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
