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The Scarlet Letter A romance of psychological paradox Topic 1Introduction to the romance第1页/共28页 A romance of psychological A romance of psychological paradoxparadox Key words: effects or consequences of the sin the tension between society and individuals a sense of historical reality and an air of authenticity Dimmesdales remorse; Chillingworths psychological revenge and Hesters speculation on the possibilities of human condition. the complexity of human psychology第2页/共28页 It is about adultery, but not about sex. Key words: classic portrayal of Puritan America the passionate, forbidden love affair第3页/共28页It is about punishment, but not about crime.Key words: to hide sin to wither spiritually as well as physically condemnation and purify to revenge to accept punishment and get new life第4页/共28页Topic 2The main idea of the novel and the themesThe main idea: Key words: An aging English scholar Chillingworth a scarlet letter “A” on ones breast illicit child . to disguise as a physician and change ones name the truth to reestablish fellowship to confess sin Pearls fate第5页/共28页 The themes: The story is seemingly simple, but it relates the allegory of sinners and the conflict between intellect and natural emotion so that we see not only the authors judgment of the 17th century Puritan society but also his clear perception of human psychology and the human indictment in almost any human community. The thematic concern of the author is not so much about the sin itself as about the effect of the sin on the people involved and the society as a whole. Along with the fusion of the fundamental moral emphasis and human psychology, Hawthorne effectively uses symbolism to give the book much of its value.第6页/共28页 Topic 3Comment on the main charactersHester: 1. reconstruct her life2. never hide her character and identity3. bear her humiliation with supreme dignity and her agony 4. submit to the punishment and perform acts of charity to those in trouble第7页/共28页 Dimmesdale: He is a fallen Puritan priest, but a rising romantic celebrity. He undergoes the tragic experience of physical and spiritual disintegration. He hides his sin and suffers the condemnation of his inner heart and his soul is purified. He undergoes the tragic experience of physical and spiritual disintegration. He owes his success to his mere eloquence, to his charisma. His power is rooted in inspiration, not in reasoning. His sermons are about himself. He has become his own message.第8页/共28页Chillingworth: He is a scholar, is a real villain, the embodiment of pure intellect, who commits “the unpardonable sin”.第9页/共28页Their different results: Hester faces her sin honestly and frankly and accepts punishment, and gets new life with good morality. Dimmesdale hides his sin and suffers the condemnation of his inner heart and his soul is purified. Chillingworth is eager to revenge and become a real villain from a sufferer.第10页/共28页 The symbolic significance of the scarlet letter “A”第11页/共28页Topic 4Symbolic significance of the scarlet letter “A” Different layers of symbolic meanings: “Adultery”, “Able”. “Angel” “Admirable or Art, or Advance, even America”第12页/共28页Topic 5Study of the chapterA)The main idea of Chapter 2 On a certain morning in the middle of the seventeenth century throng of men, intermixed with women the sentence of a legal tribunal Hester Prynne the scaffold a humiliation and an agony for three hours第13页/共28页Hester Prynne第14页/共28页 ON A FIELD, SABLE, THE LETTER A, GULES.第15页/共28页B) Analysis of the image of Hester Prynne (Chapter 2)1) Her appearance: a beautiful womanThe young woman was tall, with a figure of perfect elegance, on a large scale. She had dark and abundant hair, so glossy that it threw off the sunshine with a gleam, and a face which， besides being beautiful from regularity of feature and richness of complexion, had the impresiveness belonging to a marked brow and deep black eyes.(p30)She was lady-like, too, after the manner of the feminine gentility of those days; characterized by a certain state and dignity, rather than by the delicate, evanescent, and indescribable grace, which is now recognized as its indication.(p30)Had there been a Papist among the crowd of Puritans, he might have seen in this beautiful woman, so picturesque in her attire and mien, and with the infant at her bosom, an object to remind him of the image of Divine Maternity, (p31)第16页/共28页2) Her character: brave and unyielding, to face her sin honestly and frankly on the threshold of the prison-door, she repelled him, by an action marked with natural dignity and force of character, and stepped into the open air, as if by her own free-will.