关于“红”的象征意义的分析.doc

1、ANANALYSISONTHESYMBOLISMOFTHESCARLETLETTERBYLEILIATHESISPRESENTEDTOSCHOOLOFCONTINUINGSTUDIESOFMIDDLESCHOOLINPARTIALFULFILLMENTOFTHEREQUIREMENTSFORTHEDEGREEOFBACHELOROFARTSDEC8TH,2015CHENGJIAOMIDDLESCHOOLABSTRACTTHISTHESISISGOINGTODISCUSSTHEHAWTHORNEANDHISWORKTHESCARLETLETTERBYANALYSESTOTHECHARACTERS

2、,ANDALSOTELLSUSTHEDEEPEXPLORATIONINTOTHESYMBOLISMOF“A”INTHESCARLETLETTERITHASDIFFERENTSYMBOLICMEANINGSTODIFFERENTCHARACTERSTABLEOFCONTENTSIINTRODUCTION1IIHISTORICALBACKGROUNDOFTHESCARLET1IIIPLOTARRANGEMENTOFTHESCARLETLETTER2IVCHARACTERIZATIONOFTHEMAINFIGURERSINTHENOVEL3VANEXPLORATIONINTOTHESYMBOLICM

3、EANINGSOFTHELETTER“A”551“A”AMONUMENTTOHESTERPRYNNE552“A”ASYMBOLOFSHAMETODIMMESDALE853“A”ASTIMULUSOFREVENGETOCHILLINGWORTH954“A”ALOVEFRUITTOPEARL1055“A”AMIRRORTOPEOPLEAROUNDHESTERPRYNNE12VIHAWTHORNESMOTIFANDTHESCARLETLETTER“A”12VIICONCLUSION14REFERENCE151IINTRODUCTIONANYONEWHOHASSTUDIEDTHEHISTORYOFAM

4、ERICANLITERATUREKNOWSABOUTNATHANIELHAWTHORNE,AGREATAMERICANROMANTICWRITERINTHE19THCENTURYHISSHORTSTORIESANDNOVELSAREAMONGTHEBESTTHATAMERICAHASPRODUCEDHEISAPIOUSCHRISTEN,ANDISDEEPLYINFLUENCEDBYTHETHEOLOGYHEISSOMUCHINDULGEDINTHEBOOKAFTERREADINGTHESCARLETLETTER,ONEISMOSTLYIMPRESSEDBYTHESPIRITOFTHEBIBLE

5、THESTORYDEPICTEDTHISNOVELDISCUSSESSINANDHOWTOATONEFORITSOTHEPURITANPUNISHMENTOFSEXUALSINBECOMESTHEVEHICLEFORHISBESTNOVELTHESCARLETLETTERTHISNOVELENJOYSHIGHPRESTIGEAMONGTHEROMANTICNOVELSANDISGENERALLYLOOKEDONASHAWTHORNESMASTERPIECEANDTHEMOSTREPRESENTATIVEWORK（CHANGYAOXIN，2003）INTHESCARLETLETTER,HAWTH

6、ORNEDEVELOPSATYPEOFROMANTICISMTHROUGHTHEUSEOFSYMBOLSISTHELETTER“A”,WHICHISUSEDTOENTITLETHENOVELTHESTORYBEGINSWITH“A”,ANDENDSWITH“A”“A”ISTHEMAINTHREADTHATLINKSTHEWHOLESTORYITCOEXISTSWITHTHERISINGANDFALLINGOFTHEIRFATEINTHISNOVEL,“A”ISNOTONLYASPECIFICSYMBOLICOBJECTBUTALSOTHEREFLECTIONOFTHEAUTHORSTHOUGH

7、TITSHOWSTHEAUTHORSPROFOUNDIDEASTOWARDSTHESOCIALMORALITYANDLIFEITISDIFFERENTSYMBOLSOFDIFFERENTTHINGSTODIFFERENTCHARACTERSIIHISTORICALBACKGROUNDOFTHESCARLETLETTERTHEMAJORITYOFHAWTHORNESWORKTAKESAMERICANSPURITANPASTASITSSUBJECT,BUTTHESCARLETLETTERUSESTHEMATERIALTOGREATESTEFFECTTHEPURITANSWEREAGROUPOFRE

