,在人们遇到困难时,她都尽可能地给以帮助。
这时“A”就成了能干(able)和天使(angel)的象征。
再次,尽管海丝特对别人和社会奉献了很多,但在离去时,“决不回眸收受那份应得的感激之情”,甚至有时在街上遇到曾经帮助过的人,“她从不抬头来接受他们的致意,如果他们执意要搭汕,她便把手指放在红十字上,侧身而过”。
论霍桑红字中的象征意义
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论霍桑红字中的象征意义霍桑红字是美国作家纳撒尼尔·霍桑于1850年出版的一部小说,被视为美国文学的经典之作。
故事讲述了一个发生在17世纪新英格兰的奇特故事,以红字A的象征意义为主要线索。
本文将探讨霍桑红字中的象征意义,解读其背后深层的思想和文化内涵。
首先,红字A在《红字》中象征着“赎罪”和“罪恶”。
主人公海丽丝·普林被迫佩戴着一个绣有红色字母“A”的徽章,表示她是一个通奸的罪人。
这个红字在社会中不仅让她备受羞辱和排斥,也成为她内心深处的重负。
红字A成为了海丽丝赎罪、面对罪恶的象征,她在故事中通过忍受屈辱与痛苦,最终以一种崇高的方式承担了她犯下的错误。
其次,红字A也可以解读为“爱情”和“激情”的象征。
故事中的男主角阿瑟·登斯代尔是海丽丝的爱人,他们之间的激情和欲望被描绘得极为强烈。
红字A不仅象征着他们秘密的爱情,也暗示了他们之间的禁忌与罪恶感。
红字A在小说中的描绘含有一种诱惑力和吸引力,象征着激情和爱情的燃烧。
此外,红字A还意味着“独立”和“反抗”。
霍桑在《红字》中刻画了一个封建时代的严苛社会,海丽丝是这个社会的受害者。
然而,虽然她备受羞辱,却在某种程度上选择了独立和反抗。
她坚守自己的信仰,并积极影响周围的人。
红字A在这个背景下象征着她的独立思想,她对不公正体制的反抗,以及对自由和尊严的追求。
最后,红字A还可以被视为“耻辱”和“社会道德”的象征。
在《红字》的故事中,整个社会对海丽丝的通奸行为十分厌恶,并对她进行严厉的谴责。
红字A成为了一个恶名的标记,让她成为社会的耻辱。
通过描绘海丽丝被红字A所束缚和困扰的形象,霍桑探讨了社会道德对个体的压迫和限制。
综上所述,霍桑红字中的象征意义丰富而深刻。
红字A代表了赎罪、罪恶、爱情、激情、独立、反抗、耻辱和社会道德等多重含义。
通过这个象征物的运用,霍桑向读者传达了对人性、社会制度以及道德观念的思考和反思。
红字A成为了海丽丝的生活之痛,也成为了读者对当代社会伦理和道德问题的思考。
论《红字》的象征寓意
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论《红字》的象征寓意一、本文概述《红字》是19世纪美国作家纳撒尼尔·霍桑的代表作,被誉为美国文学的经典之作。
该小说以波士顿殖民时期的社会背景为舞台,通过女主人公海丝特·白兰的悲惨遭遇和道德挣扎,深入探讨了人性、宗教、社会等复杂问题。
本文旨在分析《红字》的象征寓意,揭示霍桑如何通过象征手法,将小说的主题和深层含义巧妙地融入到故事的各个层面之中。
通过对小说中人物、物品、环境等象征元素的分析,我们能够更好地理解霍桑的创作意图,以及这部作品对后世文学和社会思想产生的深远影响。
二、《红字》的故事梗概《红字》是美国作家纳撒尼尔·霍桑于19世纪50年代创作的一部长篇小说。
作品以17世纪中期清教徒统治下的波士顿为背景,细腻地描写了女主人公海丝特·白兰因通奸罪被判在胸前佩戴象征耻辱的红色“A”字示众,在经历了长期的精神折磨后,仍坚持用道德和爱的力量感化他人,最终赢得人们的尊敬的故事。
海丝特·白兰是一个美丽而坚强的女性,她因与教会长丁梅斯代尔的爱情而犯下了通奸罪。
在那个时代,通奸是一种严重的罪行,不仅会受到法律的惩罚,还会被社会所唾弃。
海丝特被迫在胸前佩戴红色的“A”字,这个“A”字象征着她的耻辱和罪孽。
然而,海丝特并没有向命运低头。
她以坚定的信念和无私的爱,独自抚养着与丁梅斯代尔所生的女儿小珠儿。
她用自己的行动和道德力量,逐渐感化了周围的人,赢得了他们的尊敬和信任。
在这个过程中,她不仅救赎了自己,也救赎了那些曾经伤害过她的人。
教会长丁梅斯代尔是一个复杂的人物。
他一方面深爱着海丝特,另一方面又无法摆脱内心的罪恶感和社会的压力。
他在痛苦和矛盾中度过了自己的一生,最终在得知海丝特已经得到了救赎后,选择了向她坦白自己的罪行,并在悔恨中死去。
《红字》通过海丝特和丁梅斯代尔的故事,探讨了人性、道德、爱情和救赎等主题。
作品以象征手法和细腻的心理描写,展现了人性的复杂性和多面性。
霍桑《红字》中的象征主义解读
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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。
《红字》中的象征意义
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《红字》十九世纪美国浪漫主义作家纳撒尼尔崔桑的第一部作品,同时也是他最优秀的作品,这部经典在岁月的洗礼下越发闪耀,先后被译为多种文字,改编成影视作品。
虽然这部作品过去了很多年,但是其中体现出的对爱情、对婚姻以及人性的思考仍然值得我们今天去思考。
作家马原曾说:“《红字》是一部经典已经没有异议。
霍桑是我心中最了不起的小说家。
《红字》与所有别的名著最大的不同,是你可以读它许多遍,每读一遍收获都会有所不同。
它太过短小,涵盖又太过辽阔,这是不可思议的,也几乎是不可能的,但它的确如此。
”再一次重温这部作品,我也有了不一样的感悟,对于作品中的红字也有了更进一步的思考。
接下来我将从红字的罪恶、爱情与救赎三个方面来探究其象征意义。
一、红字之罪恶象征:世俗眼中的伤风败俗首先红字是一个类似字母“A”形状的图案或者标志。
是世俗对主人公赫斯特“婚外情”的惩罚。
当时赫斯特怀孕了,而孩子的父亲却不知是谁,当时的清教与世俗判定其通奸罪行成立,让其终身佩戴红字于胸前作为惩罚。
主人公赫斯特最初因为家庭困难不得已嫁给了比自己年长并且丑陋的老学究罗杰齐灵沃斯,这原本就是一个无爱的婚姻,也许在最开始这个罪恶的种子就已经埋下了。
当时在移居新大陆的时候,罗杰让赫斯特先行一步,但是罗杰却意外被印第安人捉去,这一失踪就是两年,而且隐约传来罗杰死去的讯息。
就是在这个时候,罗杰下落不明,赫斯特好像是一个寡妇的身份,这个时候她与当地年轻帅气又有才气的青年牧师丁梅斯代尔相识,两人经过一段时间的相处顺利相爱了。
