霍桑The-Scarlet-Letter赏析

TheScarletLetterByNathanielHawthorne''Love,whethernewlyborn,orarousedfromadeath-likeslumber,mustalwayscreateasunshine,fillingtheheartsofullofradiance,thatitoverflowsupontheoutwardworld.''“爱情，无论是新生的，亦或从死亡般沉睡中苏醒，必会产生一种阳光，它既照亮内心，又洋溢而出，喷薄到外界。”一班第六组陈诺吴慧敏毛梦伟林燕晏青青方苗苗BriefIntroductionTheScarletLetterhasbeenhailedbothasthefirstsymbolicnovelandasthefirstpsychologicalnovelinAmerica.Withthepublicationofthisnovelin1850,Hawthorne'sreputationasamajorAmericanauthorhasbeenontheincreaseeversince.PlotOverview•ThestorydescribestheillicitloveaffairofHesterPrynnewithReverendArthurDimmesdale.•Hesterisayoungmarriedwomanwhosehusbandwaspresumedtohavebeenlostatseaonthejourney.ShebeginsasecretadulterousrelationshipwithArthurDimmesdale,andbecomespregnantwithadaughter,whomshenamesPearl.•Then,sheispubliclyvilified(中伤）andforcedtowearthescarletletter“A”onherclothingtoidentifyherasanadulteress,butsheloyallyrefusestorevealtheidentityofherlover.Sheacceptsthepunishmentwithgracesandrefusestobedefeatedbytheshameinflicteduponherbysociety.Eventually,DimmesdalepubliclyadmitshispartintheadulteryanddiesinHester'sarms.ThemeoftheScarletLetterLove,lust,Sin,Evil,Revenge,Rebellion,loyalty1.Itshowstheconflictbetweenhumannatureandsocialhuman.(自然人与社会人的冲突）2.Itexposesthecrueltyofsociety,thedeceptionofreligionandthehypocrisyofmoralityin19thcentury.3.ItreflectstheCalvinistic(加尔文主义的)thoughtof“Originalsin”.4.ItalsoexpressesHawthorne'sdevoutanddoubtfulattitudetoethicsandmoralityofPuritanism.Structure•Thestructureofthestoryfollowsachronologicalorderwithperiodicflashbacksandwithforeshadowing.•Thenovelisagoodexampleoffiction,notforitsideasbutforart.•Structurallink:Threescaffold(刑台)scenesbringmaincharacterstogether,unfoldalltheconfliction,makethenovelwellknittedandwoventogether.MajorCharactersHesterTheheroineBeautifulBraveandstrongAssiduousKind-heartedArebelofpuritanHelpneighborsandthepoor.ExposedsinDimmesdaleHester'sloverLearnedscholarFeebleGloomy,weak-mindedSelfishandhypocriticAdevotedservantofGodConcernedsinHester'shusbandOldanduglySnakyandcruelJealousHisdeformedshouldersmirrorhisdistortedsoul.Heisinterestedinrevenge.Truesin/evilChillingworthPearlHester'sdaughterInnocentandpureMischievousBraveAsymbolofthehopeThebeautifulandpreciouspearlbornwithinanuglyclam.(hermother'sshame)AlivingscarletletterSymbolisminthisnovel•Hawthorneisamasterofsymbolism.Thesymbolcanbefoundeverywhereinthisnovel.(Thenameofthemaincharacters,scaffold,prison,vegetation,wildrose-bush,forest,brook)•Hawthorneemphasizestheconsequencethesinofadulteryhasbroughttothecommunityandpeoplelivinginthatcommunity.•ThescarletletterAisthebiggestsymbolofall.Asakeytothewholenovel,theletterAtakesondifferentlayersofsymbolicmeaningsastheplotdevelops.SymboloftheScarletLetterA(Symbolicofhermoraldevelopmentisthegradual,imperceptiblechangewhichthescarletletterundergoesinmeaning.)Atfirstitisatokenofshame,”Adultery”,butthenthegenuinesympathyandhelpHesterofferstoherfellowvillagerschangesitto“Able”.Laterinthestory,theletterAappearsinthesky,signifying“Angel”.TheletterAinitiallyisasignofadulteryandpenitence(忏悔),asthecommunityseestheletterasamarkofjustpunishmentandasymboltodeterothersfromsin.Hesterisafallenwomanwithasymbolofherguilt.Later,whenshebecomesafrequentvisitorinhomesofpainandsorrow,theAisseentorepresent“Able”or“Angel”.IthasrejuvenatedHesterandchangedhermeaningintheeyesofthecommunity.ThescarletletterisnotapraiseofaHesterPrynnesinning,butahymnonthemoralgrowthofthewomanwhensinnedagainst.Hawthorne'swrittingstyleinthisnovelWhathewaspredominantlyconcernedwithwasthemoral,emotional,andpsychologicaleffectofthesinonthepeopleingeneralandthosecomplicatedinitinparticular.