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TheSymbolicMeaningof“A”inTheScarletLetterACKNOWLEDGMENTSIamdeeplyindebtedtomysupervisor,whohasgivenmeconstantandvaluableadvice,readmydraftsthroughmeticulouslyandofferedincisivecommentsonthem.Iamgratefultoherfortheusefulmaterialsshehadprovidedtome.Shegavemevaluableadviceandpolishedthethesisaswell.Withoutherhelp,thethesiscouldneverhavereacheditspresentform.Ialsoowemyparticulargratitudetoallmyteacherswhohavegivenmeexcellentlecturesandgreathelp,whichareindispensabletothecompletionofthisthesis,andmyheartythankstoallmyclassmateswhohaveofferedgeneroushelpandusefulsuggestionsintheprocessofwritingthisthesis.Finally,Iwouldliketoexpressmyappreciationtoallthewriterswhoseworkshavebeenreferredtointhisthesis. 摘要纳撒尼尔．霍桑是美国非常著名的小说家。他不仅创造了若干部经典的长篇小说,而且还书写了数量可观且耐人寻味的短篇小说.至今为止，霍桑和他的作品一直是中外学者讨论的对象。《红字》是十九世纪美国作家霍桑的成名作.自从本世纪五十年代被译介到我国以来,一直倍受读者的喜爱。其不朽的魅力在于它不仅无情的鞭挞了清教法规对人性的践踏,更重要的是作者对人性的善的肯定。作者在作品中采用的象征手法贯穿始终的、无处不在，加强了作品的艺术效果。尤其是红字“A”这一贯穿全文的意象，有着多重的、缥缈的，乃至互相抵触的象征意义。本文从红字的多种象征意义入手，研究《红字》中的象征手法。关键词：纳撒尼尔．霍桑；红字；象征主义 ABSTRACTNathanialHawthorneisanextremelyrenownedAmericanwriteroffiction.Henotonlyhascreatedquietafewclassicnovels,butalsohaswrittenquantitiesofthought-provokingshortstories.Untilnow,HawthorneandhisworkshavebeenthefocusofdiscussionfromtheChineseandforeignscholars.TheScarletLetterbyNathanielHawthorneisaclassicalnovelinAmericanliteratureinthe19thcentury.SincethefirstChinesetranslationofTheScarletLetterappearedinthe1950’sscholarsandreadersinthiscountryhaveshownanever-increasinginterestinhisworks.ItsimmortalenchantmentliesinnotonlyitscondemnationofthenegativeimpactofPuritansocietyonpeople’sspirit,butalsoitsaffirmationofgoodness，Hawthorneusesthesymbolismsoskillfulthatitenhancestheartisticeffectsofhisworkgreatly.Aboveall,thescarletletter"A"displaysitsdynamic,multimodalandevencontradictivecharacteristic.Thispaperresearchesthesymbolisminthisnovelfromthefollowingaspects:thechangingsymbolicmeaningofthescarletlettertomakethesymbolismcleartothereaders.Keywords:NathanialHawthorne,TheScarletLetter,Symbolism CONTENTS0.Introduction……………………………………………………............................11.NathanielHawthorneandTheScarletLetter……………....................................11.1AbriefintroductionofNathanielHawthorne…………………………………….21.2TheplotsummaryofTheScarletLetter……………………………………………….21.3ThethemeofTheScarletLetter..............................................................................32.Symbolismandthemeaningof“A”inTheScarletLetter………………………42.1Symbolisim………..................................................................................................42.1.1Theprison.......................................................................................................42.1.2TheScaffold……......………………………………………………………52.1.3TheMeteor………….....……………………………………………………52.1.4Pearl..............................................................................................................62.1.5TheRosebushNexttothePrisonDoor……………………………………72.2Themeaningof“A”inTheScarletLetter.............................................................82.2.1Adultery…………………………………………………………………….82.2.2AloneandAlienation……………………………………………………….92.2.3 Able,AdmirableandAngel……………………………………………..103.ThethoughtsofHawthornereflectedinTheScarletLetter..............................113.1Puritanismconsciousness………………………………………………………113.2Transcendentalism……………………………………………………………...124.Conclusion..............................................................................................................14 