后来因为赫斯特怀孕的事情在当地被传开,当时的清教以及世人都认为她犯了通奸之罪,赫斯特在牢狱中生下了他们的爱情结晶——女儿珠儿,可是正是这个时候赫斯特的丈夫罗杰回来了,化身一名医生,躲在黑暗里默默等待报复的时机,悲剧的种子悄悄的长大。
当时法官判定让赫斯特说出奸夫的名字就赦免她,但是她为了维护丁梅斯代尔的名誉,拒绝说出他的名字,最后法官让其终身穿上带有红色“A”字图案的衣服,作为惩罚。
隐喻与象征:解读《红字》中的符号意义
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隐喻与象征:解读《红字》中的符号意义介绍《红字》是美国作家纳撒尼尔·霍桑于1850年出版的一部长篇小说,被认为是美国文学史上的经典之作。
小说以17世纪普利茅斯殖民地为背景,讲述了一个关于婚外恋和罪恶的故事。
本文将从隐喻和象征两个角度解读《红字》中的符号意义。
一、隐喻隐喻是一种修辞手法,通过比喻、象征等手段用一个物体或概念来暗示另一个意义。
在《红字》中,作者运用了多个隐喻来传达深层次的含义。
1. 线索在小说中,“红字”即“A”标识着主人公海瑟·普林斯特(Hester Prynne)的罪孽,同时也成为了她身份的标记。
这个符号代表着社会对她所犯过错的谴责和惩罚。
它不仅仅是一种外在标记,更象征着道德约束、罪恶感和自我承认。
2. 红字A除了代表着海瑟的罪恶,红字A也具有多重意义的隐喻。
首先,红色象征着热情、欲望和爱情。
这与小说中海瑟和她的情人阿瑟·迪姆斯代尔(Arthur Dimmesdale)之间禁忌的爱情关系相呼应。
红字A从侧面揭示了两个人内心世界的复杂性和冲突。
其次,红色还暗示了血液,象征着生命、激情和罪恶的血缘联系。
通过将红字A与海瑟女儿脸上出现的血迹联系起来,作者巧妙地展示了罪孽对家庭关系和传承的影响。
3. 明亮光芒在小说中,明亮光芒被描述为夜晚深处自由飘散的东西。
它是另一个重要的隐喻,代表着真相、正直和良知。
光芒既是一种启示,在夜幕下揭示了隐藏在黑暗中的真相;同时也是一种抗争,在社会道德约束下勇敢地寻求我们内心最真实的自我。
二、象征象征是通过具体对象、动作或场景来代表更深层次的意义。
在《红字》中,许多符号被作者使用得淋漓尽致,传达了作品中复杂而丰富的主题。
1. 红玫瑰花在小说中,红玫瑰花被描绘为一个美丽而有吸引力的对象。
它代表着恶行之后追求幸福和爱情的机会。
红玫瑰花既象征着道德堕落和罪孽,也暗示了赎罪和希望。
海瑟戴上这朵红花后,她不再抑制内心真实情感,并开始寻求自己的救赎之路。
《红字》中的象征意义探讨
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《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。
红字信仰罪恶与自由
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红字信仰罪恶与自由自由是每个人内心深处的追求,它是一种渴望,一种希望,一种无尽的探索。
而信仰,则是人们对于生命意义和价值的追求与坚守。
然而,在某些特定的时刻和背景下,信仰也可以变得极具煽动性和破坏力。
《红字》这部文学巨作,以红字作为象征,深入探讨了信仰与罪恶以及其中隐藏的自由之间的复杂关系。
在这个故事中,红字"A"象征着罪恶与堕落。
它被放大到了整个社会的覆盖面,摧毁着一个人的尊严与自由。
主人公海瑟尔·品奇被刺上一枚红字"A",被世人唾骂和迫害。
这枚红字已经不仅仅代表着她的罪恶,更成为了整个社会对于道德秩序的警讯。
这种封印的存在,限制了品奇的自由,使她在道德约束下沉默无声。
信仰在人们的心中是灵魂的拐杖,是前行的动力。
在《红字》中,品奇的信仰也在坚守着自由。
虽然被束缚在红字中,品奇却没有放弃对自由的追求。
她勇敢地穿着红字,直面世人的公愤与指责,表达自己的坚守与信仰。
她选择了自由,选择了与红字共存,这是一种对人性本真的启示,也是对自由权利的最后守护。
然而,红字的存在也让人们对信仰思考。
在社会的审视下,信仰往往成为权威的工具,用来束缚和控制个体。
当信仰被滥用时,自由就成为一种奢望,而非现实。
品奇的红字不仅束缚了她的自由,也限制了她表达自己真实感受的权利。
红字象征的罪恶影响了人们的思维和道德观念,使得社会变得虚伪和强权。
信仰与罪恶的混淆,使人们对自由产生了质疑和疑虑。
与红字信仰的罪恶相对应的是隐藏的自由之声。
故事中的男主角阿瑟·狄姆斯代尔是一名神职人员,用自己智慧和慈爱,帮助品奇释放内心的负罪感。
尽管受困于社会的道德观念,但作为一位精神导师,阿瑟代表着人们内心真实的信仰和自由。
他秘密地与品奇交流,鼓励她勇敢面对红字的惩罚,释放内心的自由。
阿瑟的形象,揭示了信仰与自由之间的奇妙平衡。
他不仅是品奇信仰的守护者,更是社会中对抗罪恶束缚的希望。
《红字》所呈现的罪恶与自由问题,引发了我们对信仰和自由的深思。
浅谈《红字》中象征主义及浪漫主义手法的应用
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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。
《红字》象征意义解读
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《红字》象征意义解读摘要美国著名小说家纳撒尼尔·霍桑的代表作《红字》,是美国第一部象征主义小说。
本文着重从红字“a”、人物及场景描述三个方面来解读小说中的象征意义,深刻剖析了作者的清教观,同时也揭露了当时的社会制度与传统道德观念对人性的压抑与迫害。
关键词:纳撒尼尔·霍桑象征意义红字“a”中图分类号:i106.4 文献标识码:a象征,是文学创作的一种艺术手法,通过借助具体的事物来表现抽象的意义,诱发读者的想象和联想,从而来表达作者所要表现的某种思想、感情、意志或者观点。
象征是美国著名小说家纳撒尼尔·霍桑运用得最为娴熟的艺术手法之一。
面对各种事物和现象,他总是思索其中更深一层的意义,挖掘它们所代表的精神内涵或更高层次的真理。
其代表作《红字》创作于1851年,是整个美国浪漫主义小说中最有声望的权威作品之一,它在思想内容和艺术手法上独具一格,寓意深刻,尤以象征手法表现得最为淋漓尽致,因此,也被称为美国第一部象征主义小说。
