4。2 As a Puritan--Rights for Free Love 7

4。3 As a mother--Rights for Education 8

4。4 As a Human Being--Rights for Living 8

5。 The Transformation of “A” 10

5。1“A” as Adultery 10

5。2“A” as Alienation 10

5。3 “A” as Angel 11

6。 Conclusion 12

References 13

 1。 Introduction

    Nathaniel Hawthorne was an American romantic novelist and short story writer of the 19th century。 And he was a pioneer of American psychological analysis novels。 His works had important influence on a number of renowned writers in the American literature, such as Ernest Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Faulkner and so on。论文网

    Hawthorne’ unique gift was for the creation of strongly symbolic stories which touch the deepest roots of man’s moral nature(吴伟仁，3013)。 To mention it, The Scarlet Letter was the most important and influential work of Hawthorne 。The book appeared in the early-stage of native American literature, known as the Renaissance in the United States。 It was a symbol of the spirit of independent and mature in American literature。 

    About the symbolic meaning of the scarlet letter “A”, there are some common thoughts among readers。 The main idea is about Heater Prynne。 The scarlet letter was first used to punish her for her sin of adultery。 Hester had to wear it for her whole life。 She then lived in a small thatched cottage on the outskirt of the town。 “And a mystic shadow of suspicion immediately attached itself to the spot;”(Hawthorne,1994) Here, the scarlet “A” meant alone and alienation。 Hester made a living with her fantastic needle-work which was approbatory among the town people。 “She sought not to acquire anything beyond subsistence, of the plainest and most ascetic description, for herself, and a simple abundance for her child;”(Hawthorne,1994) Moreover, she stretched forth to succor the poor。 Thus, the “A” meant able, admirable and even angel。 She was also an advanced fighter of feminism。 This is also the rebirth of Hester Prynne。

    Further more, “A” gets some other meanings in the story。 First, about “adultery”, the original symbol of  “A”, it is also attached to the cheating minister, Arthur Dimmesdale whose name starts with the same letter。 Here, “A” is about Arthur’s cowardice, dishonest and original sin。 Second, in French, “amour”, also starts with “A”, means love。 It implies Hester’s pure and unswerving love towards Arthur Dimmesdale。 Third, relating to Bible, the experience of Hester and Dimmesdale recalls the story of Adam and Eve。 It refers to sins。 “The Scarlet letter “A” also can  be seen as the symbol of Adam。 It tells us that Hester’s sin is original sin of human being, it is forgivable;”(陈素英，1997) In both cases, sin results in expulsion and suffering。 But it also results in knowledge – specifically, in knowledge of what it means to be immoral。 So in this story, Hester was built not to be a sinner, but more of a goddess。 “A” as the starting letter of “Adam” then became a denial to adultery, implicit approval and support towards Hester’s sticking to free love and fighting for equal women rights。

    The feminist consciousness of Hester Prynne was also one of the major topics。 Hester is imagined as a women living on the edge of the society。 She represents those women who lived under the oppression of patriarchal society。 However, she fights against the unfair but rooted thoughts in people’s mind。 She is a fighter of that society, even could not be accept by that age。 She pursues for free love;she keeps secret for her lover;she works hard to survive after the open trail;she raised her child-Pearl well。 All these she has done was out of a women with consciousness of feminism。 Hawthorne put his feminism thoughts in this work and in this women image。 Not only in her traits, but also the courage, insistence and self-reliance she showed when confronting with adversities。 The feminism spirits out of Hester is still of important and valuable significance in nowadays。文献综述