英美文学英文版 论文

北京城市学院语言学部考核试卷答题纸
2010--2011学年第二学期期末
课程名称：英美文学选读使用班级：08英本4
考试时间：两周考核方式①：论文
Give your own comment on the use of symbolism in The Scarlet Letter.
—The Scarlet letter “A” and The Scarlet “five-stroke armband”I．Introduction
As a great romantic novelist in America in the 19th century, Hawthorne was outstanding in handling the application of symbolism,he used the symbolism so skillful that it enhanced the artistic effects of his work greatly. This paper researches the symbolism in this novel from the following aspects: the changing symbolic meaning of the scarlet letter and the effect of the symbolism to the real world by comparing it with t he Scarlet “five-stroke armband” of the time .
II. The changing symbolic meaning of the scarlet letter and the Scarlet “five-stroke armband” and the effect of the symbolism to the real world
After I read the novel—《The Scarlet Letter》, it occurs to me that the “five-stroke armband” event happened a month ago , which arose a heated topic on the internet . In the novel of 《The Scarlet Letter》written by Hawthorne , the letter A , as a symbol , was added to Hester , whi ch represented “adultery”. While in the “five-stroke armband” event , “five-stroke armband” , like the letter A , which also had a symbolic meaning , was awarded to the young Huang Yibo who was born in WuHan in HuBei province . But the big difference between them was that “A”was regarded as a
symbol of humiliation , while the “five-stroke armband” was thought of as an honor by the relevant sector in WuHan . “ Honor” and “ Disgrace ” , when they were looked as two signs playing the role of “example” and “warning”respectively to define a person , what effect it had brought to the people of the society ?
Hester , under the control of Puritan colonists , became a example of admonishing evil and was forced to wear the scarlet letter A before the chest . However , Hester chooses to stay though, which shows a lot of strength and integrity , She lived a humiliated life all her life . After many year’s abuse and persecution , she naturally accepted a traitorous mind . In the end , she even persuaded the priest to escape with her . From some details of the novel , we can see Hester kept the secret forever without submitting to the humiliation from the letter A and the threat of the ruler . At the same time , in these years , Hester , enduring all difficulties in an adversity and keeping chaste , won a good reputation . People in the town also saw Hester trying her best to help somebody who needed help , including those who said jeers at her aiming at her letter A before the chest . When the town had a disaster , she comforted these families suffering a lot without hesitation , which made these rulers also realizing the fine characters in Hester and gradually changing their strong attitude toward her . Because of Hester’s kindness and accommodating to the people in th at society , they were no longer to understand the letter A as before . In other words , at that point “A”was obviously not a symbol of disgrace , the scarlet letter “A” changes its meaning into being able, angel and admirable. Her excellent needlework for the rich allows her to maintain a fairly stable lifestyle. After years of Hester’s helping, serving, and sympathizing with them, many of the townspeople refuse to interpret the scarlet letter by its original signification, and now they believe that the scarlet letter stands for her ability to her beautiful needlework and for her unselfish assistance to the poor and sick. At this point, a lot of townspeople realize what a noble character Hester possesses. Therefore , the way of using A to define Hester’s b ehavior , even to define her , was in effect meaningless , because A was not functioning as the ruler had thought of to warn all people forever , except brought endless difficulties and
affliction to Hester .
Huang Yibo , who is a good and lovely boy . Because of his excellent show in all aspects , he was elected as the captain of Young Pioneers of China Wuhan , and worn the arm badge called the “five-stroke armband” by the people on the internet . In the beginning , the badge was expected to be regarded as a “example” for the young students to learn . But in few weeks , the photograph about Huang Yibo was soon spread on the internet and suffered constant attacks . When he saw these comments from the net friend by accident , he was confused and bear tremendous pressure . From the event , we saw that adding the symbol of “five-stroke armband” to the boy as an example to attract the young students to learn also had a great ill effect to the society . While Huang Yibo as a innocent student was also involved in the event and reduced to the censure from people . So his father had to explain again and again in order to create a health environment for him . During the process , the boy was actually a victim of the educational method that defined a “example”to guide the others .
The Scarlet letter “A” and The Scarlet “five-stroke armband” have some in common . To begin with , they are both symbols having some certain meanings . These symbols were used to influence the society or to guide the people . In addition , they both turned to the other way beyond the expectation of the user . Last , they both hurt the person who wear the symbol .
III. conclusion
From above we have said , we can safely get the conclusion that using a symbol “A” or “five-stroke armband” to “warn” or to “make an example” , even to define the person will hurt himself . What’s worse , it will deepen the distance among people . The person defined by the authority , no matter he is good or bad , will become the focus people attack . In this way to some degree were people able to express their dissatisfaction to the rule or to the educational method , while in terms of the original
intention of the user , it worked a little . Th e Scarlet letter “A” and The Scarlet “five-stroke armband” , though they have different social background and symbolize different people , both suggest that symbol is a double-edged sword and can translate between good and bad . We shouldn’t define a person or a kind of spirit by using it , otherwise we will run into rigidity . In the modern society , we make great emphasis on the power of the “example” . Of course , it is important because it is influential to the society , but once we define somebody as “good” or “bad” , it’s necessary for us to take all aspects into accoun t . Because it’s not as easy as we labeled a commodity .
Bibliography
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