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1、本科生毕业论文An Analysis of Symbolism in The Scarlet 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2011年 5 月 30 日An Analysis of Symbolism in The Scarlet Letter A Thesis Submitted to Foreign Languages Department of Henan University of Economics and Law in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Bachelor
2、 of Arts By XXX Supervisor: XXX May 30, 2011 毕业论文开题报告所在系：外国语言文学系专 业：英语学号：姓 名：XXX毕业论文题目： An Analysis of Symbolism in The Scarlet Letter1. Aim and Significance: Nathaniel Hawthorne is a great romantic novelist in America in the nineteenth century. He is deeply influenced by Puritanism consciousness, T
3、ranscendental philosophy and m ysticism. As a result, instead of giving the objective description of the world, he always gives a symbolic meaning to an objective thing to express his true understanding of the world, trying his best to discover the hidden meaning through the symbols. Therefore, if w
4、e want to deeply understand Hawthorne s writing style, it is essential for us to make a thorough research on the symbols and symbolism in his works. The Scarlet Letter is Hawthornes masterpiece, which makes him well known around the world, and it is also one of the most remarkable works in American
5、literature. This novel with an everlasting glamour mainly lies in Hawthornes skillful handling of symbolism. From the title to the arrangement of the plot, then to the description of the characters and objects, the author uses only a few words to express rich meanings, which leaves us much room for
6、imagination. The author of the paper develops a deep interest in The Scarlet Letter after having finished reading this novel. What strikes the author most is the scarlet letter A. It runs through the whole novel, and manifests in various forms at different time, places and scenes. Furthermore, the m
7、eaning of the scarlet letter A becomes richer and more complicated as the plot further develops. 2. Main Methods and Ways of Studies: The research into the symbolism in The Scarlet Letter can make readers deeply understand Hawthornes writing style. First, by way of exploring the various symbolic mea
8、nings of the scarlet letter A to different characters and the changing symbolicmeanings of the scar let letter A at different time, places and scenes, the thesis can help readers have a better understanding of the rich meanings of the letter A in the novel and the process of moral growth of the main
9、 characters. Second, the research into the symbolic meanings of the characters names, various objects in the novel and the symbolic meanings of Pearl can make readers deeply understand Hawthornes unique artistic writing characteristics, the profound social significance revealed by the novel and the
10、author s writing aims. 3. Reference Books and Materials Available: Brown, H. D. Principles of Language Learning and Teaching. Beijing: Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, 2002. David， Crystal. The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language . Beijing: Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, 1
11、997. 刁培萼 . 教育文化学 M. 南京: 江苏教育出版社 , 2000. 范蔚. 新课程标准视野下的课堂教学审美化J. 西南师范大学学报 . 2003, 3: 8387. 4. Timetable of the Thesis Writing: Time arrangement for the writing plan is as follows: Before January 10, 2011, hand in the presentation of the paper. Before April 18, 2011, hand in the first draft of the pape
12、r. Before May 30, 2011, hand in the final paper. 指导教师意见：指导教师签名 :2011年 1 月14 日1 Abstract Nathaniel 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 Hawthornes most
13、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
14、 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 toable , even angelic in the novel. Besides, the name of the four ma
15、jor characters inthe 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 si
16、gnificance. The author of the thesis will explore the usage of symbolism in The Scarlet Letter from the three aspects mentioned above and analyze Hawthornes skillful use of symbolism in The Scarlet Letter. Key Words: the scarlet letter ；symbolism；Hester Prynne ；Pearl 2 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。作为一
17、位伟大的浪漫主义小说家 , 霍桑对象征主义手法的运用可以说是独具匠心。长篇小说红字是霍桑重要的象征主义代表作品，无疑也是美国文学浪漫主义时期最著名的作品之一。 也正是这部巨著使得霍桑誉满全球。 在这部作品中，作者巧妙运用了象征主义手法， 加强了作品的艺术效果。 整篇作品象征主义手法贯穿始终。其中，最重要的要数红字“A”本身的象征意义。它不仅以各种各样的形式出现，并且其象征意义不断变化，从“通奸”到“有能力的”甚至“天使般的” 。此外，小说中四个主要角色：海丝特, 丁梅斯代尔，齐灵沃斯 , 珠儿也都有其各自的象征意义。小说中描述的景物和场景，例如监狱、森林、玫瑰花园等等也都寓意深刻。本文正是从以