WorksCited.............................................................................................................150.Introduction TheScarletLetterisregardedasthemasterpieceofNathanielHawthorne,whoisafamouswriterinAmericanRenaissance.Heshowedagreatinterestintheproblemofguiltandconcernedwithmoralorethicalproblems.Heisawriterwithparadoxicalthought—hecriticizesthereligiouscrazeandtheecclesiasticfalsewhilehetakestheviewsofCalvinismasthestandard,andhedepictsthebattleofthecolonialsagainstEnglandwhilehedoubtthesocialreformandtechnologicaladvancement.Thenovelwaspublishedin1850andishailedbyHenryJamesas"thefinestpieceofimaginativewritingyetputforthinthecountry."Thenovelthoroughlyresponsetopeople'sspiritwreckofPuritanismandunbridledpursuitforhappylife.Thethemeofthenovel isdepictingsinandconsequencesaroundwhichthemoodscreatedarewovensocompletelyandharmoniouslyintothestorythatitscharacters,actionandsettingblendintodelicatebutenduringworkofart.SymbolismistheconspicuousartisticcharacteristicofTheScarletLetter,therefore,itisalsoregardedasthefirstsymbolicnovelinthehistoryofAmericanfictionandithasbeeninfluencingAmericanliteraturedeeplyandsignificantly.Hawthorneusesthesymbolismsoskillfulthatitenhancestheartisticeffectsofhisworkgreatly.Thescarletletterisnotonlythetitleofthenovelbutalsothemajorsymbolinthenovel.Thechangesofthemeaningof“A”arehighlyoriginal,allegoricalandclassicanddeserveafurtheranalysis.Thisthesisiscomposedoffourparts.Inthefirstpart,thepresentauthorwillgiveabriefintroductiontoNathanielHawthorneandhisnovelTheScarletLetter.Inthesecondpartthetechnique“symbolism”andespeciallythemeaningof“A”usedbyHawthorneinwritinghisnovelwillbeanalyzed.InthethirdpartthedeepthoughtsofHawthornewhichisreflectedinTheScarletLetterwillbeanalyzed.Thelastpartistheconclusionofthewholethesis. 1.NathanielHawthorneandTheScarletLetter1.1AbriefintroductionofNathanielHawthorneNathanielHawthorneisconsideredtobethefirstgreatestAmericanfictionwriterinthemoralistictradition.HewasbornonJuly4,1804inSalem,Massachusetts.Someofhisancestorswerebigshotsinseventeenth-centuryNewEngland,whichwasunderthecontrolofPuritanismGradually,thefamilyfortunedeclined.Hawthorne’sfatherwasaseacaptain,whodiedinanaccidentandlefthismotherandhimbehindtostruggletoliveforthemselves.In1812,hewenttoBowdoinCollegewherehemadefriendswithLongfellowandFranklinPierce.Aftergraduation,hereturnedtohishometownandlivedinseclusionfor12years,readingwidelyandpreparingforhisliterarycareer.Heisproductivenovelistwithaninquiringimagination,anintenselymeditativemind.Someofhisgreatworksarefamiliartous,suchasTheHouseoftheSevenGables,YoungGoodmanBrown,andTheScarletLetteretc.Inmostofhisnovels,theyarefullofthedescriptionofsinandevil.Mostofhisstoriesareallegorical.Heprobedintothehumanmind.Hischaracterstendtohavecomplexpsychologiesandthereisasemblanceofinteriormonologuestorevealtheirstatesofmind.NathanielHawthorneisanextremelyrenownedAmericanwriteroffiction.HermanMelvilleevenhailshimasthe“AmericanShakespeare”.HeisthefirstAmericanwritertodefinehisworksasromance;hisromanticwritingisalandmarkoftheromanticperiodinAmericanliterature.Asagreatliteraryartist,hehasprofoundinfluenceonwriterslikeHenryJames,WilliamFaulknerandBernardMalamud.Withthescarletletter,HawthornebecamethefirstAmericannovelisttoforgefromthePuritanheritageauniversalclassic,amasterfulexplorationofhumanity’sunendingstrugglewithsin,guilt,andpride.Besides,Hawthorneisoneoftheforefathersofsymbols. 