文档介绍：Brief Introduction
The Scarlet Letter has been hailed both as the first symbolic novel and as the first psychological novel in America.
With the publication of this novel in 1850,Hawthorne's reputation as a major American author has been on the increase ever since.
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Plot Overview
The story describes the illicit love affair of Hester Prynne with Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale.
Hester is a young married woman whose husband was presumed to have been lost at sea on the begins a secret adulterous relationship with Arthur Dimmesdale,and becomes pregnant with a daughter,whom she names Pearl.
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Then,she is publicly vilified(中伤）and forced to wear the scarlet letter “A” on her clothing to identify her as an adulteress,but she loyally refuses to reveal the identity of her accepts the punishment with graces and refuses to be defeated by the shame inflicted upon her by , Dimmesdale publicly admits his part in the adultery and dies in Hester's arms.
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Theme of the Scarlet Letter
Love,lust,Sin,Evil,Revenge,Rebellion,loyalty
shows the conflict between human nature and social human.(自然人与社会人的冲突）
exposes the cruelty of society,the deception of religion and the hypocrisy of morality in 19th century.
reflects the Calvinistic(加尔文主义的) thought of “Original sin”.
also expresses Hawthorne's devout and doubtful attitude to ethics and morality of Puritanism.
The effect of sin 罪恶论
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Structure
The structure of the story follows a chronological order with periodic flashbacks and with foreshadowing.
The novel is a good example of fiction,not for its ideas but for art.
Structural link:Three scaffold(刑台) scenes bring main characters together,unfold all the confliction,make the novel well knitted and woven together.
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Major Characters
Hester
The heroine
Beautiful
Brave and strong
Assiduous
Kind-hearted
A rebel of puritan
Help neighbors and the poor.
Exposed sin
Dimmesdale