18、上这几个方面着手，探究作者在小说红字中对象征主义手法的巧妙运用。关键词 : 红字；象征；海丝特普琳；珍珠3 Acknowledgments This thesis is the product of the author and the supervisors three months of efforts. It has been repeatedly revised under the guidance of Professor XXX. It was the joint efforts of both the author and the teachers in Foreign Lang
19、uages Department. I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to Professor XXX and the teachers who have helped the author in the process of the thesis writing. I will also give my thanks to my classmates and friends who have helped me revise the thesis. Last but not least, I will give my heartfelt
20、thanks to my parents who have been always supporting and encouraging me. 4 Contents Introduct1on . 41 Various Symbolic Meanings of the Scarlet Letter “A”. 61.1 The Change of the Symbolic Meanings of the Scarlet Letter A. 61.1.1 Adultery. 61.1.2 Alone and Alienation. 71.1.3 Able, Admirable and Angel
21、. 81.2 The Scarlet Letter and the Strictness of Puritan Society . 92 The Symbolic Meaning of the Four Main Characters . 92.1 Hester Prynne . 92.2 Arthur Dimmesdale . 102.3 Roger Chillingworth . 112.4 Pearl . 123 The Symbolic Meanings of the Objects in the Novel . 15Conclusion . 18Bibliography . 19In
22、troduction Nathaniel Hawthorne was born in Salem in 1804. He was born in a prestigious New England family closely related with Puritan church; his ancestors attended the persecution of people belonging to different churches, such as Quakers. When he was born, his family declined. He was aware of his
23、 ancestors misdeeds and thus blackness of Hawthorne formed. He thought that the reason of his familys decline is his ancestors misdeeds. And he didn t agree with the optimism held by Transcendentalists towards human nature. He wrote lots of works on everlasting evil side in human nature.Hawthorne gr
24、aduated from Bowdoin College. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Franklin Pierce, the 14th American presidents were his classmates. After 5 graduation, he lived in seclusion and wrote. Later, he worked in the US Custom House. After Pierce became president, he was asked to be the consular in Liverpool an
25、d Italy. Hawthorne s masterpiece includes his short story collections: Twice-Told Tales ; Moses from an Old Manse and novels: TheScarlet Letter; The House of Seven Gables ; The Blithedale Romance ; The Marble Faun. Hawthorne s writing skills can be summarized as follows: Hawthorne seems to be influe
26、nced a lot by the sin and evil in his sense. He believes evil exists in human heart all the time. For example, in the novel The Scarlet Letter, the minister Dimmesdale tries to pretend how pure and pious he is. He wants to cover up the evil in his mind. Not only Dimmesdale wants to do like this, but
27、 also all the people in the world, because we are only human beings. And the evil just likes a mark that exists in our mind when we are born. And in Hawthornes mind, people who commit a crime must be punished, because people can get experience from this way. And also he supports people to tell the t
28、ruth and not to offend. Nathaniel Hawthorne is a great romantic novelist in America in the 19th century and is considered to be the first greatest American fiction writer in the moralistic tradition. Hawthorne is outstanding in literature skill, especially in handling symbolism. His work The Scarlet
29、 Letteris notable for its symbolism and is regarded as the first symbolic novel in American literature. The story begins in seventeenth-century Boston, which is under Puritan command. The husband an old and ugly scholar, sends a young woman, named Hester Prynne, ahead to America. However, for many y
30、ears, he himself doesnt arrive. Obviously, it is possible that he has been lost in the sea. While waiting for her husband, Hester and a young local minister called Arthur Dimmesdale fall in love with each other. They commit adultery secretly. Because of Hesters Pregnancy, the secret is finally disco
31、vered. Hester and Dimmesdale love each other. But their love is forbidden in that strict society. It is sinful. Due to this fact, Hester is punished by society with a letter A on her chest, which is considered to be an evil, a shame. Hester is brave enough to face the cruel society. She is always wi
32、th a mind of 6 courage. She has been alone with her child for so long a time, with little communication. Hester has to wear the letter Aday by day, seven years as for punishment and ill fame. However, Hester is a kind-hearted woman and is always ready to help other people in the community without ex
