论文部分内容阅读
【Abstract】Nathaniel Hawthorne is deeply influenced by Puritanism and The Scarlet Letter is his representative work，which reflects his complex Puritanism thought. This paper try to reveal the hints that Hawthorne show expectation to the Puritanism through the analysis of Prynne and Pearl.
【Key words】Hawthorne； The Scarlet Letter； Puritanism； expectation； future
【摘要】纳撒尼尔·霍桑受清教主义影响颇深，而《红字》正是这方面的代表著作，该作品中体现了霍桑复杂的清教主义思想。本论文试图通过对白兰与珍珠的分析，揭示隐藏在行文之间的霍桑对清教主义未来的期望。
【关键词】霍桑 《红字》 清教主义 期望 未来
Nathaniel Hawthorne was one of the most influential novelists in America in the 19th century， his works mostly describe people’s mental attitude on ethics and morality. Much of Hawthorne’s writing center on the inherent evil and sin of humanity， and his works often provoke the readers to reflect on the evil of human nature. The Scarlet Letter tells the story of Hester Prynne， who conceives a daughter Pearl through an love affair and struggles to create a new life.
Hawthorne’s hometown， Salem， was the place where Puritanism forces were prevailing and several generations of Hawthorne’s ancestors were Puritans. Although he did not believe in Puritanism but he was deeply influenced by his family’s deep-rooted Puritanism effect. In The Scarlet Letter Hawthorne doesn’t concern the behavior of adultery itself but the deep effect that the incident had on the relevant characters， their inner subtle alteration after the incident happened and the collective unconsciousness of the public.
Hester Prynne committed adultery and cannot be accepted by the society then. However， Hester Prynne got liberation as early as she face her guilty and be honest before the public. This present the Puritanism thought that the sinners could be relieved by confession and atonement. After several years in England， Hester finally returns to her cottage where “had been her sin， her sorrow and yet her penitence”. She resumes wearing the scarlet letter and “had no selfish ends， nor lived in any measure for her own profit and enjoyment” to become a woman “lofty， pure， and beautiful； and wise， moreover， not through dusky grief， but the ethereal medium of joy； and showing how sacred love should make us happy， by the truest test of a life successful to such an end”.
Both Prynne and Pearl treated the scarlet letter “A” in a different way with the public. At the end of the novel， Prynne chooses to continue to wear the letter because she is determined to transform its meaning of guilty through her actions. When she dies， she and Dimmesdale share a simple slate tombstone engraved with an escutcheon described as： “On a field， sable， the letter A， gules” （“On a field， black， the letter A， red”）. The ending of Prynne show us that although the Puritanism of that time oppressed on people’s nature of seeking freedom. But people with rebellious spirit， like Prynne， can fight bravely for the chance to live the life they want.
【Key words】Hawthorne； The Scarlet Letter； Puritanism； expectation； future
【摘要】纳撒尼尔·霍桑受清教主义影响颇深，而《红字》正是这方面的代表著作，该作品中体现了霍桑复杂的清教主义思想。本论文试图通过对白兰与珍珠的分析，揭示隐藏在行文之间的霍桑对清教主义未来的期望。
【关键词】霍桑 《红字》 清教主义 期望 未来
Nathaniel Hawthorne was one of the most influential novelists in America in the 19th century， his works mostly describe people’s mental attitude on ethics and morality. Much of Hawthorne’s writing center on the inherent evil and sin of humanity， and his works often provoke the readers to reflect on the evil of human nature. The Scarlet Letter tells the story of Hester Prynne， who conceives a daughter Pearl through an love affair and struggles to create a new life.
Hawthorne’s hometown， Salem， was the place where Puritanism forces were prevailing and several generations of Hawthorne’s ancestors were Puritans. Although he did not believe in Puritanism but he was deeply influenced by his family’s deep-rooted Puritanism effect. In The Scarlet Letter Hawthorne doesn’t concern the behavior of adultery itself but the deep effect that the incident had on the relevant characters， their inner subtle alteration after the incident happened and the collective unconsciousness of the public.
Hester Prynne committed adultery and cannot be accepted by the society then. However， Hester Prynne got liberation as early as she face her guilty and be honest before the public. This present the Puritanism thought that the sinners could be relieved by confession and atonement. After several years in England， Hester finally returns to her cottage where “had been her sin， her sorrow and yet her penitence”. She resumes wearing the scarlet letter and “had no selfish ends， nor lived in any measure for her own profit and enjoyment” to become a woman “lofty， pure， and beautiful； and wise， moreover， not through dusky grief， but the ethereal medium of joy； and showing how sacred love should make us happy， by the truest test of a life successful to such an end”.
Both Prynne and Pearl treated the scarlet letter “A” in a different way with the public. At the end of the novel， Prynne chooses to continue to wear the letter because she is determined to transform its meaning of guilty through her actions. When she dies， she and Dimmesdale share a simple slate tombstone engraved with an escutcheon described as： “On a field， sable， the letter A， gules” （“On a field， black， the letter A， red”）. The ending of Prynne show us that although the Puritanism of that time oppressed on people’s nature of seeking freedom. But people with rebellious spirit， like Prynne， can fight bravely for the chance to live the life they want.