lecture 7 Nathaniel Hawthorne and his the Scarlet Letter

Nathaniel Hawthorne and His the Scarlet Letter

Nathaniel Hawthorne 纳撒尼尔 霍桑 纳撒尼尔·霍桑 (1804-1864)An American novelist and short story writer in the 19th century. His fiction works are considered part of the Romantic movement and, more specifically, dark romanticism(黑色 ( 浪漫主义). 浪漫主义

Many of his works featuring moral allegories (寓言)with a Puritan 寓言) 寓言 inspiration. A man of literary craftsmanship, extraordinary in the use of symbol: ★symbols serve as a weapon to attack reality. It can be found everywhere in his writing.

His themes often center on the inherent evil and sin of humanity. His works often have moral messages and deep psychological complexity.

Major Literary WorksNovels:1. 2.

★The Scarlet Letter 《红字》, 1850. 红字》The House of the Seven Gables 《带有 七个尖角阁的房子》, 1851. 七个尖角阁的房子》 Blithedale Romance 《福谷传奇》, 福谷传奇》 1852. The Marble Faun 《玉石雕像》 , 1860. 玉石雕像》

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★Short stories:1.

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Twice-Told Tales 《故事重述》, 故事重述》 1837. Mosses from an Old Manse 《古宅 青苔》 青苔》 , 1846.

The Scarlet Letter★The ScarletLetter is Nathaniel Hawthorne’s masterpiece.Set in 17thcentury Puritan Boston during the years 1642 to 1649.

it tells the story of Hester Prynne, who conceives a daughter through an adulterous affair and struggles to create a new life of repentance and dignity. Throughout the book, Hawthorne explores themes of legalism, sin, and guilt.

Symbolism in the Novel★Nathaniel Hawthorne is a master of symbolism ★The Scarlet Letter : the first symbolic novel to be written in the United States.

Symbolism in the Novel★The symbolic meanings of the scarlet Letter A The symbolic meanings of names of characters The symbolic meanings of the characters

★Symbols of The Letter “A”1.

“A” firstly stands for the crime Adultery.To the puritans it is a symbol of just punishment. to Hester, a device of unjust humiliation. to Dimmesdale, a piercing reminder of his guilt. to Chillingworth, a spur to the quest of revenge to Pearl, a bright and mysterious curiosity

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“A” varies its meaning as the development of the story, Adultery --Alone and Alienation---Able---Angel and Award.

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Symbols of the NamesHester Prynne1.

HestiaThe Virgin Goddess in Greek mythology, symbol of beauty and virtue, showing the author’s praise to Hester’s beauty and saint, Goddess-like beauty.

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Hastierher marriage to Chillingworth is hasty. her love with Dimmesdale is hasty. her joy with Dimmesdale the priest is hasty.

Hester Prynne1.

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Prurient (desire for physical love), which is considered as the root of sin and crime. Prune (purify or get rid of), which foreshadows Hester’s self-save from the sin or crime. Pry (probe into), probe into the human nature (sin)

Arthur DimmesdaleThe initials AD are the beg

inning of “Adultery”; “Dim” means lack of light; “dale” means valley It symbolizes the minister’s dim interior world of his love and the shadow of sin and guilt of his mind.

Roger ChillingworthJolly Roger Pirates’ nature is to explore treasures and revenge. Chillingworth’s act to his wife and to Dimmesdale.

Roger Chillingworth“Chilling” means chilly. He is a man deficient in human warmth. He is a cruel and cold-blooded man.

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