33、pecting any thanks. Later, people in the town no longer view the scarlet letter A as a punishment, but rather as representing her great strength and bravery and they say it means Able . But Arthur Dimmesdale, his sin against Hester and Pearl is that he will not acknowledge them as his wife and daugh
34、ter in the daylight. He is too weak to admit his sins. He suffers from mysterious heart trouble, seemingly caused by psychological distress. Whats worse, he is an advisor to the townspeople about their sins. After Mr. Dimmesdales death, no one changes more in appearance than Roger Chillingworth. All
35、 his strength and energy has been used to harm his patient. This unhappy man has made his aim in life to add to the suffering of the young minister. When the evil old man no longer has such a purpose, the devil takes him back to the hell. The Scarlet Letter is a cultural allegory, in which the autho
36、r indirectly tells the future of Puritanism. The Scarlet Letter is a sample in which American Romanticism adapted itself to American Puritanism. The theme of the story should 1 Various Symbolic Meanings of the Scarlet Letter “ A”1.1 The Change of the Symbolic Meanings of the Scarlet Letter “A”In thi
37、s novel, the scarlet letter A changes its meanings for many times. This change is very significant. It shows growth in the characters, and the community in which they live. At the very beginning, the letter A is regarded as a kind of sin or evil. Then with the development of the story, it becomes a
38、symbol of alone and alienation of the female character Hester. Finally, it becomes a symbol of able, admirable and angel. 1.1.1 Adultery 7 In the novel, the letter A, worn on Hester s bosom, is a symbol of her adultery against Roger Chillingworth. Putting the letter A on her bosom and letting her sh
39、ow to the public is the puritan way of treating her as a criminal, for the crime of adultery. Hester is 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. This is the common way to expl
40、ain the symbolic meaning of the letter. The color of scarlet is the symbol of blood and desire. Hester and Dimmesdale cannot control their love for each other and become the criminals of God. A woman loses her purity and a holy minister is punished for bringing shame to his holy occupation. Red shou
41、ld be regarded as the symbol of love and life, but under the control of the Puritan strictness, Hester has to wear the scarlet letter A in order to be regarded as a symbol of shame and punishment. Here, she said to herself, had been the scene of her guilt, and here should be the scene of her earthly
42、 punishment (Brown，2002：123) Hester is ashamed of her sin, but she chooses to face the reality rather than escape from it. Many people may choose the way of leaving for some other places where nobody knows of her sin. However, Hester is brave enough to continue to live her life, which shows great st
43、rength and integrity of her. 1.1.2 Alone and Alienation The scarlet letter A also symbolizes Hester s lonely life in New England. Hester s social life is virtually eliminated as a result of her shameful past. She has to live in such a community regardless of others ironical words and with great cour
44、age and ability. 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. Hester comes to have a part to perfo
45、rm in the world with her native energy of character and rare capacity (Chase, 1957: 45). 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 8 banish
46、ed, 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.Hester has no friends in the world, and
47、 little Pearl is the only companion of her lonely life. In other people s eyes, Hester is a criminal and most of them regard communicating with her as a shameful thing. Therefore, the scarlet letter A is also a symbol of alone and alienation. 1.1.3 Able, Admirable and Angel The letter was the symbol
48、 of her calling. Such he lpfulness 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 (Rubinstein, 1988: 68). We can see that the meaning of the scarlet letter A changes from adultery to being able, ang
49、el and admirable. At the beginning, people living in the town looked down upon the woman because of her crime. But later, they find that Hester is so skillfully in needlework and she always help the poor and sick without expecting any return or thanks. She is unselfish and always ready to help other
50、s considerately and patiently. People in the town then realize her noble nature and change the view on her. Do you see that woman with the embroidered badge? It is our Hester the towns own Hester who is so kind to the poor, so helpful to the sick, so comforting to the afflicted(Hawthorne, 1994:89).