TheScarletLetteroffersanextraordinaryinsightintothenormsandbehaviorofthe17thcenturyifAmericanPuritansociety.Thebasicconflictsandproblemsofitsmaincharacters,however,arefamiliartoreadersinthepresent.Thefemaleprotagonist,hasborneachildoutofwedlockandhasbeenjailedforoverthreemonthsandsentencedtowearasymbolofheradultery,ascarlet“A”onherdressatalltimes.Itconcernsaboutthemoral,emotionalandpsychologicaleffectofthesinonpeopleingeneral.It’snotsimplyalovestoryorastoryofsin.TheScarletLetterbyNathanielHawthorneusesthescarletletterstosymbolizetheharshnessofPuritansociety,showinghowtheybrandsinnersforlife.ThestoryhappenedinBostonabout200yearsago.Itnarratesloveaffairsbetweenthreepersons.Thepunishedwoman.HesterPrynneandhishusband.WhocalledhimselfRogerChillingworth.Heisanoldmisshapenmanandadoctor.Hesterdoesnotlovehimatall.Anothermanisayoungminister,Dimmesdale,whohasahighpositionamongministersandishighlyrespectedamonghispeopleintown.HesterandDimmesdaleloveeachother.Buttheirloveisforbiddeninthattime.Itissinful.Duetothis,HesterispunishedbysocietywithaletterAonherchest,whichconsideredanevil,ashame.Inthisnovel,themainlineseemstobearoundtheletterA.Hesterisbraveenoughtofacethecruelreality.Sheisalwayswithamindofcourage.Shehasbeenalonewithherchildforsolong,withlittercommunication.Shame!Hopelessness!Loneliness!HesterhastoweartheletterAdayafterday,sevenyearsasforpunishmentandillfame.Whenawomanhaslivedthroughadifficultexperience,hercharacterchangesagreatdeal.Ifshebealltenderness,shewilldie.Ifshesurvive,thetendernesswillleaveher.Hester’scharitabledeedsandquiethumilityhaveearnedherareprievefromthescornofthecommunity.Theletteronherchestrepresentsherworkonearth,alwayshelpingothers,withoutexpectinganythanks.Neverafterwards,doesthatscarletletterleaveherchest.Thetownspeoplenolongerviewtheletterasapunishment,butratherasrepresentinghergreatstrengthandbraveryandthysayitmeans“Able”.ButArthurDimmesdale,hissinagainstHesterandPearlisthathewillnotacknowledgethemashiswifeanddaughterinthedaylight.Hekeepshisdreadfulsecretfromallthoseunderhiscareinthechurchforsevenyearsforfearthathewilllosetheirloveandwillnotbeforgiven.Heistooweaktoadmithissins.Hesuffersfrommysterioushearttrouble,seeminglycausedbypsychologicaldistress.What’sworse,heisanadvisortothetownspeopleabouttheirsins.AfterMr.Dimmesdale’sdeath,noonechangesmoreinappearancethanRogerChillingworth.Allhisstrengthandenergyhasbeenusedtoharmhispatient.Thisunhappymanhasmadehisaiminlifetoaddtothesufferingoftheyoungminister.Whentheeviloldmannolongerhassuchapurpose,thedeviltakeshimbacktothehell.Itisacurioussubjectofobservation,however,whetherhatredorlovearenotofthesameplace.Eachtakesagreatdealofemotionfromoneperson.Thetwofeelingsseembasicallythesame,expectthatoneissmileduponbyGod,whiletheotherisworshippedbythedevil.ThetwolovershaseverdecidedtofleetoEurope,wheretheycanlivewiththeirdauthterPearlasafamily.Theyfeelasenseofreleasethere.However,theirplanfails……WhenHesterdies,sheisburiednexttoDimmesdale.Thetwoshareasingletombstone,withadeepcoloredletterAshiningbrightly.告知：明天十点至一月四日晚上十二点选课。我们07级的译文赏析，圣经与英美文学，统计理论与实践，英语惯使用方法，这几门课因没有老师上课不要选！HesterPrynne:BostonsettlerwhocommitsadulteryandbearsachildwhileawaitingthearrivalofherhusbandfromEurope.AuthoritiesrequirehertowearapieceofredclothintheshapeofanA(standingforadulteress)onthebodiceofherdresstoidentifyherasasinner.Sherefusestoidentifyherpartnerinsin.HesterisnamedafterthetitlecharacterofanOldTestamentbook.Inthatbook,Esther–aJewwhomarriestheKingofPersia,Ahasuerus(XerxesI)–andhercousinMordecaipersuadethekingtosparethelivesofJewspreviouslysingledoutforannihilation.TheJewishfestivalofPurim,alsocalledtheFeastofLots,celebratestheirdeliverancefromthePersiansword.Pearl:Hester’schild.Ashernamesuggests,sheissomethinggoodthatcamefromsin.Sheisalsoaconstantreminder–toHesterandtothetownspeople–ofHester'ssinfulness.Attimes,sheisanunrulychild,aburdentohermother.ButHesterlovesherjustthesame