1.1TheplotsummaryofTheScarletLetterThestorytookplaceinNewEnglandin17thcentury.AnageingEnglishscholarRogerChillingworthsendshisbeautifulwifeHesterPrynne,theheroine,tomaketheirnewhomeinNewEngland.Whenhecomesovertwoyearslater,hefoundoutthathiswifehavecommitted adultery.Shewaspunishedbeforethepublicandcondemnedtowearthescarletletter“A”infrontofherbosomthroughoutherlifetimeasasymbolofadultery.Butwhenaskedthenameofthemanwithwhomshecommittedadultery,sherefusedsimplybecauseshelovedthemanandcherishedhislifemorethanherown.Thebaby,Pearl,towhomshegavebirth,wasbaptizedbyArthurDimmensdale,theparishionerwhowasactuallythebaby’sfather.DifferentfromHester,Dimmensdaledarednotadmitopenlythesinbutwasconstantlytorturedbyasenseofguilt.DoctorChillingworth,discoveredwhowastheadultererandmadeupacruelplanofrevengetotorturetheministermentallytillhisdeath.Intheend,DimmensdalewasmentallytorturedtodeathbyhisownsenseofguiltplusChillingworth’sviciousplanandonlyinthelastminuteofhislifeherevealedhissin.Thoughlivingonthefringeofthecommunityandsufferingsocialostracism,HesterPrynnebearsherpunishmentcourageously,expiateshersinbyperforminggooddeedssothatthecommunitygraduallychangesitsattitudeandsomeofherpeersevenshowtheirtrustandadmirationforherhonestyandskillfulness.Yearslater,PearlgrowsuptobemarriedintoanoblefamilyofEurope.,Throughtheanalysisofthemoralandpsychologicaleffectofthesinondifferentpeople,Hawthornesangthepraiseofthemoralgrowthofthewomanwhohadevenbeensinned.1.3ThethemeofTheScarletLetterThemespertainingtoTheScarletLetterillustratesuponmanyideasreferringtolifeandwaysofliving.NathanielHawthornetouchesonvaluesviewedbypeopleof alltypesofsocialstatus.Morals,whichshouldbeengravedinone’smind,seemedtobeforgotten.TheseactionsthatshouldhaveneverbeenperformedaretopicsrevealedinTheScarletLetter.Theactionsbeingaccomplishedincludeideassuchassin,revenge,andbetrayal.IntheexperienceofHesterandDimmesdale,sinresultsinexpulsionandsuffering.Butitalsoresultsinknowledge—specifically,inknowledgeofwhatitmeanstobehuman.ForHester,thescarletletterfunctionsas"herpassportintoregionswhereotherwomendarednottread",leadingherto"speculate"abouthersocietyandherselfmore"boldly"thananyoneelseinNewEngland.AsforDimmesdale,the"cheatingminister"ofhissingiveshim"sympathiessointimatewiththesinfulbrotherhoodofmankind,sothathischestvibratesinunisonwiththeirs."Hiseloquentandpowerfulsermonsderivefromthissenseofempathy.HesterandDimmesdalecontemplatetheirownsinfulnessonadailybasisandtrytoreconcileitwiththeirlivedexperiences.ThePuritanelders,ontheotherhand,insistonseeingearthlyexperienceasmerelyanobstacleonthepathtoheaven.Thus,theyviewsinasathreattothecommunitythatshouldbepunishedandsuppressed.TheiranswertoHester’ssinistoostracizeher.Yet,Puritansocietyisstagnant,whileHesterandDimmesdale’sexperienceshowsthatastateofsinfulnesscanleadtopersonalgrowth,sympathy,andunderstandingofothers.Paradoxically,thesequalitiesareshowntobeincompatiblewithastateofpurity.JustthroughdescribingHester’ssorrowfulfate,itseverelycriticizestheinjusticeandcrueltyofthePuritanwayoflife.2.Symbolismandthemeaningof“A”inTheScarletLetterTheScarletLetterthatisnotableforitsallegoryandsymbolismisregardedasthefirstsymbolicnovelinAmericanliterature.Thenovelrevolvesaroundonemajorsymbol:thescarletletter.Besides,someotherobjectsthataredescribedinthenovelhavetheirsymbolicmeanings. InTheScarletLetter,mostoftheobjectsthataredescribedhavemanysymbolicmeanings.Thenovelisfilledwithlightanddarknesssymbolsbecauseitrepresentsthemostcommonbattleofalltime,goodversusevil. TheScarletLetterisanovelofmuchsymbolicmeanings. 