(p29)In a moment, however, wisely judging that one token of her shame would but poorly serve to hide another, she took the baby on her arm, and, with a burning blush, and yet a haughty smile, and a glance that would not be abashed, looked around at her townspeople and neighbours. (p30) haughty as her demeanour was, she perchance underwent an agony from every footstep of those that thronged to see her, as if her heart had been flung into the street for them all to spurn and trample upon.(p31) With almost a serene deportment, therefore, Hester Prynne passed through this portion of her ordeal, and came to a sort of scaffold, at the western extremity of the market-place.(p31)第17页/共28页Knowing well her part, she ascended a flight of wooden steps, and was thus displayed to the surrounding multitude, at about the height of a mans shoulders above the street.(p31) The unhappy culprit sustained herself as best a woman might, under the heavy weight of a thousand unrelenting eyes, all fastened upon her, and concentred at her bosom. It was almost intolerable to be borne.(p32)Of an impulsive and passionate nature, she had fortified herself to encounter the strings and venomous stabs of public contumely, wreaking itself in every variety of insult;.(p32)第18页/共28页3) Her ability: ableOn the breast of her gown, in fine red cloth, surrounded with an elaborate embroidery and fantastic flourishes of gold thread, appeared the letter A. It was so artistically done, and with so much fertility and gorgeous luxuriance of fancy,(p30)“She hath good skill at her needle, thats certain,” remarked one of the female spectators;(p30)and the letter A, in scarlet, fantastically embroidered with gold thread, upon her bosom!(p33)第19页/共28页4) Her view of love: to seek after true love because of her unhappy marriageNot a stitch in that embroidered letter, but she has felt it in her heart.(p30)There she beheld another countenance, of a man well stricken in years, a pale, thin, scholar-like visage, with eyes dim and(p33)This figure of the study and the cloisterwas slightly deformed, with the left shoulder a trifle higher than the right.(p33)第20页/共28页C) Stylistic features1) Symbolismall with their eyes intently fastened on the iron-clamped oaken door.(p28) Comment: It may well symbolize the restrictive law and forces that are typical of the Puritan society, as well as a reminder of the presence of evil or sin.第21页/共28页an idle and vagrant Indian,was to be driven with stripes into the shadow of the forest.(p28) Comment: It implies moral wilderness in the seventeenth century Puritan society in New England.the staff of office in his hand(p29): the Puritan law.第22页/共28页2) Contrastlike a black shadow emerging into the sunshine, the grim and grisly presence of the town-beadle, with a sword by his side and the staff of office in his hand.(p29) (The contrast signifies in general a sharp dualism of Good and Evil.)第23页/共28页2) Contrastthis beautiful woman, so picturesque in her attire and mien, and with the infant at her bosom, an object to remind him of the image of Divine Maternity,that sacred image of sinless motherhood, whose infant was to redeem the world.(pp31-32) the world was only the darker for this womans beauty, and the more lost for the infant that she had borne.(p32)She saw her face, glowing with girlish beauty, and illuminating all the interior of the dusky mirror in which she had been wont to gaze at it.(p33) a new life, but feeding itself on time-worn materials, like a tuft of green moss on a crumbling wall.(p33)第24页/共28页3) RepetitionIt might be that a sluggish bond-servant, or an undutiful child.(p29)It might be that an Antinomian, a Quaker.(p29)It might be, too, that a witch.(p29) Comment: The syntactical repetition implies not only the social reality of those days but also stresses the theme of sin.第25页/共28页D) Narrative Techniques Narrative Point of View 1) With the third person point of view omniscient, Hawthorne, as the “all knowing” narrator of the novel, firmly imposes his presence between the reader and the story, and retains complete control over the narrative. The great advantage of the third person point of view omniscient is the flexibility it gives its “all knowing” narrator, who can direct the readers attention and control the sources of information and is helpful to interpret the events or the characters in the novel. The narrator applies his theory of romance and art of ambiguity to the novel to produce rich literary significance, making the literary work immortal. 2)Memory By memory, Hester freed herself from the cruel weight and hardness of the reality.第26页/共28页IV ASSIGNMENT1. Analyze the image of the heroine Hester Prynne.2. Preview Unit 5 Melville, Moby Dick: Chapter 41 第27页/共28页感谢您的观看！第28页/共28页
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