英语专业毕业论文 The Analysis of the Scarlet Letter 浅析《红字》.doc

济宁学院毕业论文The Analysis of the Scarlet LetterIntroductionIn order to analyze Scarlet Letter successfully, knowing something about the author and the background of contemporary writing is importantNathaniel Hawthorne was born on the fourth of July1804. His father died on the sea when he was just four years old. He grew up under the care of his mother. Young Hawthorn was aware of the misdeeds of his ancestor, because some of his ancestors were men of prominence in the Puritan the theocracy of seventh century. Also he knew the evil at the heat of human being and this led to his success on his writing. Scarlet Letter made him known and then he began writing. The House of the Seven Gables and Young Goodman Brown are also gained great famous for him. He was writing even when he was going to die. He is a great writer not just in America but the whole world.When we mention America literature of nineteenth century, the first thing appeared in our mind is Romanticism. America was burgeoning into a political economical and cultural independence at that time. This gave Americans a romantic feeling and Romanticism came into being with its own features. American Romanticism writings intend to edify more than entertain and Puritan influence over American literature is noticeable. Transcendentalism is the summit of Romanticism, but the writings of Hawthorn are quite different from transcendentalism. He is object to the positive attitude toward human being which is favored by the transcendentalists. He is full of sense of evil, so nearly all of his works are related to sin and evil. Scarlet Letter is just such a famous work; he thinks sins must be punished.Chapter one: Analyze This Story from the View of FeminismFeminism is one important aspect of this work, but what is feminism? It is hard to know the source of feminism or to give it a definition, but we can know the basic concept of feminism, that is men are given more rights than women, in another word, men and women are treated unequally. Feminism is just to find out the reasons and to solve these questions and unequal.From the past time to now, womens social and family position is lower than mens. Women are badly treated by their husbands and must obey their parents.It is not a question of America, but a question of the world. Women began to have the feeling of fighting for this unequal at about eighteenth century. That was because the economy was booming at that time and they had more chances to know the world. They wanted to fight for the equal pay, equal education and equal rights at political events like votes. A famous French women writer describes womens position as the “second sex”. That means women are treated unequally and they even have no rights to say “No”. The only duty for them is to take care of babies and their husbands.Even though every country has this problem not just limited to America, there are many different kinds of activities because of the differences of history and law. It also appears different kinds of feminism, like radical feminism, separatist feminism and so on. Radical feminism is favoring that the power of father is the root and this concept is quite popular among women. But there are also people who are not accept this concept. They think the problem of women have nothing to do with the power of father, in another word, they have no direct relations with each other. Now feminism has led to many other problems. Many people take advantages of “feminism” to do something bad. They take it over serious and has lost its basic concept.1.1Hester Prynne Struggles for Her True Love.At the beginning of the story, when Hester Prynne was being put to prison, there is an aging man in the crowds. The author uses different adjectives in describing these two men. Hester Prynne is young and beautiful but the man is old and ugly. These two people get married and become a couple. Why such a young beautiful women chooses an aging and ugly man as her husband, the author doesnt tell directly, but we can feel there must have some secrets. What Hester Prynne can get from him is not true love but money. This story is a tragedy from the beginning, such a young beautiful wife doesnt belonging to him at least from her feeling. Hester Prynne is a woman who needs true love and find a man who really understand and can communicate, absolutely her husband is not the one. So when she meets young clergy man Arthur Dimmesdale, they fell into love and have a baby with him. All that is very natural from the point of modern, but Hester Prynne lives in a society that women have no rights to pursue true love, they must obey their husbands once they get marry. They take honesty seriously, if they do something immoral, they would be punished. There are many cruel punishments like hanging and firing. Women will choose keep silent even though they are not happy with the present husbands. They lack of a sense of fighting at that time, or in another word, they are not really lack of this feeling of escaping from the present life, what they are really afraid is been punished. They cant revolt, but Hester Prynne does and takes into action, so she gets criticize from men. She is under great pressure, but she sticks to her own feelings, she knows love is spiritual feeling and the feeling is what she always needs and pursues. Punishment is just physical torture, if she must choose one of this two, she will choose true love. She thinks a man without love is sad and having love is happy. She chooses to meet her spiritual needs, so she is contempt to the punishment and scares nothing. She is a woman who has sense of fighting, so from this point of view, she is a feminist and a very brave man.1.2 Hester Prynnes suffering in the Process of Pursuing Love.Hester Prynne is a great hero, she leaves her husband bravely and because of her this action, she is looked down at that time and is punished to wear clothes with a letter “A”.