从海丝特看霍桑的二重性清教观Nathaniel Hawthornes Duality of Puritanism Through Analysis of Hester.docx

从海丝特看霍桑的二重性清教观Nathaniel Hawthornes Duality of Puritanism Through Analysis of Hester.docx

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从海丝特看霍桑的二重性清教观NathanielHawthornesDualityofPuritanismThroughAnalysisofHester

从海丝特看霍桑的二重性清教观

NathanielHawthorne’sDualityofPuritanismThroughAnalysisofHester

Abstract

TheScarletLetterisHawthorne'smasterpiece.ItismainaboutHester’scomplicatedfeelings.HerlovetotheministerArthurDimmesdale,herlovetoherdaughterPearl,herhappinessfortheperseverancetothelove,andatthesametime,thesufferingsoftheloveetc.TheScarletLettermakestheAmericanwriterNathanielHawthorneknownallaroundtheworld.HawthorneusedthesymbolismsoskillfultodescribetheexperienceoftheprotagonistHester,whichshowshisidentityandsuspectedtoPuritanism.Ontheonehand,Hawthornetriestosearcharoadofgoodandevilofhumantosalvation.Ontheotherhand,HawthornecriticizesandexposesharshandextremeofPuritanism.Hawthornethinkpeoplecangetrepentancethroughdogoodanderaseevil,thanpurifythemindtoreceivesalvation.Simultaneously,healsodoubtstheoppressionandthedepredationofPuritanismtohumanity.Therefore,fromdiscussionofthepositiveandnegativeofHesterinTheScarletLetter,wecanseethecontradictionsandlossofreligionofHawthorne.

Keywords:

Hester;Complicatedfeelings;Puritans;ReligiousOrigin

摘要

《红字》是霍桑的代表作，主要讲述的是海丝特的矛盾复杂情感心理，她对牧师丁梅斯代尔的爱，对女儿珠儿的爱，她感受到了对爱执着的幸福，同时又饱受爱的折磨。

《红字》让美国作家纳撒尼尔霍桑闻名遐迩,霍桑高超地运用了象征手法描写了女主人公海丝特令人同情的生活经历，充分表现了他对清教的认同与怀疑：

一方面对人性善恶与救赎之路进行深入挖掘；另一方面又对清教的严酷极端予以批评和揭露。

霍桑既主张通过善行和忏悔洗刷罪恶，净化心灵，从而得到救赎。

同时，他又质疑了清教徒对人性的压迫与摧残。

因此，通过对《红字》中清教对海丝特的积极和消极影响的方面的讨论，我们可以看出霍桑矛盾和彷徨的清教观。

关键词：

海丝特；复杂情感；清教主义；宗教溯源

Contents

Introduction………………………………………………………………………………1

1.Hester’sContradiction………………………………………………………………..2

1.1Hester’sPerseveranceandConfessiontoLove…………………………………3

1.1.1PerseverancetoTrueLove……………………………………………….3

1.1.2ConfessionofImmoralLove……………………………………………...5

1.2MixtureofLoveandHurt………………………………………………………..6

1.2.1LoveandHurttoArthurDimmesdale…………………….……………..7

1.2.2LoveandHurttoPearl……………………………….…………………..8

2.NathanielHawthorne’sDualityofPuritanism………………………………………...10

2.1NathanielHawthorne’sBackground…………………………………………….11

2.2AcceptationandDeferencetoPuritanism……………………………………...12

2.3DoubtandRebelliontoPuritanism……………………………………………..13

3.DualityofPuritanismEmbodiedintheDescriptionofHester………………………..14

3.1AcceptationandDeferenceofPuritanismbyAuthorandHester………………15

3.1.1Hawthorn’sConfessionandAtonementtoSin………………………….15

3.1.2Hester’sConfessionandAtonementtoSin…………………………….16

3.2DoubtandRebelliontoPuritanismbyHawthorneandHester…………………18

3.2.1OppressionandDepredationtoHumanitybyPuritanisminHawthorne’sView………………………………………………………………………………….18

3.2.2OppressionandDepredationtoHumanitybyPuritanisminHester’sView………………………………………………………………………………….20

Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………..21

Notes……………………………………………………………………………………...23

Bibliography……………………………………………………………………………...24

Acknowledgments………………………………………………………………………..25

Introduction

NathanielHawthorneisconsideredtobethefirstgreatestAmericanfictionwriterinthemoralistictradition.NathanielHawthornewrotetheScarletletterin1850,anovelbasedonthesecretofsin.ThestoryisabouttheadulterousPuritanHesterPrynne,wholoyallyrefusestorevealthenameofherpartner.RegardedashismasterpieceandasoneoftheclassicsofAmericanliterature,TheScarletLetterrevealsbothHawthorne'ssuperbcraftsmanshipandthepowerfulpsychologicalinsightwithwhichheprobedguiltandanxietyinthehumansoul.NathanielHawthorne'snovel,TheScarletLetter,revolvesaroundthethemeofsinandtheeffectsithasonthemind,body,andsoul.

U.S.professorNinaBaymsaysthatTheScarletLetterisanovelthathasdescribedthedifferencesbetweennaturalandsocialin1978.SuYuxiaoexpressesherownopinioninsinandredemption:

AnalysisofChristianethicsthroughTheScarletLetterin2007.TheScarletLetterisintendedtorevealthat,insteadofassailingtheChristianethics,thenovelexpresseswhatiscentraltotheethicalvaluesbasedontheChristianScripture:

theuniversalityofsinandguiltinspiteoftheirvariousdisguise,andthepityonandredemptionofthehumanindividualsaswellascommunitiesequallyenslavedbysin.HarrisLaurieLanzentalksinNineteenthCenturyLiteratureCriticismin1985.ShethinksthatHawthornepresentedahighlycomplexvariationonhisusualthemeofhumanisolationandthehumancommunityinTheScarletLetter.

