美国文学作品人物分析

Hester Prynne is the protagonist of Hawthorne’s novel The Scarlet Letter.She is portrayed as a woman condemned by her Puritan neighbors. Hester had to wear a piece of red cloth in the shape of an A (standing for adulteress) on the bodice of her dress to identify her as a sinner. In fact, she was an unyielding women for she never told out who was the father. In the book, she was exactly the epitome of the noble qualities which not only influenced the clergyman but also reformed the cruel and hypocritical society at that time. So I think she is one of the most important female protagonists in American literature.

Captain Ahab is the protagonist of Melville’s novel Moby-Dick. He was a tragic figure in the novel for he perished together with the white whale at the end. The author shows us American’s dauntless spirit of the rising period and vividly revealed the pursuit of the romanticism movement through this character. We can see that Ahab was a man with the adventurous spirit. Though he died last, his spirit inspired American people to fight and struggle for their dreams and do not afraid of the difficulties. On the other hand, Ahab was also criticized by these environmental protectors. One of his legs was made of whale’s bone, and he was so crazy and brutal.

Uncle Tom is the protagonist of Stowe’s novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin. He was initially seen as a noble, long-suffering Christian slave. Stowe intended Tom to a noble and praiseworthy person. He was a representative of a group of people, especially the African. Throughout the book, far from allowing himself to be exploited, Tom stands up for his beliefs and is grudgingly admired by his enemies. However, such a good hearted person suffered a lot under the slavery. The author shows us the cruelty of the slavery through the experience of Tom.

Tom Sawyer is the protagonist of Mark Twain’s novel 《The Adventures of Tom

Sawyer》. Tom Sawyer was a mischievous and adventurous boy with an active imagination. Despite his mischief, Tom had a good heart and a strong moral conscience. As the novel progressed, he began to take more seriously the responsibilities of his role as a leader. Tom Sawyer’s character just was conflicted to the living environment of capitalism. Compared with Tom Sawyer’s life, we can find that the life of other people were so boring and dull. Mark Twain criticized about the hypocritical society and people who chased money without mercy from the point of Tom.

Carrie Meeber is the protagonist of Theodore Dreiser’s novel Sister Carrie. At the beginning of the novel, Carrie was just a very pure-hearted girl who was eager to see the world. But, later the harsh reality made her began to learn the hypocrisy and affectation. She was totally changed by the society, and her success could be seen as a compromise of the principle to society. The author exposed the fact that United States capitalism pressed the poor and the corrosive influence of bourgeois lifestyle on petty bourgeoisie. Carrie was one of the representatives of the petty bourgeoisie.

Frederic Henry is the protagonist of Hemingway’s novel A Farewell to Arms. He was a young American ambulance driver in the Italian army during World War Ⅰ. At first, Henry met his military duties with quite stoicism. However, later his selfish motivations undermined all sense of glory and heroism. His life lacked real passion until he met with the beautiful Catherine. Nevertheless, fate played a joke on him. At the end of the novel Catherine and their son died, for they couldn’t escape from the cruel reality and war. Henry lost his love and the hope for life. War is nothing more than the dark, murderous extension of a world that refuses to acknowledge, protect, or preserve true love.

Jay Gatsby is the protagonist of F.Scott Fitzgerald’s novel A Great Gatsby. He is a