《红字》中海丝特与丁梅斯代尔对恶、爱与人生态度的比较研究_英语论文

A Comparative study of Hester and Dimmesdale’s Attitude Towards Evil, Love and Life in Scarlet Letter

摘要

霍桑最著名的作品《红字》，呈现了十七世纪清教新英格兰语境下的爱情与背叛的悲情故事，也是美国文学在第十九世纪的经典小说。红字显示清教主义对人们生活和思想的巨大影响。女主人公海丝特·白兰和镇上的牧师神父，生个女儿叫珀尔。然而，严格的清教主义使他们分居，海丝特被判通奸罪。同时，本文主要论述了海丝特和丁梅斯代尔两人的主要特征，旨在提出清教社会对海丝特严格的清教主义和女性主义双重影响。海丝特的一生影响着海丝特的最终命运，通过自我完善和努力得到救赎。海丝特是一个美丽勇敢坚强的女士。在经历了很多的苦难，比如清教主义和女权主义，甚至是她的丈夫，她从来不怕战斗，最后海丝特在她的生活中努力工作，但她有坚强的意志战胜每一个麻烦。而丁梅斯代尔,悲剧中的头号功臣，注定是一个悲剧人物，他犯了通奸罪，海丝特，应受到法律的惩罚。但由于他的懦弱和自私和海丝特的保护，他从法律的惩罚逃走了。因为他是自私的，懦弱的，寂寞，他七年来一直隐藏自己的罪，因为他是仁慈的，他终于站起来主动承担责任。通过丁梅斯代尔的特征分析，我们可以知道他的内心世界，我们会更同情他。

关键词：爱情与背叛; 清教社会; 勇敢坚强; 意志

Abstract

The best known of Hawthorne’s work The Scarlet Letter, presents a sad tale of love and betrayal set within the context of seventeen century puritan New England and this novel also is a classical novel in American literature in the 19th century. The Scarlet Letter displays Puritanism’s great impact on people’s life and thought. The heroine Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimondale, the town’s reverend priest, produce a baby girl named Pearl. However, the strict Puritanism makes them separated and Hester is convicted of adultery. Meanwhile, this article mainly relates the main character of Hester, the thesis aims at presenting the strict Puritanism and feminist dual effects on Hester in Puritan society. And Hawthorne’s life influences Hester’s final fate—to get salvation through self-improvement and hard working. Hester is a beautiful and brave and strong lady. After suffering a lot of troubles, such as Puritanism and Feminism even her husband she never afraid of fighting to everything .Finally Hester works hard in her life but she has strong will defeat to every troubles. Dimmesdale,the number one hero in the tragedy,is doomed to be a tragic character.He commits adultery with Hester,which should be punished by law.But because of his cowardice and selfishness and Hester’ protection,he escaped from the punishment of the law.Because he is selfish,cowardly,hypocitical,and lonely,he has hidden his sin for seven years.And because he is kind,he finally stands up actively and takes the responsibility,which belongs to him.At that time,he dies an honest true man.Through the analysis of Dimmesdale’ s characteristics,we can know his inner world,and we will be more sympathetic to him.

Key words: love and betrayal; puritan; brave and strong; strong will

Contents

1.Introduction1

1.1 The Main Plot.2

1.2 The Main Theme3

1.3Hawthorne’s Life Influence Creating Characters.3

2. The Image Features of the Two Main Characters2

2.1 The image features of Hester.3

2.2. The image features of Dimmesdale3

3. Hester and Dimmesdale’s Attitude Towards Evil, Love and Life in Scarlet Letter5

3.1 Hester’s Attitude Towards Evil, Love and Life in Scarlet Letter6

3.2 Dimmesdale’s Attitude Towards Evil, Love and Life in Scarlet Letter7

4.The Symbolic Meaning of the Scarlet Letter 8

5. An Analysis of Purposes for the Use of Symbolic Meanings.8

5.1 Enriching the characterization.9

5.2 Deepening the themes.10

5. Conclusion.11

References.12

Acknowledgments.13