An Analysis of the Symbolic Meanings in The Scarlet Letter_英语论文

摘要

第十九世纪美国浪漫主义作家纳撒尼尔霍桑善于运用象征主义来强调作品的主题，从他的代表作《红字》中便可以看出。在这部小说中，他对人物名字和红字A的象征使用使作品更成功。其实，红字的意思随着时间的推移是变化的，女主人公的形象也是如此。因此，本文从红字A、人物和场景的象征意义入手分析象征手法在《红字》的运用，从而探讨小说中的文学，道德和宗教主题，以理解作者的艺术创作，道德关怀和宗教立场。

关键词：纳撒尼尔·霍桑；《红字》； 风景；象征意义；红字A

Abstract

Nathaniel Hawthorne, the American romanticist writer of the 19th century is good at using symbolism to stress the theme of his works which can be seen from his representative work The Scarlet Letter. In this novel, his use of the symbolic names and the letter A makes the work more successful. Actually, the scarlet letter A's meaning is transformed as times goes by, so is the image of the protagonist. Therefore, this thesis analyzes the use of symbolism in The Scarlet Letter by exploring the symbolic meanings of the scarlet letter A, of the characters and of different scenes so as to interpret the literary, moral and religious themes represented in the novel and thereby understand the author’s artistic creation, moral concern and religious stand.  

Key words: Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter, symbolic meaning, letter A  

Contents

1.Introduction1

2.1.The symbolic meanings of the scarlet letter A3

2.1.1 "A" in the early time in prison3

2.1.2 "A" in the middle time out of prison3

2.1.3 "A" in the later years4

2.2 The symbolic meanings of the characters5

2.2.1 Hester Prynne5

2.2.2 Mr. Dimmesdale6

2.2.3 Roger Chillingworth and Pearl7

2.2.4 Pearl8

2.3 The symbolic meanings of scenes8

2.3.1 Prison and rose8

2.3.2 Forest9

2.3.3 River9

3. Conclusion10

Works Cited11

Bibliography12