《红字》中的女性主义分析_英语论文

Analysis Of Feminism In The Scarlet Letter

摘要

霍桑是美国十九世纪伟大小说家之一，《红字》的问世使他赢得了巨大的声誉。这部小说中模糊的意象和高超的写作手法，使得这部作品始终成为评论家的关注焦点。霍桑在书中运用大量的篇幅刻画了海丝特这个女性人物，树立了海丝特的“女主人公”形象。

鉴于霍桑社会背景及其家庭的复杂性，霍桑对于女性的态度也具有一定的复杂性。霍桑清楚的认识到了女性所具有的热情与坚强，并且认同女性应该得到更多的尊重与社会认同。但由于他根深蒂固的清教主义思想，霍桑的女性主义觉醒是矛盾的。

本文分为四部分，第一部分分析前人对于霍桑《红字》的理解，第二部分着重分析霍桑女权观的形成，第三部分着重分析女主人公海斯特表现出的女性主义，第四部分分析霍桑在小说中对女性主义模糊的态度。最后分析霍桑女性主义消极和积极的一面。

关键词：女性主义；霍桑；清教主义

Abstract

Nathaniel Hawthorne, one of the greatest American novelists in the 19th century, wins himself the worldwide popularity for his masterpiece The Scarlet Letter. Due to its moral ambiguity and poetic language, this work has been controversial among feminist critics. Hawthorne made great effort in creating a female protagonist Hester in this book.

In view of his complex social background and family background, Hawthorne  shows his ambiguity about women. He is clearly aware of the passion and toughness of women, and he agrees that women should be given more respect and higher social status. But his attitude towards women is quite ambivalent due to the Puritan ideas deeply rooted in his mind.

The thesis is divided into four parts. In chapter one, it shows the analysis of The Scarlet Letter by former critics. In chapter two, it analyzes the formation of Hawthorne’s feminist consciousness. In chapter three, it analyzes the feminism shown by Hester. In the final chapter, through the detailed analysis of Hawthorne’s ambivalent attitude towards Hester, we can understand how Hawthorne represents his contradictory feminist consciousness in the novel.

Key Words: Feminism; Hawthorne; Puritanism

Contents

Acknowledgments Ⅰ

摘要 Ⅱ

Abstract Ⅲ

Introduction 1

Chapter One  Literature Review 2

Chapter Two  The Formation of Hawthorne's Feminist Consciousness 3

2.1 Hawthorne's Family Life 4

2.2 Social Factors 5

2.2.1Romanticism and Transcendentalism 5

2.2.2 Status of Women in The Nineteenth Century 6

2.2.3 Calvinism 7

Chapter Three Hawthorne’s Feminist Consciousness Embodied in The Scarlet Letter--A Case Study of Hester Prynne 8

3.1 Hester's Status in Patriarchal Society 9

3.2 The Subversion of Hester 10

3.3 Hester's Individuality 10

3.4 Hester's Rebellion 11

Chapter Four  Hawthorne's Ambivalent Attitude toward Hester 12

Conclusion 14

Bibliography 15