Hawthorne’s symbolism in The Scarlet Letter.doc

Hawthornes symbolism in The Scarlet LetterIntroduction The Scarlet Letter makes the American writer Nathaniel Hawthorne known all around the world. It is regarded not only as Nathaniel Hawthorne greatest accomplishment, but frequently as the greatest novel in American literary history. It also arose wide concerns and attracted thousands of millions readers. After its publication in 1850, The Scarlet Letter has stayed in print and in favor ever since. Moreover it has been hailed as the first symbolic novel. In this novel, Nathaniel Hawthorne applys and underlines skillfully symbol, which marks a great breakthrough in writing method. Through the use of symbolism, Hawthorne more conveniently addresses modern themes of isolation, alienation and expressed his own view on human nature and religious doctrines. With its abundant of meanings and possibilities, the symbol for Hawthorne promotes narrative intensity and proves possible to organized a tale effectively in terms of one central symbol and to portray the ambivalence of motive and the ambiguity of experience that define for him the texture of the human condition.With the success of The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne became one of the greatest writer at that time and built his reputation as a major American author. Since that time on, people began to take great interest in all aspects of his life. He is also becoming more and more popular and familiar with Chinese readers, and scholars and readers in this country have shown an ever-increasing interest in his works. The main artistic writing skill in this novel is symbolism, which not only runs through the whole novel, but also adds long-lasting charms to the book. This thesis attempts to expound Hawthornes symbolism in The Scarlet Letter through the analysis of the scarlet letter “A”, the characters and the settings. It first explores the symbolism of the multi-layered meanings of the capital letter “A”. Then, it analyses the symbolic meanings of the main characters. Finally it concentrates on symbolic meanings of the settings, such as the prison, the scaffold, the wild rosebushes, the forest, the brook and the sunshine. 1 The Background of The Scarlet LetterThe Scarlet Letter is an 1850 romantic work of fiction in a historical setting, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne. The story begins in seventeenth-century Boston, which was under puritan command. It tells the story of Hester Prynne, who conceives through an adulterous affair and struggles to create a new life of repentance and dignity. In order to explore the symbolism in The Scarlet Letter, this chapter will introduce some background of The scarlet Letter in details.1.1 About the author and the plot Hailed as the "American Shakespeare", Nathaniel Hawthorne is an extremely distinguished writer of American Romanticism in the 19th century. He was born on the fourth of July, 1804 in Salem, Massachusetts. Nathaniel Hawthorne was the descendant of a Puritan family. He was haunted all his life by his sense of sin and evil of the misdeeds of his puritan ancestors. The puritanism had exerted overwhelming influence on his inward consciousness, and thus the effects of hidden sin and guilt and the conflict between the head and the heart pervaded most of his works, like The Scarlet Letter. The whole novel focuses on the scarlet letter “A” which means adultery to develop its plot. A married young woman named Hester Prynne fell in love with a young minister Arthur Dimmesdale secretly and gave birth to a baby girl named Pearl, which sinned against the puritan commandmentadultery. Thus, she was sentenced to pillory and wearing a striking scarlet letter A symbolized adultery all her life. Meanwhile, her husband Roger Chillingworth came back and disguised himself as a physician in order to dig out the whole truth and revenge. Later, Chillingworth found out the adulterer-the minister and began his revenge. The ministers health deteriorated gradually under the psychological torture to his sin. Finally, he confessed his sin to the public and died in Prynnes arms with the freedom of spirit; while Chillingworth became a devil and fell into the abyss of misery. Prynne obtained peoples reacceptance through her good deeds and hard working. Although it is a tragedy, it arouses people to meditate human nature and the society seriously. Therefore, it becomes a classical works in the American literature.1.2 Social and Cultural Background of The Scarlet LetterIn the 19th century, the American economy has developed with leaps and bounds and has stepped into a new stage, while its views of moral and religion have still inherited from the traditional western patterns of ideas and thoughts. Furthermore, the 19th century is also the time of American culture renaissance, all kinds of new ideas and opinions have found their place at here. Nathaniel Hawthorne, who just lived in this great and transitional