2.1SymbolismSymbolismisaliterarydevicewithwhichtheauthordeliberatelymakeconcreteobjectsevolvedintosomeabstractions,usuallymoralisticorphilosophical.Itcanmakeabstractionconcrete,generalityspecific,ideologymaterial.Allofthesefeaturesdocontributetothereaders’comprehensionandcanletthemaccepttothecharacterseasier.Asymbolissomethingthatconveystwokindsofmeaning;itissimplyitself,anditstandsforsomethingotherthanitself.Inotherwords,asymbolisawayoftellingastoryandawayofconveningmeaning.ItisthemajortechniquethathasbeensuccessfullyusedbyHawthorneThescarletletter“A”asthemainsymbolhowever,therearemanyothersymbolsexceptforthescarletletter“A”.Heimposesdeepermeaningstomanyobjects.Thesesymbolsaddtheirspecialstrengthsinapproachingthetheme.Herethepresentauthorjustwantstomentionfiveofthem.2.1.1ThePrisonTherustyprison-doorwasthesymbolofthattimewhichwasdarkandcruel.Inthisenvironment,therewasnotruelovebuthypocrisyofhumanbeings.Becauseofthissymbol,thewholenovelwasbasedonthetoneofsadness.InthefirstchapterHawthornedescribestheprisonas"theblackflowerofcivilizedsociety". TheprisonrepresentsthecrimeandpunishmentthatwasincorporatedintheearlyPuritanlife. Healsocontraststheprisonwiththetombstoneattheendofthenovelbysuggestingthatcrimeandpunishmentbringabouttheendofcivilizedlife. Inthesamechapterhedescribestheovergrownvegetationofweedsaroundtheprison. Theweedssymbolizehowcorruptcivilizationreallyis. 2.1.2TheScaffoldThescaffoldisaprominentimageofsymbolisminthenovel.Itnotonlyisa symbolofthesternPuritancodebutalsobecomesasymbolfortheopenacknowledgmentofpersonalsin;itistheplacetowhichDimmesdaleknowshemustgoforatonement,theonlyplacewherehecanescapethegraspofChillingworth,orofthedevil.Inthebeginning,HesterPrynneispubliclycondemnedthere.Asdepictedinthebook,thepublicgatheringattheprisonandatthescaffold,bothofwhicharelocatedincentralcommonspaces,speaktoaPuritanbelief:thebeliefthatsinnotonlypermeatesourworldbutthatitshouldbeactivelysoughtoutandexposedsothatitcanbepunishedpublicly.AlthoughHesterisledtothetownscaffoldandharanguedbythetownfathers,sheagainrefusestoidentifyherchild’sfather.Indeed,sheacceptsherhumanityratherthanstrugglesagainstit.2.1.3TheMeteorTofaithfulPuritans,signs,particularlynaturalones,areoftheutmostimportance,andarereadassymbolsofdivinewill.Ameteortracesoutan“A”inthenightsky.Here,asthenarratorrecognizes,themeteorphysicallyandfigurativelyilluminatesDimmesdale,Hester,andPearl,anditexposestheirrelationshiptoChillingworth.ToDimmesdale,themeteorimpliesthatheshouldwearamarkofshamejustasHesterdoes.Hereadsthe“A”intheskyashisown,divinelysentscarletletter.Hisconstantburdenofguilttaintsandcontrolsthewayheseestheworld.So,too,doesthecommunity’sreadingofthe“A”asstandingfor“Angel”testifytoitsmind.Thetownspeopleseeonlywhattheywanttosee,atendencythatisreaffirmedthefollowingmorningwhenthesextoninventsastorytopreventthediscoveryofDimmesdale’sglovefromseemingsuspicious.JustasDimmesdalemustremainanexampleofpiety---nomatterhowonehastostretchthefacts---so,too,mustHesterremaineitherascapegoatoranegativeexample.Sheisnotallowedtoreceiveforgiveness.2.1.4Pearl