《红字》描述了17世纪中叶发生在北美清教殖民统治下的新英格兰的一幕爱情悲剧。
年轻漂亮的海斯特·白兰嫁给了一个畸形的年老学者罗格·齐灵渥斯。
丈夫被俘虏失踪后,海斯特和一个年轻的牧师阿瑟·丁梅斯代尔暗中相爱,并生下了一个女孩儿——珠儿。
犯了通奸罪的海斯特遭到了胸前佩戴红“a”字的惩罚。
而齐灵渥斯潜回美洲处心积虑地折磨丁梅斯代尔。
最终海斯特因自己的美好德行获得了人们的谅解,而丁梅斯代尔在当众袒露了自己的罪责后死去。
这是一个讨论罪与罚及救赎的故事。
霍桑在这部小说中用充满象征的奇异图景构成了一个真实与想象、现实与幻想的混合世界。
本文着重从红字“a”、人物及场景描述三个方面来探讨小说中的象征手法。
一红字——“a”霍桑巧妙地把红字“a”贯穿整个小说,始终让它在不同的地点以不同的形式出现,像一道红线,连结起书中所有的人物和场景,是全书寓意丰富的核心象征。
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《美国文学史》期末论文2015-2016学年第二学期论文题目: 论《红字中的象征主义》英文题目:An Analysis of the Symbolism of theScarlet Letter姓名: 王舒学号:1345752211专业: 英语日期: 2015 年 6 月29 日An Analysis of the Symbolism of The Scarlet Letter Chapter One Introduction1.1Research Background1.1.1 Life Career and Literary Career1.1.2 The Origin of The Scarlet Letter1.2Purpose and Significance of the Study1.3Organization of the ThesisChapter Two The Organization of Symbolism2.1 Symbolic Meaning of the Main Characters’ Names2.1.1 Hester Prynne2.1.2 Arthur Dimmesdale2.1.3 Roger Chillingworth2.1.4 Pearl2.2 Symbolic Meaning of the Letter “A”2.2.1 Adultery2.2.2 Alone2.2.3 Angel2.2.4 Arthur DimmesdaleChapter Four ConclusionAn Analysis of the Symbolism of the Scarlet LetterChapter one Introduction1.1Research Background1.1.1 Life Career and Literary CareerHawthorne was born in Salem in 1804. His family has a long Puritan tradition. His father is a sea captain, died in Dutch when Hawthorne was only four. And his mother relied on relatives in rearing the children. Besides, some of his ancestors were a judge relate to the Salem Witchcraft Trails of 1692. Therefore, the familygradually fortune declined. Young Hawthorne was witnessed the process and aware of the misdeeds of his puritan ancestors, so he had deep understanding of evil in human life, people called “that blackness in Hawthorne”. This affected many works of him and stated truth in his books.He aspired to be a writer in his middle age. In 1821, he went to Bowdoin College where he made friends with Wadsworth Longfellow and Franklin Pierce, who was the fourteenth President of the United States. Franklin helped him when he was in financial difficulties. After graduation, he spent 12 years in seclusion on literary apprenticeship, reading widely and practicing writing. In 1839, Hawthorne has worked in Boston customs for two years. Later, he entered into Brook Farmland and contacted with the idea of transcendental. Then, Hawthorne went to Salem customs, in which affected the work “The Scarlet Latter” directly.In 1842, Hawthorne got married and lived in Concord, made friends with his neighbors, Emerson and Thoreau and others. Finally, he died in 1864 and buried in Sleepy Valley cemetery. Hawthorne’s first novel is about his school life, which was a failure novel. So he burnt all