8、LIGIOUSREFORMERSWHOARRIVEDINMASSACHUSETTSINTHE1630SUNDERTHELEADERSHIPOFJOHNWINTHROPWHOSEDEATHISRECOUNTEDINTHENOVELTHERELIGIOUSSECTWASKNOWN2FORITSINTOLERANCEOFDISSENTINGIDEASANDLIFESTYLES（QUNLI，1990）HAWTHORNEWROTEATATIMEWHENAMERICANSOUGHTTODISTINGUISHITSELFFROMCENTURIESOFEUROPEANTRADITIONBYPRODUCINGU

9、NIQUELY“AMERICAN”WRITERTHOSEWHO,LIKEHAWTHORNE,WOULDENCOURAGEPATRIOTISMBYENLARGINGTHEWORLDSSENSEOFAMERICASCOMPARATIVELYBRIEFHISTORYBUTHAWTHORNE,LIKETHENARRATOR,HADTOBALANCETHENEEDTOESTABLISHAWEIGHTYPASTWITHTHEEQUALLYCOMPELLINGNEEDTOWRITEANDINTERESTINGANDRELEVANTSTORYNEITHERTHENARRATORNORHAWTHORNEWANT

10、STOSEEHISWORKPIGEONHOLEDAS“ONLY”AMERICANTHETALEOFTHESCARLETLETTERMAYADDTOTHELEGITIMACYOFAMERICANHISTORYANDCULTURE,BUTINORDERTODOSOITMUSTTRANSCENDITSAMERICANNESSANDESTABLISHAUNIVERSALAPPEALONLYTHENCANAMERICANCULTUREHOLDITSOWNINWORLD（LIANGHUANQIANG，2006）IIIPLOTARRANGEMENTOFTHESCARLETLETTERTHESTORYBEGI

11、NSIN17THCENTURYBOSTONTHENISAPURITANSETTLEMENTHESTERPRYNNEWASAWOMANWHOWASLEDFROMTHETOWNPRISONWITHHERILLEGALINFANTDAUGHTER,PEARLHESTERPRYNNEWASFOUNDGUILTYOFHAVINGBEENADULTEROUSANDWASSENTENCEDTOWEARASCARLETLETTERTOSHOWHERSINHESTRERSHUSBANDISASCHOLARMUCHOLDERTHANHERSHEISSENTHERAHEADTOAMERICAN,BUTHENEVER

12、ARRIVEDINBOSTONTHEREASONISTHATHEHASBEENLOSTINTHESEAWHILEWAITINGFORHERHUSBAND,HESTERHASALOVEAFFAIRWITHAYOUNGMINISTERARTHURDIMMESDALEHESTERSHUSBAND,WHOISNOWPRACTICINGMEDICINEANDCALLINGHIMSELFROGERCHFILLNGWORTH,INTENDEDONREVENGEFORTHEREASONWHYHEWANTSTOREVEALTHETRUECRIMINALBYHIDINGHISSECRET,HEDOESNOT3AL

13、LOWHIMSELFTOBEREADBYOTHERSHOWEVER,HEAPPEARSTOBEWASTINGAWAYANDSUFFERSFROMMYSTERIOUSHEARTTROUBLE,SEEMINGLYCAUSEDBYPSYCHOLOGICALDISTRESSTHISSECRETDOESNOTFLEEFROMTHETERRIBLEPERCEPTIONOFHESTERSHUSBAND,CHILLINGWORTHMAKINGUSEOFHISPROFESSIONHEDESTROYSDIMMESDALESTEPBYSTEPUNTILDEATHANDINTHESTORYCHILLINGWORTHC

14、HANGESFROMAVICTIMINTOADEVILINTHEMEANTIME,HESTERACQUIRESAREALSIGNIFICANCEWHENSHEREESTABLISHESAMEANINGFULRELATIONSHIPWITHHERFELLOWMENSYMBOLICOFMORALDEVELOPMENTISTHEGRADUAL,IMPERCEPTIBLECHANGEWHICHTHESCARLETLETTERUNDERGOESINMEANINGIVCHARACTERIZATIONOFTHEMAINFIGURESTHEREAREFOURMAINCHARACTERSINTHENOVELAR