Pearl,alsoplaysanimportantroleofsymbolisminthenovel.Sheisabafflingmixtureofstrongmoods,giventouncontrolledlaugheratonemomentandsullensilencethenext,withafiercetemperandacapacityforthe“bitteresthatredthatcanbesupposedtorankleinachildishbosom.”Pearlisasortoflivingversionofhermother’sscarletletter.Sheisthephysicalconsequenceofsexualsinandtheindicatorofatransgression.Yet,evenasareminderofHester’s“sin,”Pearlismorethanamerepunishmenttohermother:sheisalsoablessing.Sherepresentsnotonly“sin”butalsothevitalspiritandpassionthatengenderedthatsin.Thus,Pearl’sexistencegiveshermotherreasontolive,bolsteringherspiritswhensheistemptedtogiveup.ItisonlyafterDimmesdaleisrevealedtobePearl’sfatherthatPearlcanbecomefully“human.”Untilthen,shefunctionsinasymboliccapacityasthereminderofanunsolvedmystery.AccordingtoHawthorne’sdesign,heisnotattemptingtodeveloprealisticallyanormallittlegirl.Throughoutthebook,heisusingPearlasasymbol,andasasymbolsheisoneofhismostremarkablecreations.2.1.5TheRosebushNexttothePrisonDoorThenarratorchoosestobeginhisstorywiththeimageoftherosebushbesidetheprisondoor.Thesesoft,redrosesofferasmallbutboldcontrasttothestrict,blackandwhiteworldofthepuritans.Thevibrantflowersgiveasplashoflifetothemonotonous,drearyscene. Therosebushsymbolizestheabilityofnaturetoendureandoutlastman’sactivities.Therosescanalsobeinterpretedasabeaconofhope;theonelastsymboloffreedomandbeautybeforeoneiscondemnedtoprison,acold,heartlessplace.It’salmostasiftheflowerswaitfortheprisonertocomebackoutbecausethey“havebeenkeptaliveinhistory.”Nomatterhowlongtheprisonerisinthere,theycancountononethingintheirlifetostillbetherewhentheygetoutofjail.Yetanotherwaytolookattheflowersinamoreliteralsenseisthatrosesarebeautiful,yettheyhavethornsalloverthem.It’salmostasiftheroserepresentslust,andthethornsareliketheconsequences.2.2Themeaningof“A”inTheScarletLetter Inthisnovel,thescarletletter"A"changesitsmeaningmanydifferenttimes.Thischangeissignificant.Thescarletletterismeanttobeasymbolofshame,butinsteaditbecomesapowerfulsymbolofidentitytoHesterItshowsgrowthinthecharacters,andthecommunityinwhichtheylive.Theletter"A"beginsasasymbolofsin.Itthenbecomesasymbolofaloneandalienation,andfinallyitbecomesasymbolofable,angelandadmirable.Thethreechangesinthescarletletteraresignificant;theyshowtheprogressivepossessionofhersin,herlonelylife,andherability.Hesterisastrongadmirablewomanwhogoesthroughmoreemotionaltorturethatmostpeoplegothroughinalifetime.2.2.1AdulteryThemostimportantsymbolwhichiscarriedthroughoutthenovelisundoubtedlythescarletletter“A”. NathanielHawthorne'sintentionwastomakethemeaningofthecrimsontokenwornonthebosomofHesterPrynneishighlyambiguous.Theletter"A",wornonHester'sbosom,isasymbolofheradulteryagainstRogerChillingworth.Thisisthepuritanwayoftreatingherasacriminal,forthecrimeofadultery.Thepuritantreatmentcontinues,becauseasHesterwalksthroughthestreets,shewillbelookeddownuponasifsheissomesortofdemonfromhellthatcommitsaterriblecrime.Thisletterismeanttobeworninshame,andtomakeHesterfeelunwanted."Here,shesaidtoherself,hadbeenthesceneofherguilt,andhereshouldbethesceneofherearthlypunishment…(P74)"Hesterisashamedofhersin,butshechoosesnottoshowit.Shecommitsthissinintheheatofpassion,andfullyadmitsitbecause,thoughsheisashamed,shealsoreceiveshergreatesttreasure,Pearl,outofit.Sheisaverystrongwomantobeabletoholdupsowellagainstwhatshemustface.ManywillhavefledBoston,andseekaplacewherenooneknowsofhergreatsin.Hesterchoosestostaythough,whichshowsalotofstrengthandintegrity.Anywomanwithenoughnervetoholdupagainstatown,whichdespisesherveryexistence,andtostayinaplacewhereherdaughterisreferredtoasa"devilchild,"eitherhassomesortofpsychologicalproblem,orisaverytoughwoman. 2.2.2AloneandAlienationThescarletletter"A"alsostandsforHester'slonelylifeinNewEngland.Aftersheisreleased,Hesterlivesinacottageneartheoutskirtsofthecity."Ithadbeenbuiltbyanearliersettler,andabandoned,becausethesoilaboutitwastoosterileforcultivation,whileitscomparativeremotenessputitoutofthesphereofthatsocialactivitywhichalreadymarkedthehabitsoftheemigrants.”