“A” means “adultery” in fact. Adultery is unaccepted even in modern society; she committed this sin at that time, so it is natural that she isnt accepted by peoples .people treat this kind people as immorality. Morality is the principle and it is related to ones personality and quality. Feminism is seen from Hester Prynne once again. She is not limited by the so-called morality, What morality means to a man？It means everybody must always stick to it even though she or he has own feelings, she or he must forget the feelings and gives up the right of happiness just to keep moral on peoples mind. But feminists are against this concept, they calls on freedom of women including their body and mind. They think women have the right to look for their lovers and they have no need to stick the out dated morality. Certainly, morality is not always wrong or evil, most aspects of morality can be accepted. If a society without morality exists, its hard to imagine. Law is not always efficient, so there is need of morality. What we criticize is the out-fashioned thought. For example, women should have no eager for everything, their duty is just to accept and this thought should be dumped. Feminists call on this freedom and Hester Prynne has this quality. Then Hester Prynne is living with a letter “A” on her clothes. Most women may choose to die if they did such shamed things. Because the morality they accept teaches them they should have proper behaviors, if they do something immoral, they will be dumped by their companies. Many women cant bear this burden and choose to die to look for a long-term peace. But Hester Prynne is a woman with feminism, so she doesnt desperate when she is criticized by all the people. She knows if she treats others with her kind heart, she will gain the hearts of theirs. So she treats others kindly and helps everyone who is in need of help. Arthur Dimmesdale doesnt commit he is the babys father and he doesnt stand up when Hester Prynne is on the road to prison. Even though in the following days, he does not come to help this woman and their daughter. Hester Prynne is going on a hard life with the girl, but she doesnt hate Arthur Dimmesdale. And even she tries her best to help him escape from America. Even though he refuses, at least she has such a feeling and thought to help this needed man. How great she is and how hard it is to a woman under such pressure. Most women will hate this coward man or wants to kill this man, but she doesnt .Hester Prynne is a great hero, she pursues her love even though she gets punishment, she never regrets. Feminism pays attention to equal between men and women, that is to say not just have the right to pursue their beloved women, women also have the rights. Equal is the basic concept of feminism and this is presented by Hester Prynne, but she is also above this, because she has a kind heart and know how to forgive others and helps them get out of troubles.Hester Prynne is admired again by her neighbors at last and her daughter is also having a good life. Her daughter marries a noble man and begins her life which most people want to have. We feel happy for her, but at the same time we also have a sense of sympathy for them. Nobody denies her efforts to gain such a happy ending, because she has made her efforts to this and she is worthy of this. Feminism is looking for equal rights for women on polity, economy and morality. Hester is a woman who dares to fight for her own and she succeeds at last even though she pays too much for this, all her efforts are worth when she is accepted at last.1.3The Edification of Hester PrynneHester Prynne is a brave woman but in contrast, Arthur Dimmesdale is lack of courage. Women begin to realize their own feelings but men are still at the back of morality. They dare not to break the principle. Feminism is encouraging women such as Hester Prynne. Rooger Chillingworth, her husband is a well learned man, but his mind is filled with hate and he just wants to break their secret love. He changes his name and always tortures the clergyman and wants them pay for their immoral behaviors. If Hester Prynne is a woman who has feminism, then Rooger Chillingworth is a man who is against the process of womens position and activities. He is a man who has an out-dated thought and reluctant to accept new ideas. And he is afraid to accept because he should stick to morality.Feminism is just one point to see this story, but it is a really good point to well understand the character of Hester Prynne and her actions. If we know feminism well and with the sense of feminism to see this woman, we will understand her choice and her bravery. Feminism is just at the first stage of development and little people accept this concept. Hester Prynne is a lucky dog to have this understandings and foresight. Just because there are women like Hester Prynne that feminism can develop and be accepted by so many people. Feminism can surround the whole world; the process is hard, because it is against the old thought which has existed many years. It is known to us that the most rooted things are the hardest part to be thrown. Just like the thought that men are superior to women when they are born, Feminism is aimed to break this cold principle and to struggle for position for women. Hester Prynne struggles for true love just like women struggles for their rights. The process is hard, but their aim is clear, so they have nothing to be afraid and take all their efforts to realize their dreams. Feminism is needed the efforts of women like Hester Prynne, but also needs to overcome all the difficulties like Rooger Chillingworth who sticks to the old thought. The road for feminism is still long and everyman should pay efforts for this even though efforts are little to be seen.Freedom is one aspect of feminism, so feminism is represented deeply by Hester Prynne. She wants to go free from her past