his copies in great rage. Later, he published a collection of short stories, called Twice-Told T ales in 1837, which attracted some popular and critical attention. Another successful short story collection, Mosses from an Old Manse came out in 1846 and brought him great fame and made him finally financially comfortable. In 1850, a novel, The Scarlet Letter came out, which made him known by others and made his name as a writer of no small talent. In 1851, The House of the Seven Gables came out, to be followed by The BlithedaleRomance in 1852 and The Marble Faun in 1860.1.1.2 The Origin of the Scarlet LetterThe story of The Scarlet Letter is very simple but very moving. The story is set in New England in seventeenth century Boston, which is under Puritan command.A young beautiful woman, named Hester Prynne, is sent ahead to America by his husband-----an aging English scholar. However, for two years, he does not arrive here. But two year later, he is bewildered to see his wife in pillory, wearing a scarlet letter “A” on her breast and holding a baby in her arms. She is considered the guilty of adultery and brought to trial. The old scholar pretends to be a physician and changes his name Rogar Chillingworth. Gradually, he discovered that his wife’s lover is the young clergyman, Arthur Dimmesdale. Hester refuses to name her lover all the time and looked down on by others. Dimmesdale suffered physical and mental torture. But Hester response to the scarlet letter is a positive one. She lives a quiet life with her daughter, Pearl. She helps her fellow creatures as a sister if many of sorts or as a skilled embroiderer in modest manner, and finally wins other’s love and admiration. Because the scarlet letter “A”, the church members suggest Pearl be taken away from Hester, and Dimmesdale has a poor health. She plans to leave America with Dimmesdale, but he refused her help. He dies in the end in her arms while confessing his sin at a public gathering. Chillingworth withers. Pearl is married into a noble family.1.2 Purpose and Significance of the StudySymbolism is not only a significant feature of Hawthorne’s works, but also a major feature of Romanticism. Therefore, study of Hawthorne’s masterpiece, the scarlet letter, symbolism can help the readers knows more about the novel and read his works without any difficulties. When we learn a symbolism of a novel, we could study it from the characters, situations, environment and others. It is very important for readers to understand a novel’s thesis.1.2Organization of the ThesisIn The Scarlet Letter, symbolism is used not only in the main characters but also in the capital letter “A”which symbolism adultery, alone, alienation, angel and Arthur Dimmesdale.Chapter Two