(P75)Hester'ssociallifeisvirtuallyeliminatedasaresultofhershamefulhistory.Hestercomestohaveaparttoperformintheworldwithhernativeenergyofcharacterandrarecapacity."However,therewasnothingthatmadeherfeelasifshebelongedtoit.Everygesture,everyword,andeventhesilenceofthosewithwhomshecametocontact,implied,andoftenexpressed,thatshewasbanished,andasmuchaloneasifsheinhabitedanothersphere,orcommunicatedwiththecommonnaturebyotherorgansandsensesthantherestofhumankind.Shestoodapartfrommoralinterests…seemedtobethesoleportionthatsheretainedintheuniversalheart."(P78)Hesterhasnofriendsintheworld,andlittlePearlistheonlycompanionofherlonelylife,sothescarletletter“A”alsoisasymbolofthewords“alone”and“alienate”.2.2.3 Able,AdmirableandAngelAlongwithmeaning"adultery"or"Alone",HesterPrynne'sletter"A"stoodfor"able".HesterPrynnewasaveryablewoman.ShewastoostrongofawomanforPuritanBostonrightfromthestart.ThatwasknownfromtheverybeginningofthenovelwhenshefacedthepeopleofBostonwithhersentenceandherdignity.Shealwaysheldherheadhigh.Shewasabletoacceptherpunishment.Shewasabletotakewithprideallthetormentthetownspeoplecouldthrowather.Hesterwasalsoanablemother,nurseandseamstress.Despiteeveryone'stalkaboutPearl,HesterneverletthatinterferewithhermotheringPearl.Shewasabletobringupastrongdaughter.Hesterhadastrongdevotiontoherworkasanurse.Shealsowentonwithherworkasaseamstress.Hester'smostimportantaccomplishmentwasher abilitytoovercomehersentence.Sheacceptedhersinandacceptedherself.Shelearnedtolovewhoshewas.Byacceptingherselfotherpeoplebegantofollowherexampleandembracenotwhatshewaslabeledas.Later,thescarletletter“A”changesitsmeaningintobeingable,angelandadmirable.Thetownspeoplewhocondemnedhernowbelievethescarletlettertostandforherabilitytoherbeautifulneedleworkandforherunselfishassistancetothepoorandsick.“Theletterwasthesymbolofhercalling.Suchhelpfulnessisfoundinhersomuchpowertodoandpowertosympathize-thatmanypeoplerefusestointerpretthescarletletter‘A’byitsoriginalsignification.”(P148)Atthispoint,alotofthetownspeoplerealizewhatanoblecharacterHesterpossesses.“Doyouseethatwomanwiththeembroideredbadge?ItisourHester–thetown’sownHester–whoissokindtothepoor,sohelpfultothesick,socomfortingtotheafflicted!”(149)Thetownspeoplesoonbegintobelievethatthebadgeservedtowardoffevil,andHestergrowstobequiteadmirableamongstthepeopleofthetown.Hesterovercomestheshameofhersinthroughthepurityandgoodnessofhersoul.Unselfishlyofferinghertimeandlovetothosewhoneedhermostprovesthatsheisnotworthyofthefatewhichhasbeendealttoher.3.ThethoughtsofHawthornereflectedinTheScarletLetterHawthornewasdeeplyinfluencedbytwomajorthoughts:Puritanismconsciousnessandtranscendentalism.ManyofhiswritingsareexpressionsofPuritanidealsandthecorrelationofthoseidealswithhumannature.Consideredseriousandsolitarybynature,HawthorneusedthesecharactertraitstoclearlyportrayhisfeelingstowardPuritanism.WhatattractedHawthorneinTranscendentalismwasitsfreeinquiry,itsradicalism,itscontactwithactuallife.ItisremarkabletopayattentionthatthemainaspectsofthetranscendentalideaswhichoccupiedHawthorne’sthoughtinhisromanceswerethedoctrinesofself-relianceandofcompensationThesetwodeepthoughtshavebeenreflectedclearlyinhismasterpieceTheScarletLetter.3.1Puritanismconsciousness