TheScarletLetter,reflectstheCalvinisticthoughtof"OriginalSin".HawthorneisdeeplyinfluencedbyPuritanism.HisnovelalsoexpresseshispiousattitudetowardsskepticismforethicsandmoralityofPuritanism.Ononehand,HawthornestronglycriticizesCalvinismforconstraininghumannature,andontheotherhand,regardssomesocialproblemsasthesakeofevilhumannature.Hethinksthebelieversshouldclearthemselvesofguiltandtopurifytheirheartsbypenitenceandkindness.

1.Hester’sContradiction

HesterPrynne─adeterminedandmysteriousfemale,whoiscondemnedbythePuritansocietyandforcedtowearascarletletteronherbreastbecauseofhersinofadultery.Hesterisanewwomanofbothobedientandrebellioustemperament.AsaPuritan,HesterhopestorepenttoreceiveGod’ssalvation.ButtheunreasonableandrigidPuritanismmakesHesterhaveafeelingtosomeextentofPuritanismasbeingintolerantandcruel.HestershowsherinnerfeelingsofambivalentattitudetothePuritanbeliefs.

1.1Hester’sPerseveranceandConfession

HesterPrynneisabravewomentopursuitloveandfreedom.Shedoesn’thideherownfeelingandtoloveDimmesdalebravelyandcommitasin.Meanwhile,Hester'sactiontoherhusband'sinfidelitymadeherfeelashamed.

1.1.1PerseverancetoTrueLove

HesterPrynneisapretty,brave,strong-willandgood-heartedwomanbytheauthor’sdepiction.Herperseverancetolovegivesusadeepimpression.Hester’searlymarriagelifelackslove.Chillingworthisadifficulthusbandincompetenthusband,andignoredhiswifeformuchofthetime.HemarriedHesternotbecausehelovedherbutbecausehewantedtolightahouseholdfireinhislonelyandchillyheart,expectedhertonourishhissoulwithaffectionwhenhedidcondescendtospendtimewithher,anddeludedhimselfwiththeideathathisintellectualgiftsmightveilphysicaldeformityinayounggirlfantasy.

HesterwassentaheadtoAmericatolivewithouthishusbandChillingworth’scompanion,whereshefindstrueloveofherlife.

Becauseofherperseverancetolove,shechoosestokeepherbabytoreceivehergreatesttreasurePearl,outofit.Otherwise,Hester’srelationshipwithArthurDimmesdalemaybebecameasecretforever.Sheispunishedtowearthescarletletterforallherlife,whichstandsforadultery,andwalksthroughthestreetstodisplayonthescaffoldtoallcitizens.

Becauseofherperseverancetolove,Hesterrefusestoconfidethenameofthelover.Sheissostrongthatsheearnsalivingbyherexcellentneedle-skilltosupportherandherdaughter.

Becauseofherperseverancetolove,shechoosestostayinBoston.Andsheisaverystrongwomantobeabletoholdupsowellagainstwhatshemustface.ShecouldhavefledBoston,andseekaplacewherenooneknowsofhergreatsin.Hesterchoosestostaythough,whichshowsherlovetoDimmesdale.

AfterDimmesdale’sdeath,HesterandPearldisappearforseveralyears.Becauseofherperseverancetolove,Hestercomesbacktolivetherestofherlifeinhercottageagain,andpicksupthescarletletterforthethirdtime.ToHester,thereisamorereallifeinNewEnglandthaninthatunknownregionwherePearlhasfoundedahome.“Herehadbeenhersin,here,hersorrow,andherewasyettobeherpenitence.Moreover,hereiswhereherloverlies.”[1]HestereventuallydiesandisburiedintheKing'sChapelCemetery.”Itwasnearthatoldandsunkengrave,yetwithaspacebetween,asifthedustofthetwosleepershadnorighttomingle.Yetonetombstoneservedforboth.“Onafield,sable,theletter,gules.”[2]

1.1.2ConfessionofImmoralLove

Hesterisashamedofhersin,butshechoosesnottoshowit.Shecommitsthissinintheheatofpassion,andfullyadmitsit.Becauseherconfessfortheimmoral,prohibitedlove,shereceivestheletter"A",whichwornonHester'sbosom.Andthisisthepuritanwayoftreatingherasacriminal,forthecrimeofadultery.Thepuritantreatmentcontinues,becauseasHesterwalksthroughthestreets,shewillbelookeddownuponasifsheissomesortofdemonfromhellthatcommitsaterriblecrime.“Here,shesaidtoherself,hadbeenthesceneofherguilt,andhereshouldbethesceneofherearthlypunishment.”[3]

Aftersheisreleased,Hesterlivesinacottageneartheoutskirtsofthecityasawaytoatoneforhersinandpurifyhersoul.

Ithadbeenbuiltbyanearliersettler,andabandoned,becausethesoilaboutitwastoosterileforcultivation,whileitscomparativeremotenessputitoutofthesphereofthatsocialactivitywhichalreadymarkedthehabitsoftheemigrants.[4]

Shewasbanishedandasmuchaloneasifsheinhabitedanothersphere,Hesterhasnofriendsintheworld,andlittlePearlistheonlycompanionofherlonelylife.However,therewasnothingthatmadeherfeelasifshebelongedtoit.

AtonetimeHesterplanstoleaveAmericaandfleetoEurope,wherethetrueloverscanlivewithPearlasafamily.Infact,shewasstillaPuritan.Finally,shechoosestostaytheretoconfesstheimmorallove.Hestermakesherlifebyherbeautifulneedlework,andsheissokindtothepoor,sohelpfultothesick,socomfortingtotheafflicted.Shehasdone