.浅析红字中象征主义手法的运用AbstractNathaniel Hawthorne is a great romantic novelist in America in the 19th century. As a great romantic novelist, Hawthorne is outstanding in handling application of symbolism. The Scarlet Letter is Hawthornes most important symbolic novel, which is the best work of Hawthorne and one of the indubitable masterpieces of American Literature. And it is this novel that makes Nathaniel Hawthorne known all around the world. In this work, Hawthorne uses the symbolism so skillfully that it enhances the artistic effects of his work greatly. In The Scarlet Letter, symbolism runs through the whole novel. The most important symbol is the scarlet letter itself. Not only does “A” manifest in various forms, but also it has changing meanings from “adultery” to“able”, even “angelic” in the novel. Besides, the name of the four major characters in the novel: Hester Prynne, Arthur Dimmesdale, Roger Chillingworth and Pearl also have their own symbolic meanings. Some other objects and natural surroundings that are described in the novel such as the jail, the forest, the rose bush and so on are all endowed with a deep symbolic significance. The author of the thesis will explore the usage of symbolism in The Scarlet Letter from the three aspects mentioned above and analyze Hawthornes skillful use of symbolism in The Scarlet Letter. Key Words: the scarlet letter；symbolism；Hester Prynne；Pearl 摘 要纳撒尼尔霍桑是十九世纪美国伟大的浪漫主义小说家。作为一位伟大的浪漫主义小说家,霍桑对象征主义手法的运用可以说是独具匠心。长篇小说红字是霍桑重要的象征主义代表作品，无疑也是美国文学浪漫主义时期最著名的作品之一。也正是这部巨著使得霍桑誉满全球。在这部作品中，作者巧妙运用了象征主义手法，加强了作品的艺术效果。整篇作品象征主义手法贯穿始终。其中，最重要的要数红字“A”本身的象征意义。它不仅以各种各样的形式出现，并且其象征意义不断变化，从“通奸”到“有能力的”甚至“天使般的” 。此外，小说中四个主要角色：海丝特,丁梅斯代尔，齐灵沃斯,珠儿也都有其各自的象征意义。小说中描述的景物和场景，例如监狱、森林、玫瑰花园等等也都寓意深刻。本文正是从以上这几个方面着手，探究作者在小说红字中对象征主义手法的巧妙运用。关键词: 红字；象征；海丝特普琳；珍珠AcknowledgementsThis thesis is the product of the author and the supervisors three months of efforts. It has been repeatedly revised under the guidance of Professor XXX. It was the joint efforts of both the author and the teachers in Foreign Languages Department. I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to Professor XXX and the teachers who have helped the author in the process of the thesis writing. I will also give my thanks to my classmates and friends who have helped me revise the thesis. Last but not least, I will give my heartfelt thanks to my parents who have been always supporting and encouraging me.ContentsIntroduction11 Various Symbolic Meanings of the Scarlet Letter “A”31.1 The Change of the Symbolic Meanings of the Scarlet Letter “A”31.1.1 Adultery31.1.2 Alone and Alienation41.1.3 Able, Admirable and Angel51.2 The Scarlet Letter and the Strictness of Puritan Society52 The Symbolic Meaning of the Four Main Characters62.1 Hester Prynne62.2 Arthur Dimmesdale72.3 Roger Chillingworth82.4 Pearl93 The Symbolic Meanings of the Objects in the Novel12Conclusion15Bibliography16. v.IntroductionNathaniel Hawthorne was born in Salem in 1804. He was born in a prestigious New England family closely related with Puritan church; his ancestors attended the persecution of people belonging to different churches, such as Quakers. When he was born, his family declined. He was aware of his ancestors misdeeds and thus blackness of Hawthorne formed. He thought that the reason of his familys decline is his ancestors misdeeds. And he didnt agree with the optimism held by Transcendentalists towards human nature. He wrote lots of works on everlasting evil side in human natureHawthorne graduated from Bowdoin College. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Franklin Pierce, the 14th American presidents were his classmates. After graduation, he lived in seclusion and wrote. Later, he worked in the US Custom House. After Pierce became president, he was asked to be the consular in Liverpool andItaly.Hawthornes masterpiece includes his short story collections: Twice-Told Tales; Moses from an Old Manse and novels: The Scarlet Letter; The House of Seven Gables; The Blithedale Romance;The Marble Faun.Hawthornes writing skills can be summarized as follows: Hawthorne seems to be influenced a lot by the sin and evil in his sense. He believes evil exists in human heart all the time. For example, in the novel The Scarlet Letter, the minister Dimmesdale tries to pretend how pure and pious he is. He wants to cover up the evil in his mind. Not only Dimmesdale wants to do like this, but also all the people in the world, because we are only human beings. And the evil just likes a mark that exists in our mind when we are born. And in Hawthornes mind, people who commit a crime must be punished, because people can get experience from this way. And also he supports people to tell the truth and not to offend.Nathaniel Hawthorne is a great romantic novelist in America in the 19th century and is considered to be the first greatest Ame