美国文学_霍桑_NEW_12_Hawthorne

NathanielHawthorneTheScarletLetterNathanielHawthorne(1804-1864)NovelistShortStoryWriterCentralFigureofAmericanRenaissanceNathanielHawthorne(1804-1864)LifeStoryLiteraryCharacteristicsTheScarletLetterLifeStoryChildhoodEducationCareerChildhoodBirth:Salem,Massachusetts;July4,1804Prominentancestors:colonialmagistrate(Quakers)judge(SalemWitchcraftTrialin1692)father:seacaptaindyingin1808LeadingasecludedlifeQuakersOneofareligioussectfoundedbyGeorgeFoxwhoseteachingwasprimarilyapreachingofrepentanceThetremblingamongthelisteningcrowdcausedorconfirmedthenameofQuakersgiventothebodyMenandwomensometimesfelldownandlaystrugglingasifforlife—EncyclopediaBritannicaTheSalemWitchcraftTrialsTime:May-Octoberof1692OneofthedarkesttimesinAmericanhistoryofreligioustoleranceAmongthelastoutbreaksofthepersecutionofaccusedwitchesReasons:anongoingfrontierwar,economicconditions,congregationalstrife,teenageboredom,andpersonaljealousiesTrialofanaccusedwitchinSalemExaminationofSarahGoodbyJudgesHathorneandCorwinWhatevilspirithaveyoufamiliaritywith?None.Haveyoumadenocontractwiththedevil?No.Whydoyouhurtthesechildren?Idonothurtthem.Iscornit.Whodoyouimploythentodoit?Iimploynobody.Whatcreaturedoyouimploythen?Nocreature.Iamfalselyaccused.EducationBowdoinCollege(1821-1825)Friends:H.W.Longfellow&FranklinPierceGraduating18thof38studentsCareer1825-1827:Salem(readingandwriting)1839-1840:BostonCustomsHouse1842:gettingmarriedandlivingattheOldManse1846-1849:SalemCustomsHouseBuying“Wayside”1853-1857:UnitedStatesConsulatLiverpool1857-59:RomeandFlorence1860:returningtoAmerica1864:deathSophiaPeabody“Iamalwayssodazzledandbewilderedwiththerichness,thedepth,the…jewelsofbeautyinhisproductionsthatIamalwayslookingforwardtoasecondreadingwhereIcanponderandmuseandfullytakeinthemiraculouswealthofthoughts”LiteraryCharacteristicsMajorWorksBlackVisionAestheticsStyleLiteraryCareer1828:Fanshawe1832:MyKinsman,MajorMolineux“1837:Twice-ToldTales1846:MossesfromanOldManse1850:TheScarletLetter1851:TheHouseoftheSevenGables1852:TheBlithedaleRomance1852:TheLifeofFranklinPierce1860:TheMarbleFaun1863:OurOldHomeBlackVisionEvilexistsinthehumanheartEveryonepossessessomeevilsecretEveryoneseemstocoveruphisinnerostevilEvilseemstobeman’sbirthmarkSinwilleventuallygetpunishedEvileducatesOverweeningintellect—sourceofevilTheHouseofSevenGables“Manywriterslayverygreatstressuponsomedefinitemoralpurpose,atwhichtheyprofesstoaimtheirworks.Nottobedeficientinthisparticular,theauthorhasprovidedhimselfwithamoral,--thetruth,namely,thatthewrong-doingofonegenerationlivesintothesuccessiveones…”AestheticsTheMarbleFaun;TheScarletLetter;TheHouseofSevenGablesPovertyofMaterialsInterestinhistoryandantiquityRomanceSources“thereisnoshadow,noantiquity,nomystery,nopicturesqueandgloomywrong,noranythingbutacommonplaceprosperity,inbroadandsimpledaylight”“thegenialatmospherewhichaliterarymanrequiresinordertoripenthebestharvestofhismind”Interestinhistoryandantiquity“torecallwhatwasvaluableinthepast”“connectabygonetimewiththeveryPresent”“anewterritory,somewherebetweentherealworldandfairy-landwheretheActualandtheImaginarymaymeet,andeachimbueitselfwiththenatureoftheother”RomancePredestinedformofAmericannarrative“Povertyofmaterials”PuritanprudenceTreatingphysicalpassionsobliquelyAvoidingviolatingthehumanheartTellingthetruthandsatirizingandyetnotoffendingStyleRomancefictionLongvisualdescriptionsFormaldialogues(humanemotion)Character’sinnerstruggleSymbolismandallegoryFlowingandalmostfeminineAmbiguityTheScarletLetterSummaryMajorThemesFeaturesSummaryHesterisbeingledtothescaffold,wheresheistobepubliclyshamedforhavingcommittedadultery.HesterisforcedtoweartheletterAonhergownatalltimes.ShehasstitchedalargescarletAontoherdresswithgoldthread,givingtheletteranairofelegance.HestercarriesPearl,herdaughter,withher.OnthescaffoldsheisaskedtorevealthenameofPearl'sfather,butsherefuses.InthecrowdHesterrecognizesherhusbandfromAmsterdam,RogerChillingworth.ChillingworthvisitsHesteraftersheisreturnedtotheprison.Hetellsherthathewillfindoutwhothemanwas,andhewillreadthetruthontheman'sheart.Chillingworththenforceshertopromisenevertorevealhistrueidentityashercuckoldedhusband.Hestermovesintoacottageborderingthewoods.SheandPearllivethereinrelativesolitude.Hesterearnshermoneybydoingstitchworkforlocaldignitaries,butsheoftenspendshertimehelpingthepoorandsick.Pearlgrowsuptobewild,evenrefusingtoobeyhermother.SummaryRogerChillingworthearnsareputationasagoodphysician.HeuseshisreputationtogettransferredintothesamehomeasArthurDimmesdale,anailingminister.ChillingwortheventuallydiscoversthatDimmesdaleisthetruefatherofPearl,atwhichpointhespendseverymomenttryingtotormenttheminister.OnenightDimmesdaleissoovercomewithshameabouthidinghissecretthathewalkstothescaffoldwhereHesterwaspubliclyhumiliated.Hestandsonthescaffoldandimaginesthewholetownwatchinghimwithaletteremblazonedonhischest.Whilestandingthere,HesterandPearlarrive.Heasksthemtostandwithhim,whichtheydo.Pearlthenaskshimtostandwithhe