The Organization of Symbolism2.1 Symbolic Meaning of the Main Characters’ Names2.1.1Hester PrynneHester Prynne is one of the main characters in this novel. Hawthorne endows her name with much symbolic meanings. Firstly, when we see the word “Hester”, we may contact it with Hastier, who is the sister of Zeus in Greek mythology. She is kitchen goodness. She is also very beautiful god. Hawthorne names his main character Hester, which give readers a strong sense that Hester is a beautiful,passionate and warm-hearted woman. In this novel, Hester tries her best to help others and as a skilled embroiderer in an unobtrusive and undemanding manner. Whatever she goes, she is warm-hearted and king. Besides, the sound of “Hester” is similar to “Hastier”, which is difficult to distinct them. Not only is her behavior like goodness, but also her beautiful appearance.Secondly, Heater is the homophone of the word “Haste”, which means doing something quickly so that you are careless and make mistakes. She gets married to Roger Chillingworth, who is an ugly and old man and devotes all his life to his books, his wife just could get a little love from him. As a young woman, she goes through everyday loneliness without living a normal life. She does not have a baby with Roger. So she feels sexual inhibition. What’s more, her husband sent her to America, while he disappeared for two years without any news. Hester falls in love with Arthur quickly, a young clergyman. As a result, her fortunate life starts with hasty.Hester’s surname also has its symbolic meaning. First of all, “Prynne” sounds like “Prurient”. Hester’s husband is so old that he could not give her sexual love. Which makes Hester loves the young man so hastily. As a result, she is put into prison and forced to wear the letter “A” all the time and everywhere for the crime. Hawthorne uses Prynne to suggest the origin pain of Hester.What’s more, “Prynne”is similar to “Prune”so that affect reader’s understanding. Hawthorne not only point out the reason for Prynne’s guilty, but also believes that she could recover from the pain in the late of life. When Hestergets out the prison, she never abandons herself, but has courage to face the cold world. She has a positive attitude to face the scarlet letter and the rumors in this town.The last but not least, “Pry” the first syllable of “Prynne”, which with the meaning of spying on somebody. The author wants to discover the evil from the life of Prynne. In many years without contacting others, Prynne has been thinking her guilty, it also make her aware of the evil spirit beneath the surface of the saints. If you put people’s mind on the table, may be everyone has a scarlet letter. Everyone has sins in their deep mind。