15、EHESTERPRYNNE,PEARL,ARTHORDIMMESDALE,ANDROGERCHILLINGWORTHHESTERPRYNNETHEYOUNGWOMANWASTALL,WITHAFIGUREOFPERFECTELEGANCEONALARGESCALESHEHADDARKANDABUNDANTHAIR,SOGLOSSYTHATITTHREWOFFTHESUNSHINEWITHAGLEAM,ANDAFACEWHICH,BESIDESBEINGBEAUTIFULFROMREGULARITYOFFEATUREANDRICHNESSOFCOMPLEXION,HADTHEIMPRESSIVE

16、NESSBELONGINGTOAMARKEDBROWANDDEEPBLACKEYESSHEWASLADYLIKE,TOO,AFTERTHEMANNEROFTHEFEMININEGENTILITYOFTHOSEDAYSCHARACTERIZEDBYACERTAINSTATEANDDIGNITY,SHEISALSOAKINDNESSWOMANBECAUSEOFHELPINGTHEPOORANDSICK,WHENMRWILSIONDEMANDSHESTERSPEAKOUTTHATMANSNAME,ANDMAYAVAILTOTAKETHESCARLETLETTEROFFHESTERBREASTHEST

17、ERPRYNNETHINKSITISSODEEPLYBRANDEDTHATNOBODYCANNOTTAKEITOFF,ANDWOULDTHATHESTERENDURESTHATMANS,ASWELLASHERWECANSEETHATSHEALSOASTRONGWOMANANDKINDHEARTEDWOMANSHEWOULDRATHERHURTHERSELFTHANHURTHERBELOVEDSHEIS4OPPRESSEDBYTHESIN,ATTHESAMETIMECREATESAKINDOFREVOLTSPIRITARTHURDIMMESDALEHEISAYOUNGMINISTERWHOISO

18、NTHEVERYPROUDESTEMINENCEOFSUPERIORITY,TOWHICHTHEGIFTSOFINTELLECT,RICHLORE,PREVAILINGELOQUENCE,ANDAREPUTATIONOFWHITESTSANCTITY,COULDEXALTACLERGYMANINNEWENGLANDSEARLIESTDAYS,WHENTHEPROFESSIONALCHARACTERWASOFITSELFALOFTYPEDESTALBUTHEWASTIMIDANDOVERCAUTIOUSDISPOSITIONHEISAPIOUSFOLLOWERINTHEHIGHPOSITIONO

19、FRELIGIOUSHEISALSOASLAVETORELIGIOUSWHENHESTERPRYNNEWANTSTOESCAPEWITHDIMMESDALE,ATTHEBEGINNING,DIMMESDALEFEELSFEAR,TOTHEENDHISMENTALDISORDERINFACT,HEHASNOCOURAGETOFACEHISTRUTHLOVETHATISTOSAY,HISCHARACTERISFULLOFHUMIDCHILLINGWORTHHEISHESTERPRYNNESHUSBANDHESADEVILOFPURITANTHEGREATESTCHARACTERINCHILLING

20、WORTHISHYPOCRISYANDCRUELHEWASSMALLINSTATURE,WITHAFURROWEDVISAGE,WHICH,ASYET,COULDHARDLYBETERMEDAGEDTHEREWASAREMARKABLEINTELLIGENCEINHISFEATURES,ASOFAPERSONWHOHADSOCULTIVATEDHISMENTALPARTTHATITCOULDNOTFAILTOMOULDTHEPHYSICALTOITSELFSEEMINGLY,HEISHONESTTODIMMESDALE,BUTINFACT,HELIKESASERPENTTOHARASSTHEM

21、INISTERTHATISASHAMEWHICHMAKESHIMCRAZYPEARLSHEISDAUGHTEROFHESTERANDDIMMSDALEHESTERGIVESANAMEPRICEPURCHASEDWITHALLSHEHADHERMOTHERSONLYTREASURECERTAINLY,THEREWASNOPHYSICALDEFECTBYITSPERFECTSHAPE,ITSVIGOR,ANDITSNATURALDEXTERITYINTHEUSEOFALLITSUNTRIEDLIMBS,THEINFANTWASWORTHTOHAVEBEENBROUGHTFORTHINEDENWOR

