【毕业论文】the_symbolism_in_the_Scarlet_Letter.doc

Abstract: As a great romantic novelist in America in the 19th century, Hawthorne was outstanding in handling the application of symbolism, and a study of his symbols is necessary to understanding his novels. The Scarlet Letter is Hawthorne’s most important symbolic novel, which stands as the best work of Hawthorne and one of the indubitable masterpieces of American literature. This thesis aims at the exploration of the usage of the symbolism in the novel. It mainly discusses the deep symbolic significance of the Scarlet Letter A and the major characters. The Scarlet Letter is the central symbol of the novel. Its symbolic meaning changes from adultery to angel, and it also examines the symbolic meanings of litter Pearl and Hester Prynne. Key words: symbolism; Scarlet Letter. Introduction Nathaniel Hawthorne is a great romantic novelist in America in the 19th century, and is a central figure in the American Renaissance. His novels are penetrating exploration of moral and spiritual conflicts. He is outstanding in literary skills, especially in his use of symbolism. In the Scarlet Letter, symbolism runs through the whole novel where the scarlet letter A, the characters of the story and the settings are all endowed with a deep symbolic significance. This essay highlights and interprets the major symbolism of the book represented by the colors, the characters and as well, the scarlet letter. Symbolism in The Scarlet Letter 1. The symbolism meaning of “the scarlet letter” In The Scarlet Letter, the letter “A”, the spirit of novel, builds up the framework and launches a close link between the human relationships. The novel begins and ends both with the letter “A” with its conspicuous symbolic significance. In the novel, the letter appears on Hester’s gown, on Arthur’s heart, in Pearl’s hands as well as in the evening sky. Its symbolic significance changes with the development of the novel. As time passes the letter’s meaning on Hester’s chest shifts also. This change is sig