Hawthorne

TheScarletLetterNathanielHawthorneNathanielHawthorneLifeExperienceSignificanceinAmericanLiteraryHistory1.Significantasaromanticwriter2.Significantforhisthemes3.SignificantforhisstyleImportantWorks(4)Hawthorne’sThemestheconsequencesofpride,selfishness,andsecretguilttheconflictbetweenlightheartedandsomberattitudestowardlifetheimpingementofpast(esp.thePuritanpast)uponthepresentthefutilityofcomprehensivesocialreformstheimpossibilityoferadicatingsinfromthehumanheartalienationandsolitudenatureandnaturalimpulsesunconsciousfantasyanddream.athisbestwhendealingwithsin,theNewEnglandpast,andthesupernatural.Hawthorne’sStyleananatomistoftheheart:Psychologicaltruthwasmoreimportantthanactualtruth.Hemingledthesupernaturalwiththeactualanddevelopedanalytic,psychologicalromanticism.usingsymbolsandsettingtorevealthepsychologyofthecharacterssoftandflowingstyle;ambiguity(“or”)ImportantWorksMossesFromanOldManse(1846,《古屋青苔》)HouseoftheSevenGables(1851,《七个尖角阁的房子》)TheBlithedaleRomance(1852,《福谷传奇》)TheMarbleFaun(1857,《玉石雕像》)TheFiveElementsoftheNovelSettingCharacterPlotPOVThemeWhatisthesettingofthestory?WhatisspecialabouttheperiodinAmericanhistory?Setting----TimeandPlaceseventeenthcenturyBoston,NewEnglandcolony1.scaffoldscenesaresetinthemarketplace2.meetingofHesterandDimmesdaleissetintheforest3.ThenovelopenswithaprisonsettingInshort:seventeenthcentury,puritanicalBostonWhatdoPuritansbelieve?PuritanismPuritansbelievedgoodandevilwerepresentineveryone’ssoul.Theywereconstantlyfightingagainsteachother.ItwasactuallyabattlebetweenGodandSatan.Theysearchedexternaleventsinlifeformoralmeaning.Theybelievedthattherelationshipofanindividualtothecommunitywasanimportantconcern.Whatarethemajorandminorcharactersinthestory?Canyousaysomethingabouteachofthem?(WhatdotheylooklikeandWhataretheirstories?)MajorcharactersHesterPrynneArthurDimmesdaleRogerChillingworthPearlMinorCharactersGovernorBellingham---theStateJohnWilson---theChurchMistressHibbins---thesupernaturalWhatdotheyrepresentrespectively?RepresentationsofMinorCharactersGovernorBellingham---theStateJohnWilson---theChurchMistressHibbins---thesupernaturalWhoistheprotagonist(s)ofthebook?Whatistheantagonist?Whatistheconflict(s)betweenthem?Protagonists:HesterPrynneandArthurDimmesdale,bothbearersofthescarletletterofadultery,onepublicandoneprivate.HesterPrynne,thebearerofthescarletletterinpublic,isthecentralcharacterofthebook.However,thesuspenseofthestoryrevolvesaroundDimmesdaleandhisprivatemarkofadultery.Theantagonististheefforttohidetheidentityofthemaleadulterer.ThelargestthreattoHesterandDimmesdale'ssecretisRogerChillingworth,Hester'shusband.HewantstohavehisrevengeonHester'slover.Canyoufindexposition,climaxanddenouementinthestory?Exposition:Chap1—3setting,charactersandconflictClimax:Theclimaxoccursatthesecondscaffoldscene,whenDimmesdalestandsonthescaffoldwithHesterandPearl,finallydivulginghissecret,butstillinthedarknessofnight.Ironically,whilestandingthere,DimmesdalenoticesalargemeteorintheskythatappearsintheshapeoftheletterA.Chillingworthseesitaswell,forhehasbeenwatchingthethreeofthemonthescaffold.Dimmesdale'ssinisasecretnomore;Chillingworthwillhavehisrevenge.Denouement:thethirdscaffoldsceneIstheendingatragiconeoracomicone?DetailedCharacterAnalysis---HesterWhatwordscanyouusetodescribeHesterandhowarethesequalitiesreflected?ExplainthemajorchangesthatoccurinHester’slifeinthenovel.(thechangesinherwayoflife,herviewoflife,characterandtherepresentationofthescarletletter)(asasinner,asamother,asalover,asanex-wife,asamemberofthecommunity)AtthetrialYouthful,beautiful,passionate,spirited,proudandstrong-willed,sinlessmotherhoodChap2P5.6:severityofthepuritanicalsocietyandHester’sprideandbeautyandsinlessmotherhoodAfterthetrial:---AsaSINNERPenitent,nowomananymore,socialoutcast,stronger,athinkerP9091echoingChap1P2AnnHutchinsonAsaLOVERFaithfulandselflessAsanEX-WIFEawomanwhokeepsherwordsneverharborsanymalicetowardsChillingworth,whomsheconsidersresponsibleforherdefamation.Ifhehadnotdesertedher,shewouldhaveremainedhisfaithfulwife.Intheend,however,sheeventellshimthathehasbeenwrongedbyher.DoHesterandChillingworthhavealovingrelationshipbeforeHcommitsadultery?WhatmakesHandDcommitadultery?AsaMOTHERlovingandselflessmotherdressingPearlwiththebrightestcolorssufferingfromtheimpishnessofherdaughterChap8P51“Sheismyhappiness.Sheisthetorture.Sheisthescarletletter.Iwilldiefirstifyoutakeher.”AsaMEMBEROFTHECOMMUNITYSympathetic,charitable,amaternalfiguretohercommunityP88,89,90TheChangedMeaningoftheLetter“A”Adultery→AbleWhatisthethemeofthenovel?ContrastHester’sscarletletterwithDimmesdale’sscarletletter.SuggestedBriefAnswerUnconfessedsindestroysthesoul.Hester'ssinhasbeenconfessed.Asitssymbol,shewearstheScarletLetterA.Thesindoesnotdestroyherinwardspirit;instead,shegathersherstrengthandcourage,andflourishesinspiteoftheLetterA.Dimmesdaledoesnotconfesshissinuntilittotallydestroyshim.HehideshisadulteryandfailstoclaimPearlashisdaughter;hispunishmentisguiltandself-condemnation,intensifiedbythetortu