22、THYTOHAVEBEENLEFTTHERE,TOBETHEPLAYINGOFTHEANGELSAFTERTHEWORLDSFIRSTPARENTSWEREDRIVENOUTSHEINHERITSHERMOTHERSCHARACTERTHEWARFAREOFHESTERSSPIRIT,ATTHAT5EPOCH,WASPERPETUATEDINPEARLSHECOULDRECOGNIZEHERWILD,DESPERATE,DEFIANTMOOD,THEFLIGHTINESSOFHERTEMPER,ANDEVENSOMEOFTHEVERYCLOUDSHAPESOFGLOOMANDDESPONDEN

23、CYTHATHADBROODEDINHERHEARTTOSOMEEXTENT,SHEISALSOAPILLAROFHERMOTHERSALIVESHEHELETTER“A”,WHICHISUSEDTOTHENOVEL,ISTHEMOSTIMPORTANTSYMBOLTHROUGHOUTTHENOVELITACTSASAREDTHREADLINKINGTHEFOURMAINCHARACTERSTOGETHERFROMBEGINNINGTOTHEENDVANEXPLORATIONINTOTHESYMBOLICMEANINGSOFTHELETTER“A”51“A”,AMONUMENTTOHESTER

24、PRYNNETHEMOSTAPPARENTMEANINGOFTHELETTER“A”ISADULTERYITISREGARDEDASTHESYMBOLOFTHESHAMEWOREONTHEHEROINEHEATERPRYNNESBOSOMTHENOVELTELLSASTORYTHATHAPPENEDINTHESEVENTEENTHCENTURYBOSTONINSUCHANENVIRONMENT,PEOPLESTHOUGHTISDOMINATEDBYPURITANISMHESTERPRYNNE,THEYOUNGLADYWHOWASTALL,WITHAFIGUREOFPERFECTELEGANCE

25、ONALARGESCALE,ISDISCOVEREDOFTHESINOFADULTERYSHEDOESNOTREVEALTHEOFHERCHILDSFATHERINACCORDANCEWITHTHECURRENTPURITANMORALLAW,SHEISSENTENCEDTOANUNUSUALPUNISHMENTOFWEARINGTHESCARLETLETTER“A”,WHICHSTANDSFORADULTERYONHERBOSOMTHERESTOFHERLIFESOSHEISRIDICULEDANDHUMILIATEDBYTHEWHOLESOCIETYFORHERSINASITISDESCR

26、IBEDINCHAPTERTWO,WHENHESTERPRYNNEISBROUGHTFROMJAILTOTHETOWNSPUBLICSQUARE,ALLTHEPEOPLE,MENANDWOMAN,OLDANDYOUNGARETALKINGABOUTHERSYMBOLOFSHAME,THESCARLETLETTERANDCURSINGHERSINSHEPERCHANCEUNDERGOESANAGONYFROMEVERYFOOTSTEPOFTHOSETHRONGEDTOSEEHER,ASIFHERHEARTHASBEENFLUNGINTOTHESTREETFORTHEMALLTOSPURNANDT

27、RAMPLEUPONTHENSHEISPUNISHEDTOSTANDON6THEPLATFORMOFTHESCAFFOLDFORTHREEHOURSCANYOUIMAGINESUCHAPICTURE,ALONELYWOMANSTANDINGONTHESCAFFOLD,WITHASYMBOLOFSHAMEOFTHESCARLETLETTER“A”ONHERBOSOM,WITHSPECTATORSALLAROUNDHER,WITHINFAMYTHREATENSLINGERINGTOHEREARSEVENATTHATMOMENT,THEDOESNOTTELLWHOMHERLOVERIS“IMIGHT

28、ENDUREHISAGONY,ASWELLASMINE”FROMTHENON,HESTERPRYNNEHASTOKEEPHERSELFALOOFFROMTHESOCIETYSHEMOVESTOASMALLCOTTAGEONTHEOUTSKIRTOFTHETOWNANDLIVESWITHHERCHILDALONETHETREATMENTOFHESTERREACHESALOWPOINTSHEISTORMENTEDWITHTHELETTERWHICHSHEENDURESALLTHETIMETHETORTURECOMESNOTONLYFROMTHEOUTERSOCIETY,BUTALSOFROMHER

