浅谈红字中海斯特的性格特征 英语论文.docVIP

浅谈《红字》中海斯特的性格特征 【关键词】清教主义；反叛；个人主义；妥协 I. IntroductionNathaniel Hawthorne used to be a controversial writer in America in the 19th century and attracted a divided critical audience. On the one hand, those who do not like him criticize his work for being?“not good for anything”, on the other hand, those who appreciate him for his ability to explore the inner core of his character. But The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne’s masterpiece of romance, has been admired by the readers all over the world ever since its publication. Although there were probably many other novels written during this period that are stylistically equally good, this work has remained a mainstay. In this novel, Hester’s character attracts me most. In this paper, I would like to analyze Hester Prynne’s characters in the following aspects.II. Hester Prynne’s characterHesters character is never meant to be easy to define. She is a real, living, growing, changing woman in a world of falseness and asexuality, and she cannot simply be labeled as the cold-hearted sinner the puritans make her out to be. Hester is neither a sinner nor a saint, but a woman trapped in a loveless marriage and in love with the wrong man, living in an unforgiving society that she can never relate to. It’s obvious that no matter what choices Hester makes for herself, she will be forced to give up something hugely important to her. She can either betray her love for Dimmesdale and her own self-respect by giving in to her husband and to puritan custom, or she can choose to stick by her principles and, in turn, trade away both her freedom and her reputation. Under the harsh circumstances, Hester seems to do the best she possibly can, constantly showing both willful determination and loving kindness despite all of her mistakes.Hester is beautiful and kind. She is brave in seeking love and happiness, in confronting the harsh reality, in sticking to doing good things for her fellowmen on a new, honest basis and finally won thei