period, is no exception to be influenced by the Puritanism, the Transcendentalism and the Mysticism which are very popular at this time. These fresh ideas motivate him to make a much deeper exploration into the conditions and destinies of the people and also cause his ambiguity and conflicts. However, Hawthorne's literary fame didn't rely only on his delineation of New England history and Puritanism or Transcendentalism, but also on his artistic writing technique and penetrating insight into human nature. As holding an ambivalent and ambiguous attitude toward his own family heritage and puritan tradition, Hawthorne became at once their chronicler and critic of inherited Puritan characteristics. Therefore, his use of symbolism is an astute way to express his own beliefs and an essential tool in addressing issues, which were too radical to be publicly addressed in the nineteenth century. I will introduce the symbolism as following. 1.3 About the SymbolismIn The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne employs a lot of symbols. The symbols are just like the cells of the novel and connect with the work closely. This type called Symbolism. The symbolism is an art of using symbols especially by investing things with a symbolic meaning or by expressing the invisible or intangible by means of visible or sensuous representations. With "The symbolism movement" in literature originated during the 1850s in France and lasted until about 1900. It exerted a profound influence on twentieth-century literature, bridging the transition from Realism to Modernism. This movement also exerted a strong influence on the arts, including theatre, painting, and music. As a famous writer of romanticism, Hawthorne is skillful at the using of symbolism in his works. The various usage of symbolism in The Scarlet Letter makes the novel a great work of the world. 2. The Difference of the symbolic Meaning of The Scarlet LetterThe Scarlet Letter is notable for its allegory and symbolism. It is regarded as the first symbolic novel in American literature. The novel revolves around one major symbol: the letter "A". Besides, some other objects that are described in the novel have their symbolic meanings. Moreover, the major characters also have their symbolic meanings. The following chapter will show the different meaning of the letter "A".2.1 The Difference of the symbolic Meaning of The Scarlet Letter AAs the first symbolic novel in American literature, The Scarlet Letter is unquestionably abundant of symbols, among which the most obvious one is definitely the scarlet letter A itself. The capital letter “A”, which symbolizes Hesters adultery at the beginning of novel. Then the letter “A” begins to represent different meanings as the plot develops. The letter “A” also appears on Hesters breast, on Arthurs heart, in Pearls hands as well as in the evening sky. Hence the letter “A” builds up a framework of the novel and serves as a close link between the main characters. Moreover, this change of letter “A” is significant, for the gradual and imperceptible change which the scarlet letter undergoes in meaning brings about the charaters' suffering, loneliness and also provides them rejuvenation; it is symbolic of the main characters' moral growth and development.2.1.1 “A” for “Adultery”, “Alone” and “Alienation” When the novel begins, Hester Prynne has just been released from the prison and is forced to stand on the scaffold in the public square, holding her newly born daughter and wearing a scarlet A on her bosom. In this sense, the basic and original symbolic meaning of the scarlet A is a symbol of Hester's adultery against Roger Chillingworth. The community sees the letter on Hester's bosom as a mark of a symbol to deter others from sin and thinks Hester is a “Fallen Woman” with a symbol of her guilt. Then we can find out some clues indicating Hester's loneness. Because of Hester's adultery against her husband, the people looks at her with strange looks. After she is released, Hester lives in a cottage near the outskirts of the city and begin to lead a lonely life. She has no friends in the world, and little Pearl is her only companion in her lonely life. Therefore, letter “A” also means alone. For Hester, the “A” is not only a symbol of alone, but also a symbol of alienation. Hester's social life is virtually eliminated as a result of her shameful history. She comes to have a part to perform in the world with her native energy of character and rare capacity. However, there was nothing that made her feel as if she belonged to it. 2.1.2 “A” for “Able”, “Admiration”and “Angel” As time goes on, the scarlet “A” change its meaning in to being able, admire and angel. After years of Hesters helping, serving and sympathizing with the town people, her letter “A” was viewed by the Puritans to mean “Able” rather than “Adultery”. In peoples eyes she was so strong with a womans strength that many people refused to interpret the scarlet “A” by its original signification. Furthermore she tries her best to help the poor and the sick although she is really poor too. Gradually, the town people realized what a noble character Hester possesses The townpeople begin to accept Hester as a member of their group and believe that the badge served to ward off evil, and Hester grows to be quite admirable among the people of the town. Finally they regard Hester as an industrious kindhearted and able woman. Thus the image of Hester turns to be an “Angel” in their eyes. Therefore the letter “A” also symbolizes “Angel” . 