29、DAUGHTERSOMETIMETHEINFANTPUTSUPHERLITTLEHANDGRASPINGATTHELETTERHESTERWOULDGRASPFORBREATH,CLUTCHEDTHEFATALTOKEN,ANDINSTINCTIVELYENDEAVORSTOTEARITAWAY,SOINFINITEISTHETORTUREINFLICTEDBYTHEINTELLIGENTTOUCHOFPEARLSBABYHANDHESTERHASNEVERFELTAMOMENTSSAFETYEXCEPTWHENTHECHILDISASLEEPWHENPEARLGROWSUP,ONCESHEG

30、ATHERSHANDFULOFWILDFLOWERSTOFLINGTHEMONEBYONEATHERMOTHERSBOSOMFLOWERSINVARIABLYHITTHEMARKANDCOVERINGTHEMOTHERSBREASTWITHHURTSFORWHICHSHECOULDFINDNOBALMINTHISWORLD,NORKNOWHOWTOSEEKITINANOTHEREVENAFTERTHEGETTOGETHERWITHDIMMESDALEINTHEFORESTANDEVENIFTHELONGINGFORTHELOVEANDHAPPYLIFECANNOTMAKEHERESCAPEFR

31、OMTHEFATE,SHEISFORCEDTOWEARTHESCARLETLETTERAGAINAFTERSHETHROWSITAWAYALTHOUGHHESTERPRYNNEMUSTBEACCOMPANIEDBYTHESCARLETLETTER“A”ANDHASTOENDURETHESUFFERINGSALLTHETIME,SHENEVERYIELDEDTOTHEHARSHSOCIETYSHEDESPISESTHETOKENINHEROWNWAY7SHEEMBROIDERSTHELETTER“A”INFINEREDCLOTHANDSURROUNDSITWITHGOLDTHREADWEARIN

32、GITASAGORGEOUSDECORATIONHERSKILLATNEEDLEWORK,SHOWNINSUCHAFINEWAYTHATSHEDISPLAYEDTHESCARLETLETTER,ALLOWSHERTOMAINTAINAFAIRLYSTABLELIFESTYLESHENAMESHERDAUGHTER,THECONSEQUENCEOFADULTERY,PEARL,BECAUSESHEISHERMOTHERSONLYTREASURESHELIVESSIMPLYWITHTHESOLEEXCEPTIONBEINGTHATSHECREATESAMAZINGDRESSESOFDINEFABR

33、ICSFORPEARLHESTERSATTITUDETOWARDSTHESCARLETLETTERANDHERCHILDSHOWHERSTRONGRESISTANCETOTHEPURITANMORALITYANDTHELOYALTYTOGENUINELOVEHESTERSPENDSHERTIMEWORKINGONTHEPROJECTS,WHICHBRINGINHERINCOME,ANDDEVOTESTHEREMAINDEROFHERWORKTOCREATINGGARMENTSFORTHEPOORALTHOUGHSHEISTREATEDTOPOORLYTHATOFTENPREACHERSWILL

34、STOPINTHESTREETANDSTARTSTODELIVERALECTUREASSHEWALKSBY,SHESTILLAPPEARSAMONGTHEMANDDEVOTESHERSELFTOHELPINGTHEPOORANDTHESICKHESTERSNATURESHOWEDITSELFWARMNESSANDRICHNESS,AWELLSPRINGOFHUMANTENDERNESS,UNFAILINGTOEVERYREALDEMAND,ANDINEXHAUSTIBLEBYTHELARGESTHESTERSREPUTATIONHADCHANGEDOVERTHESEVENYEARSSINCES

35、HEHADPEARLHERDEVOTIONTOSERVINGTHESICKANDNEEDYHASGIVENHERACCESSTOALMOSTEVERYHOMETHROUGHALLTHETHINGSSHEHASDONE,HESTERSEVERGUILTYSOULHASBEENSAVEDANDSUBLIMATEDHERRARECAPACITYANDGOODNATUREEXTENDTHESYMBOLISMOFTHESCARLETLETTERELSEWHERETHETOKENOFTHESIN,ITISTHETAPEROFTHESICKCHAMBERTHELETTERISTHESYMBOLOFHERCA

36、LLINGTHELETTERHASTHEEFFECTOFTHECROSSONANUNSBOSOMSUCHHELPFULNESSISFOUNDINHERTHATMANYPEOPLEREFUSETOINTERPRETTHESCARLETLETTER“A”BY8ITSORIGINALSIGNIFICATIONTHEYSAYITMEANSABLEONEEVENING,AFTERHESTERPRYNNEWATCHESTHEGOVERNORATTHEDEATHBEDANDCOMESBACKSTANDINGTOGETHERWITHDIMMESDALEANDPEARLONTHESCAFFOLD,THEYFIN