life and depends on herself to feed herself and her daughter. All of these are out of her feminism. Chapter Two: The Analysis of Characters Inner SenseThe development of ones character depends on ones experiences including his family, his education and so on. Action is related to ones character, we should know ones character well in order to understand his actions and choices.2.1The Inner Sense of Arthur DimmesdaleArthur Dimmesdale is a priest, but he does something unsuitable to his status. He falls in love with a woman who has had husband, besides, they get their baby. This is quite unacceptable as a priest. What is more important, he is the most famous priest in this county. Arthur Dimmesdale is a good guy except for this thing, He does his work faithfully, he is well learned and he is kind to people, but this thing is harmful to his fame. In order to keep his good reputation and fame, he keeps silent and has no bravery to confess his sin, as a much respected priest, his duty is to teach other people how to be a good man and what is the right action for a man. He is a little coward since he dares not to stand with his beloved woman and daughter just to keep his so-called reputations. From this point, he is coward, or at least he is lack of bravery.Then he has a very hard life. He keeps silent in order to keep his reputation, but he is tortured by his spirit. He is uncalm everyday, especially when he meets Rooger Chillingworth. He is tortured by him and nearly gets mad. At the twentieth chapter the Minister vigil, there is a detailed description of his inner heart.“Who is that man, Hester?” gasped Mr. Dimmesdale, overcome with terror. “I shiver at him! Dost thou know the man? I hate him, Hester”She remembered her oath, and was silent.“I tell thee, my soul shivers at him,” muttered the minister again. “Who is he? Who is he? Canst thou do nothing for me? I have a nameless horror of the man.”(Liu Cunbo, 2006:56)From this we can see the horror in his deep heart. He does something wrong, but he doesnt get the punishment. So he is sad in his heart and there is one guy who is surrounding him. Every day he uses different ways to torture, so he couldnt calm down. He is afraid of him and nearly gets mad. He always uses one hand to touch his breast; this indicates that he is sad and regretting. Everything to be told is a fact.Arthur Dimmesdale is a brave man from other aspects especially from his following behaviors. He is not really lack of responsibilities, if so, he will have a relaxed life, but he isnt. When he meets Hester Prynne and their daughter, he shows his care. He has some responsibilities. “Come up hither, Hester, thou and little pearl” said the reverend Mr. Dimmesdale.” “Ye have both been there before, but I was not with you, come up hither once more again, and we will stand all there together!” (Liu Cunbo, 2006:54). This is what he says when he meets Hester Prynne and their daughter Pearl. He cares for them and he regrets. He is sorry that he doesnt stand with them to accept punishment. He wants to be there with them one time at least in his deep heart. Although he is still lack of courage, he has realized his responsibility at least.Arthur Dimmesdale confesses his sins at last and dies in the arms of Hester. He gets free from his heart truly. He has no need to bear the torture of the doctor and his own soul. He finds the best way to pour his sadness out.Partly supported by Hester Prynne, and holding one hand of little pearls, the reverend Mr. Dimmesdale turned to the dignified and venerable rulers; to the holy ministers, who were his brethren; to the people, whose great heart was thoroughly appalled, yet overflowing with tearful sympathy, as knowing that some deep life-matter-which, if full of sin, was full of anguish and repentance likewise-was now to be laid open to them. Then sun, but little past its meridian, shone down upon the clergyman, and gave distinctness to his figure, as he stood out from all the earth to put in his plea of guilty at the bar of Eternal Justice.（Chen Lihua,2009:82）He confesses his sins and dies peacefully, although he has lost his status in this county as a clergyman, but he gets peace in his heart and dying in his beloved woman. This is another kind of happiness.Above all, Arthur Dimmesdale is a good man even though he takes a long time to free himself. Finally he succeeds and finds the most important thing-responsibility and peace. If he couldnt be called a great man, then at least, he is a good guy from his own heart.2.2 The Inner Sense of Hester Prynne.Hester Prynne is the core of the story. She is a brave woman who dares to catch her own happiness, but she is also a sad woman because she lives in that society. Honesty to husband is taken seriously though there is no true love.At the beginning, Hester Prynne marries to Rooger Chillingworth, an aging and disabled man. Hester Prynnes original choice to marry him is wrong. It is a tragedy as for their love. Then she meets clergyman and falls in love with him. This is natural for two young men, but they are not accepted by society. She knows she will get punishment and she doesnt regret for her choice. She sticks to her choice from beginning to the end, so she is brave. We can see her determination that most people lack .when she is punished to wear letter “A”, she doesnt escape but accept.She is also a dependent woman. When she is in trouble, she depends on nobody and also nobody willing to offer help to her. She wears letter” A” for her life, but she is not defeated by her neighbors. She treats everybody with her king heart and feeds her and her daughter relying on her own. She is a dependent woman not like others who always knows gossip and shows their family. They rely on their husbands to go for life. So we say Hester Prynne is a dependent woman not just from her spirit but also her soul and her body. It is hard to have such a dependent woman at that time.Hester Prynne is