分析《红字》的象征主义_英语论文

On the Symbolism in The Scarlet Letter

摘要

《红字》是纳桑尼尔·霍桑的代表作，也是19世纪浪漫主义文学的代表作品之一，主要描写了两百多年前发生在新英格兰殖民时期的一段故事。在书中霍桑大量地运用了象征手法，使得小说情节，人物都非常具有特色，并且使它在美国文学史上具有特殊地位。象征是用一种常见的文学创作的艺术手法，是指用一种具体客观的事物来引起读者的想象，从而引伸出其他抽象的概念，思想和情感。“红字”既是本书的名字，同时它作为一种象征贯穿全文。霍桑被认为是美国文学中象征主义的先驱，并且也是著名的浪漫主义作家。在他的作品中，大多以新英格兰清教徒为背景，揭示了人性中的隐藏的原罪。《红字》主要讲述了海斯特嫁给了医生齐灵渥斯，却又在孤独中与牧师丁梅斯代尔相恋并有了女儿珠儿。海斯特当众受罚，在胸前戴上了标志“通奸”的红字A，饱受羞辱。在她离开监狱之后，海斯特逐渐成长为一个能干的，像天使一般的人。本文将结合小说，对象征主义以及红字A的多重象征意义进行分析，从而更好把握《红字》的主旨。

关键词：《红字》；霍桑；象征主义；原罪；人物角度

Abstract 

The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, is one of the most well-known romantic novels in American literature of the nineteenth century. And the unprecedented use of symbolism in the book keeps its unique position in American literature. Symbolism is a kind of writing skill that bestows the specific objects with profound and abstract meanings. Hawthorne is regarded as the pioneer of using symbolism in literature. He is significant as a romantic writer; his work reveals the moral isolation with the individual isolated from the community and shows the effect of the hidden sin and secret guilt. This paper mainly focuses on the analysis of the aesthetic functions of symbolism, combined with The Scarlet Letter by Hawthorne. And it will also emphasize the symbolic meanings of the scarlet letter A based on the novel.

Key words: The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne, symbolism, sin, characterization

Contents

1. Introduction 1

1.1 Introduction of Hawthorne and his Work 1

1.2 Introduction of The Scarlet Letter 2

1.3 Introduction of Symbolism 3

2. Symbolism and The Scarlet Letter 4

2.1 The Definition of Symbolism 4

2.2 The Characteristics of Symbolism 4

2.3 The Symbolic Significance in The Scarlet Letter 5

2.4 The Purpose and Significance of the Present Study 5

3. The Analysis of Symbolic Meaning in The Scarlet Letter 7

3.1 Scarlet Letter A for “Adultery” “Shame” 7

3.2 Scarlet Letter A for “Able” “Strength” 7

3.3 Scarlet Letter A for “Angel” 9

3.4 Scarlet Letter A for “Anguish” 9

3.4.1 The Anguish of Chillingworth 10

3.4.2 The Anguish of Dimmesdale 10

3.4.3 The Anguish of Hester 11

3.5 The Dynamics and Diversity of the Scarlet Letter A 12

4. Conclusion 14