37、DTHATAMETEORSTREAKSACROSSTHESKY,ILLUMINATINGTHESCARLETLETTERONHESTERSDRESSLOOKINGUPWARD,ABOVETHESCAFFOLD,APPEARSAGREATLETTER“A”INTHESKYBYNOWPEOPLEHADALREADYINTERPRETEDLETTER“A”ASANANGELATTHEENDOFTHENOVEL,AFTERTHEWHOLETRUTHBECOMESCLEAR,HESTERRETURNSTOBOSTONAFTERSEVERALYEARSABSENCESHERESUMESHERFORMERL

38、IFEANDINTHESMALLCOTTAGEANDWEARSONCEMORETHESCARLETLETTERNOWTHELETTERISNOLONGERASYMBOLOFSHAMEITISASYMBOLWHICHISLOOKEDUPONBYPEOPLEWITHAWEANDREVERENCE52“A,”ASYMBOLOFSHAMETODIMMESDALETODIMMESDALE,HESTERSLOVER,LITTLEPEARLSFATHER,THESCARLETLETTERSTANDSFORHISHIDDENGUILTANDHISSHAMEOFNOTDARINGTOTAKETHERESPONS

39、IBILITYTHEYOUNGCLERGYMAN,BECAUSEOFHISFAMEANDPOSITION,DARESNOTTODECLAREHISRELATIONSHIPWITHHESTERPRYNNEANDPEARLINSTEAD,HEISTOGETHERWITHTHETOWNSGOVERNORANDMAGISTRATETODENOUNCEHERACCORDINGTOTHEVIEWPOINTOFTHEPURITANMORALITY,MANMUSTBEALOYALBELIEVERORANHONESTPENITENTSOHISNOTDARINGTOADMITTHERELATIONSHIPWITH

40、HESTERANDPEARLMAKESHIMSINKINTOTHEDEEPPITOFSINTHESENSEOFGUILTTORTURESHIMANDHECANNEVERESCAPEHEISSOOVERWHELMEDWITHSHAMEANDREMORSETHATHEHASSTARTEDTOBECOMEFAMOUSFORHISSERMONSHISABILITYASASPEAKERISENHANCEDBYTHEFACTTHATHEFEELSFARMORESINFULTHANMANYINHISAUDIENCEHEHASEVENTRIEDTOTELLHISCONGREGATIONABOUTTHESINH

41、ECOMMITTEDWITHHESTER9PRYNNE,BUTALWAYSINSUCHAWAYTHATTHEYTHINKHEISSECRETTHISCAUSESDIMMESDALEEVENMOREPAIN,FORHEBELIEVESTHATHEISALSOLYINGTOHISPEOPLEHETELLSHESTERPRYNNETHATSHEISHAPPYBECAUSESHECANWEARTHESCARLETLETTEROPENLYONHERBOSOMBUTHEBURNSINSECRETIFSOMEONECANSEEWHATHEIS,ITWOULDBEARELIEFTOHIMDIMMESDALEF

42、INALLYGETSINTOTHEPERMANENTHABITOFPLACINGHISHANDOVERHISHEARTTHISMEANSTHATHEISTORTUREDBYTHESCARLETLETTER“A”ALMOSTEVERYMINUTEASITISSAIDBYSOMEPEOPLEINTHESTORY“HEHADASCARLETLETTERONHISBREASTIMPRINTEDINTHEFLESH,ANDTHEAWFULSYMBOLWASTHEEFFECTOFTHEEVERACTIVETOOTHOFREMORSE,GNAWINGFROMTHEINMOSTHEARTOUTWARDLY”T

43、HESCARLETLETTERCANALSOBEREGARDEDASTHEIMPETUSFORTHECLERGYMANTOREVEALHISGUILTANDUNBURDENHISSOULAFTERHEDELIVERSHISMOSTELOQUENTANDINSPIRINGSPEECH,HEWALKSTOTHESCAFFOLDWHERESEVENYEARSBEFOREHESTERPRYNNEHADRECEIVEDHERSENTENCEHECALLSHESTERANDPEARLTOCOMETOHIMONTHEPLATFORM,CONFESSESHISSINANDACKNOWLEDGESHIDDENS