NathanielHawthorneiscloselyidentifiedwiththePuritanerainhisfiction,andnotablyinhisnovelTheScarletLetter.NathanielHawthornewasaproductofaPuritanfamilyandwasveryfamiliarwiththehistoryofNewEnglandandwiththenatureofthePuritanera.ThePuritanethicincludedaprovisionregardinghardworkasawayoflifeandasproofofdedicationtoGod.ThelegacyofPuritanismalsocreatedagooddealofguiltoversinsrealandimagined.Italsoinvolvedagooddealofhypocrisyandself-righteousnessagainstwhichthenewAmericansocietywouldrebel.PerhapsafeelingofpersonalresponsibilityandguiltledHawthornetoselectPuritanismasathemeforsomanyofhisworks.ExposingPuritantransgressionsandforcingthereadertoacknowledgethewrongdoingsofthepastgaveHawthorneanoutletforthemisplacedblamehelaidonhimself.TheScarletLetterpresentsthemostfamousexamplesofHawthorne'sconflictwithPuritanism.Hawthorne'sobviousdisagreementwithPuritantheologycoursesthroughTheScarletLetter.HisfirstpersonfictionalintroductiontoTheScarletLetter(entitledTheCustomHouse)divulgeshissenseofdutytowardexposingthecrueltiesofthePuritanera.Upondiscoveringtheletteritself,theauthorisvisitedbyaghostwhostates,"'IchargeyouinthismatterofoldMistressPrynne,givetoyourpredecessor'smemorythecreditwhichwillberightfullyitsdue!'"Towhichtheauthorreplies,"'AndIsaidtotheghostofMr.SurveyorPue,-'Iwill!'"(1351)Thoughhedoesn'tdenythesinthattookplacebetweenthecharactersHesterPrynneandArthurDimmesdale,HawthornebestowsuponthereaderasenseofsympathytowardthecoupleandtheirgrossshortcomingsbyreferringtothemwithadjectivesofpositivismandpitywhilethePuritanhierarchyispresentedasanevilmalefactor.OnecannothelpbutfeelcompassionforHesterandherdaughterPearl'splightamidsttheinjusticeoftheirsituation,andangertowardthePuritansystemofrepressionwhosefollowershedescribesas"beingofthemostintolerantbroodthateverlived"(1383;ch.6).HawthornealsogoesbeyondHester'sundisputedcharitablequalitiesandimpliesthatherinwardrebellionisalsoheroic.ThereaderisgivenasenseofadmirationandrespectforHesterwhichcounteractsthenegativestigmagiventoherbythePuritancommunity.CompositionoffictionalworksallowedHawthornetoexaminethevirtuesandvicesofhisancestor'sbeliefs,andtoresolvetheconflictinhisownmind ofthePuritanwayoflife.Therefore,HawthorneusedthesecharactertraitstoclearlyportrayhisfeelingstowardPuritanism.3.2TranscendentalismTranscendentalismrejectsthePuritanreligiousattitudesanditopposesthestrictritualismanddogmatictheologyofallreligions.Itwasalsoinfluencedbyromanticismforexampleintheideasofself-reliance,therespectofindividualismandtheadmirationofthenatureandhumankind.Nearlyalltranscendentalistdoctrinesstemfromthedivisionofrealityintoarealmofspiritandarealmofmatter.Suchadivisionismadebymanyofthegreatreligionsoftheworld.Itisbasedupontheconceptoftranscendence,therisingtoastatebeyondsenseexperience.Itopposedthestrictritualismanddogmatictheologyofallestablishedreligiousinstitutions.Amongtranscendentalists'corebeliefswasanideal spiritual statethat'transcends'the physical and empirical andisonlyrealizedthroughtheindividual's intuition,ratherthanthroughthe doctrines ofestablishedreligions. DiscoveringTranscendentalismasamovementthatsupportstheconvictionthatdivinitycanbefoundinallthings,HawthornedeliberatelyrepresentshispersonalbeliefsandobservesalltheethicsoftranscendentalisminTheScarletLetter.HesterPrynneinTheScarletLetterillustratesself-relianceinasocietyinwhichthereisnorespectforindividuals.SinceherloveforDimmesdaleistheonesincerepassionofherlife,sheobeysitutterly,thoughaconventionaljudgmentwillsaythatsheissteppingoutofthemoralorder.Asweseeduringherpunishment,Hesterpassessomedifferentanddifficultstageswhichshowherasatranscendentalandself-reliantcharacter.Weseethatduringthenovel,herpositionintheeyesofthepeopleofBostonisprogressing.Accordingtothetranscendentalidealists,HesterPrynnesinnedinthatshedidnotgobeyondhumanlove.Inseekingtoprotectherloverbydeception,shesinnedbothagainstherownintegrityandagainstGod.Ifshehadtoldthewholetruthinthebeginning,shewouldhavebeenblameless.Butshelackedthisperfectself-reliance.ConsideringHawthorntranscendentalideasHesterdidnothingwrong.Sheisfaithfulandloyaltowardhertruelover,ArthurDimmesdale,andalsosheisnotdisloyalto herevilhusband,Chillingworth,becauseshehasneverlovedhim.TranscendentalistsdonotconsiderHesterasasinfulwomanwhobroketherulesbecauseinthesightofGodshehadneverbeenmarried.Hesterjustobeysherheartbecauseshefeelsnoconflict,asDimmesdalefeels,betweenherheartandherhead,soHesteractsasEmersoncounselstodowhatherheartdemands.Inthisway,NathanielHawthorneblendshisfavorupontranscendentalistideaswithhisreligiousthoughttogetherinhismasterpieceTheScarletLetter.4.ConclusionThepaperhasdiscussedthesymbolicmeaningof“A”inTheScarletLetterandanalyzedthesignificanceofsymbolism.Regardlessofthescarletletter“A”orothersymbols,allthesesinsaretheproductsofthosedarktimes.Underthefoulandgloomycircumstancesthistragiclovestoryisinevitable.Thenovelastheminiatureofthateradisclosesthehypocrisyofhumanityandthe injusticeofthatsociety.Hawthorne,as”anangleofviewonthedarkness”,usedhisparticularwritingskillsandspecialwaystoreappearsorrowfulrealityofthatperiod.Symbolismisatraditionalartisticform;italsoisamajorfeatureofRomanticism.Asafamouswriterofromanticism,Hawthorneisskillfulattheusingofsymbolisminhisworks,AsthedistinctivewritingfeatureinTheScarletLetter,itmakesthenovelbecomepartoftheAmericanliteraryheritageandwinthenameforHawthorneinAmericanLiterature.Throughthesymbolismusedwhendealingwiththescarletletter,theauthorpavesthewayforourdeeperunderstandingofthisnovel,especiallyhisinnerworldand"thatblacknessinHawthorne".ButwhatreallysecurestheplaceofTheScarletLetterintheliteraryhistoryisitstreatmentofhumannature,sin,guilt,andpride-alltimeless,universalthemes-fromauniquelyAmericanpointofview.Asfarashiswritingstyleisconcerned,HawthornehascontributedalottobothAmericanandworldliterature.Hawthorneisamasterofpsychologicaldescription.Intermsofhisthematicchoicesorhiswritingstyle,Hawthorneisawriteraheadofhistime.Hawthorneisworthyofthetitleasapath-breakerinliteraturehistory.Hisliteraryachievementsenlightenedhiscontemporariesaswellasotherwritersafterhim. .WorksCited[1]ChenLi.Interpretationsofloneliness:ThematicResearchintoTheScarletLetter.Shanghai:JournalofEastChina’sUniversityofScienceandTechnology2001,62(2).[2]ChaoYaoxin,ed.ASurveyofAmericanLiterature.Tianjing:NanKaiUniversitypress,1996.[3]Hawthorne.Nathaniel.TheScarletLetter.Beijing:TheCommercialpress,1996.[4]JohnC.Gerber.NewYork:TwentiethCenturyInterpretationofTheScarletLetter.HungrymindsInc,1968.[5]Tianwujun.SymbolicmeaningsofthenamesinthescarletletterbyHawthorne.Beijing:Foreignliteraturestudies.1999,83(1).[6]WuYong.AnalyzingtheThemeofTheScarletLetterandTheWutheringHeights.Guiyang:JournalofGuiyangTeacher’scollege,2001,65(3).[7]陈淳，何乃英.外国文学史纲要[M].北京：北京师范大学出版社，1993.[8]陈爱民.20世纪英美文学论稿[M].上海：上海师范教育出版社，2002.[9]甘文平.惊奇的回归—红字中海斯特．白兰的形象解读[J].上海：外国文学研究，2003,(3).[10]黄晋凯，李正荣著.西方文学史[M].成都：四川人民出版社，2003.[11]霍桑．纳撒尼尔.红字[M].姚乃强译.南京：译林出版社，2002.[12]盛宁.20世纪美国文学理论[M].北京：北京大学出版社，1994.[13]史志康主编.美国文学背景概况[M].上海：上海外语教育出版社，1998.[14]周建平.颂扬真善美鞭笞假丑恶—红字中主题道德意义探析[J].南京：南京邮电学院,2002,4（3）.[15]赵亚莉.红字中女性意识探析[J].忻州师范学院报，2002,18（5）
