From Adultery to Angel–An Analysis of Hester Prynnes Transformation in The Scarlet Letter from the Perspective of Feminism文献综述

 2022-09-08 11:45:49

Literature review of the feminism consciousness in Nathaniel Hawthorne The Scarlet Letter

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne has been regarded as a manifesto of feminist movement. People from around the world had paid attention to it and discussed a lot of issues involved in this story since its publication. The hottest topics are the symbolic significance of the scarlet letter “A”, the feminist spirit of the heroine Hester Prynne and whether Hester got rebirth.

About the symbolic meaning of the scarlet letter “A”, there are some common thoughts. The main idea is about Heater Prynne. The scarlet letter was first used to punish her for her sin of adultery. Hester had to wear it for her whole life. She then lived in a small thatched cottage on the outskirt of the town. And a mystic shadow of suspicion immediately attached itself to the spot（p38）. Here, the scarlet “A” meant alone and alienation.Hester made a living with her fantastic needle-work which was approbatory among the town people. She sought not to acquire anything beyond subsistence,of the plainest and most ascetic description, for herself, and a simple abundance for her child.（p41） Moreover, she stretched forth to succor the poor. Thus, the “A” meant able, admirable and even angel. She was also an advanced fighter of feminism. This is also the rebirth of Hester Prynne.

Further more, “A” got some other meanings in the story. First, about “adultery”, the original symbol of “A”, it also attached to the cheating minister, Arthur Dimmesdale whose name started with the same letter. Here, “A” was about Arthurrsquo;s cowardice, dishonest and original sin. Second, in French, “amour”,also starts with “A”, means love. It implies Hesterrsquo;s pure and unswerving love towards Arthur Dimmesdale. Third, relating to Bible, the experience of Hester and Dimmesdle recalls the story of Adam and Eve. In both cases, sin results in expulsion and suffering. But it also results in knowledge – specifically, in knowledge of what it means to be immoral. So in this story, Hester was built not to be a sinner, but more of a goddess. “A” as the starting letter of “Adam” then became a denial to adultery,implicit approval and support towards Hesterrsquo;s sticking to free love and fighting for equal women rights.

The feminist consciousness of Hester Prynne was also one of the major topics. Hester was imagined as a women living on the edge of the society. She represented those women who lived under the oppression of patriarchal society. However,she fight against the unfair but rooted thoughts in peoplersquo;s mind. She was a fighter of that society, even could not be accept by that age. She pursued for free love;she kept secret for her lover;she worked hard to survive after the open trail;she raised her child-Pearl well. All these she have done was out of a women with consciousness of feminism. Hawthorne put his feminism thoughts in this work and in this women image. Not only in her traits, but also the courage, insistence and self-reliance she showed when confronting with adversities. The feminism spirits out of Hester is still of important and valuable significance in nowadays.

However, the previous research still need some improvement to a certain extent. Throughout the previous studies more attention was paid to analyze Hesterrsquo;s traits in general, but not in the different roles she had played. To clearly understand the image, her traits should be connected to each of her role. Moreover, her feminism spirits showed in the roles need to be dissected one by one. Only under this circumstance could we reanalyse the transformation of the meaning of the scarlet“A”.

So my study would be done in the following aspects. First of all, the Creation Background of The Scarlet Letter would be analyzed. It is necessary to know the creation background of the story. One is the author-Nathaniel Hawthornersquo;s Family Background, the other is the historical society background. By analyzing these can help readers under stand the story and its meaning better.Secondly, I would give a sketch of Feminism.This is also necessary for understand the topic of feminism. With the basic knowledge of feminism, the definition and a brief history, readers can start analyzing the plot and images in the story in a feminism view.Thirdly, the Feminism Spirit of Hesterrsquo;s different roles.It is the key question of the study that I will focus on. Hester has four main roles in this story. By analyzing these four roles-a citizen, a puritan, a mother and a human-being, through feminism view, the image could be dissected roundly. By the end, the Transformation of “A”would be reanalysed.It is the ultimate purpose of my study. The transformation of “A” is the clue of the whole story and the most important topic of the story.

So far, my study would be focus on the analysis of Hesterrsquo;s different role in a feminist view. How she turn the scarlet letterrsquo;s meaning from adultery to angel will then be even more clear.

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