44、CARLETLETTERTOTHEPUBLICHEDIESTHENINHESTERSARMHISSOULANDHISBODYOFINNUMERABLEBRUISEHAVEEVENTUALLYSUBLIMATEDDIMMESDALEHASFULFILLEDHISPROCESSOFSAVINGHIMSELFATTHECOSTOFHISLIFE53“A,”ASTIMULUSOFREVENGETOCHILLINGWORTHTOCHILLINGWORTH,“A”ISASTIMULUSOFHISREVENGEITISTHESCARLETLETTER“A”THATCHANGEDHIMFROMAWISEAND

45、JUSTMAN,AKNOWLEDGEABLESCHOLARINTOADEVILCHILLINGWORTHISHESTERPRYNNESHUSBANDWITHUGLYAPPEARANCEANDPROFOUNDKNOWLEDGEHEANDHESTERHAVEANUNFORTUNATEMARRIAGEFROMTHEPOINTOFTHEIR10MARRIAGEHEISTHESUFFEREROFTHEMARRIAGEANDADULTERYBUTHEISSTIMULATEDBYTHESCARLETLETTERANDLEDBYITTOREVENGEGRADUALLYHEBECOMESADIABOLICWIZ

46、ARDTHESCARLELETTERREPRESENTSASTIMULUSTOHIMACCORDINGTOTHEEXPLANATIONOFCHRISTIANITY,THETRUESINISTHATOFMAKINGINROADSONOTHERSSOULINORDERTOKNOWOTHERSREACTIONCHILLINGWORTH,HAVINGFIGUREDOUTTHATDIMMESDALEISTHETRUEFATHEROFPEARL,GOESONASUBTLECAMPAIGNTOHURTTHEMINISTERASMUCHASPOSSIBLEREVENGECONSUMESHIMTOTHEPOIN

47、TTHATHECANONLYFOCUSONCAUSINGTHEOTHERMANPAINHEUSESHISKNOWLEDGETOPRYINTOTHECLERGYMANSINTERIOROFHEARTINORDERTOREVENGE,HEAPPROACHESDIMMESDALELIKEANINTIMATEFRIENDHEEMPLOYSTHEWAYOFHINTSANDMETAPHORSTOTORTURETHECLERGYMANPSYCHOLOGICALLYANDSPIRITUALLYOBTAININGAKINDOFSATANICJOYHEDUGINTOTHECLERGYMANSHEART,LIKEA

48、MINERSEARCHINGFORGOLDTHISLEADSHAWTHORNETOWRITE,“ITGREWTOBEAWIDELYDIFFUSEDOPINIONTHATREVERENDARTHURDIMMESDALE,WASHAUNTEDEITHERBYSATANHIMSELF,ORSATANSEMISSARY,INTHEGUISEOFOLDAROGERCHILLINGWORTH”ANDITISJUSTLIKEWHATDIMMESDALESAIDTOHESTER“WEARENOT,HESTER,THEWORSTSINNERSINTHEWORLDTHEREISONEWORSETHANEVENTH

49、EPOLLUTEDPRIESTTHEOLDMANSREVENGEHASBEENBLACKERTHANMYSINHEHASVIOLATED,INCOLDBLOOD,THESATISFYOFAHUMANHEART”ATLAST,LEDBYTHESCARLETLETTER,THEOLDCHILLINGWORTHHASWITHEREDHEBECOMESADEVIL,AREALSINNER54“A,”ALOVEFRUITTOPEARLLITTLEPEARL,ISTHEANIMATELETTER“A”,SHEISTHELIVINGREPRESENTATIVEOFTHESCARLETLETTER,THELIVINGEMBODIMENTOFHERMOTHERSSINSHEISALSOTHEDIRECTCONSEQUENCEOF11THESCARLETLETTERANDTHESCARLETLETTERISHERCURIOUSOBJECTSOONAFTERSHEISBORN,PEARLHASALREADYSHOWNSPECIALEMOTIONTOTHELETTERHERFIRSTSIGHTISNOTMOTHERSSMILEBUTTHESCARLETLETTERONTHEBOSOMOFHERMOTHER