2.1.3 “A” for “Arthur” To Hester, the scarlet “A” stands for her lover, Arthur Dimmesdale at the same time. Her fantastically embroidering the scarlet letter “A”, which means adultery, is somehow a way she shows her passion for Arthur. Her refusing to tell the name of Pearl's father is a way to protect him. Her choosing to remain in New England after she is released is because it is the place where her lover stays. Hence we say that the letter “A” is an indication of Arthur. 2.1.4 “A” for “Age” , “Authority”and “Ancient” Because of the persecution suffered in the Old World, the first puritan settlers came to the New Continent with the belief of building a new utopia in which there is freedom, equality and democracy. However, the puritans still regard themselves as the elect chosen by God, therefore any violation of their own life is that of God's will and should be punished and even exiled out of their own region. With this intention, the Puritans unfortunately follows the step of their ancestors in the Old World. Therefore, wearing a letter on the boston in the 17th century, just like when catching a person is stealing something, those pilgrim fathers would burn the letter T (Thief) on his or her forehead. In this sense, the letter “A”, worn on Hester's bosom, is also the puritan way of treating her as a criminal for the crime of adultery and is also the symbol of supreme authority. What's more, for the whole Puritan society, Hester's spirit of disobeying the old rules and searching for her own freedom merits is an embodiment of the strict ancient system, so the scarlet “A” is a meaning of Ancient. 2.1.5“A” for “America” and “Aspiration” of New Life Hesters “A” reflects the meaning of “America” in various ways. For one thing, America is a melting pot of many peoples and ideas just as Hesters “A” has many different meanings. For another thing, Hesters “A” symbolizes America in that they are both shaped by past actions. No matter how Hester has changed, because of her act of adultery, she is forever doomed to be labeled as an adulteress. Similarly, America is shaped by everything that happened in its past. Thats to say, its a colony of England, and its deeply influenced by Puritanism. In the novel, Hesters daughter Pearl shows great interest in the letter. One time when she plays alone, she weaves a letter “A” with the eelgrass and wears it on her breast in imitation of her mother. However the letter is freshly green instead of scarlet and full of vitality. The green letter symbolizes the aspiration to get free from conservative ideas and pursue a new life. The good ending of Pearl represents the bright future of America.3 Analysis Of The Symbolic Meaning of the four Major Characters NamesIn the literature world, it is a common and effective way for the author to convey his or her creative thought by endowing specific meaning on the character's name. In this way reader can better understand the intensity and depth meanings of the characters. For this novel, the name of four main characters Pearl、Hester Prynne、Roger Chillingworth and Arthur Dimmesdale has different symbolic meanings. Let us see it specifically.3.1 Analysis of Pearl In the first place, the word of “pearl” has its origin in the New testament. Hester named the infant “pearl” implies the fact that the child is of being of great price and she is her only treasure. Pearl is the illegitimate daughter of Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale. She is the living manifestation of Hester's sin and a symbol of the product of the act of adultery and of an act of passion and love. The scarlet letter “A”, worn by Hester, is a punishment for the sin of adultery she had committed. Then she named her illegitimate child Pearl. So the baby is a child of sin as well as a product of human love. 3.2 Analysis of Hester Prynne Hester, the main character of The Scarlet Letter, is a symbol of sinner in the Puritan society. Hester sounds like Hestier, Zeuss sister in Greek mythology, who is a beautiful goddess. This gives the sense that Hester is a beautiful, spirited and proud woman. At the beginning of the story, she walks to the scaffold from the prison, with her head holding high and without shedding a tear in full public view. Hawthorne describes her as both a sinner and saint. Hesters strength of character in public is in fact her way of steeling herself against her inner wound inflicted by her inf