2. Nathaniel Hawthorne 1804 - 1864

3. Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804 - 1864) Novelist and short story writer, a central figure in the American Renaissance. Nathaniel Hawthorne's best-known works include THE SCARLET LETTER (1850) and THE HOUSE OF THE SEVEN GABLES (1851). Like Edgar Allan Poe, Hawthorne took a dark view of human nature.

4. Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804 - 1864) Life Life Major works Major works Features of his works Features of his works Evaluation Evaluation The Scarlet Letter The Scarlet Letter

5. Life He was born in a prestigious New England family closely related with Puritan church; his ancestors attended the persecution of people belonging to different churches, such as Quakers. He was born in a prestigious New England family closely related with Puritan church; his ancestors attended the persecution of people belonging to different churches, such as Quakers. When he was born, his family declined. He was aware of his ancestors ’ s misdeeds and thus "blackness of Hawthorne" formed. He thought that the reason of his family ’ s decline is his ancestors ’ misdeeds. And he didn ’ t agree with the optimism held by Transcendentalists towards human nature. He wrote lots of works on everlasting evil side in human nature. When he was born, his family declined. He was aware of his ancestors ’ s misdeeds and thus "blackness of Hawthorne" formed. He thought that the reason of his family ’ s decline is his ancestors ’ misdeeds. And he didn ’ t agree with the optimism held by Transcendentalists towards human nature. He wrote lots of works on everlasting evil side in human nature.

6. Life He graduated from Bowdoin College. Henry Wadsworth Longfellows and Mr. Pierce, the 14th American presidents were his classmates. He graduated from Bowdoin College. Henry Wadsworth Longfellows and Mr. Pierce, the 14th American presidents were his classmates. After graduation, he lived in seclusion and wrote. After graduation, he lived in seclusion and wrote. Laterly, he worked in the US Custom House. Laterly, he worked in the US Custom House. After Pierce became president, he was asked to be the consul in Liverpool and Italy. After Pierce became president, he was asked to be the consul in Liverpool and Italy.

7. Major works Short story collections: Twice-Told Tales 《故事新编》 ; Moses from an Old Manse 《古屋青苔》 Short story collections: Twice-Told Tales 《故事新编》 ; Moses from an Old Manse 《古屋青苔》 Novels: The Scarlet Letter 《红字》 ; The House of Seven Gables 《七个尖角阁的房 子》 ; The Blithedale Romance 《福谷传 奇》 ; The Marble Faun 《大理石神像》 Novels: The Scarlet Letter 《红字》 ; The House of Seven Gables 《七个尖角阁的房 子》 ; The Blithedale Romance 《福谷传 奇》 ; The Marble Faun 《大理石神像》

8. Features of His Works A. sense of sin and evil (sin and punishment) A. sense of sin and evil (sin and punishment) B. tension between head (intellect) and heart (emotion) B. tension between head (intellect) and heart (emotion) (Hawthorne held negative attitude towards science. Mostly, his intellectual characters are vallains.) (Hawthorne held negative attitude towards science. Mostly, his intellectual characters are vallains.) C. ambiguity （复义性） C. ambiguity （复义性） D. good at depicting psychology D. good at depicting psychology E. symbolism E. symbolism F. supernatural elements F. supernatural elements G. excellent craftsmanship (delicate structure; refined language) G. excellent craftsmanship (delicate structure; refined language)

9. Evaluation All his life, Hawthorne seems to be haunted by his sense of sin and evil in life —“ Black vision ”. Evil seems to be man ’ s birthmark. All his life, Hawthorne seems to be haunted by his sense of sin and evil in life —“ Black vision ”. Evil seems to be man ’ s birthmark. The House of the Seven Gables is an appalling fictional version of Hawthorne ’ s belief that the “ wrong-doing of one generation lives into the successive ones. ” The House of the Seven Gables is an appalling fictional version of Hawthorne ’ s belief that the “ wrong-doing of one generation lives into the successive ones. ” One source of evil in Hawthorne is overwhelming intellect. One source of evil in Hawthorne is overwhelming intellect. Hester, Chillingworth, Dimmesdale and Pearl are the major characters appear in The Scarlet Letter. Hester, Chillingworth, Dimmesdale and Pearl are the major characters appear in The Scarlet Letter. One salient feature of Hawthorne ’ s art is his ambiguity. One salient feature of Hawthorne ’ s art is his ambiguity.

10. The Scarlet Letter A: Adultery to Able to Angel A: Adultery to Able to Angel Characters: Characters: –Hester Prynne (heroine, attractive, active towards the sin) –Roger Chillingworth (Hester's husband, emotionless, only thinking about revenge, real vallain in the novel, signifying pure intellect which was merciless in Hawthorne's mind) –Arthur Dimmesdale (a handsome and admirable young priest, contraditionary on the sin he made with Hester, being a brave man at last) Theme: (Is this a love story? N) The theme of the story should be the moral, emotional and psychological effects of the sin on people. Theme: (Is this a love story? N) The theme of the story should be the moral, emotional and psychological effects of the sin on people.

11. The Scarlet Letter The Scarlet Letter is a cultural allegory, in which the author indirectly tells the future of Puritanism. The Scarlet Letter is a cultural allegory, in which the author indirectly tells the future of Puritanism. The Scarlet Letter is a sample in which American Romanticism adapted itself to American Puritanism.(Because of the strong influence of Puritanism in American society, Hawthorne only expressed his ideas on the sin indirectly by employing symbolism.) The Scarlet Letter is a sample in which American Romanticism adapted itself to American Puritanism.(Because of the strong influence of Puritanism in American society, Hawthorne only expressed his ideas on the sin indirectly by employing symbolism.)

12. Symbols in this novel The Scarlet Letter The Scarlet Letter The Meteor The Meteor Pearl Pearl The Rosebush Next to the Prison Door The Rosebush Next to the Prison Door

13. The Scarlet Letter The scarlet letter is meant to be a symbol of shame, but instead it becomes a powerful symbol of identity to Hester. The letter's meaning shifts as time passes. Originally intended to mark Hester as an adulterer, the “ A ” eventually comes to stand for “ Able. ” Finally, it becomes indeterminate: the Native Americans who come to watch the Election Day pageant think it marks her as a person of importance and status. Like Pearl, the letter functions as a physical reminder of Hester's affair with Dimmesdale. But, compared with a human child, the letter seems insignificant, and thus helps to point out the ultimate meaninglessness of the community's system of judgment and punishment. The child has been sent from God, or at least from nature, but the letter is merely a human contrivance. Additionally, the instability of the letter's apparent meaning calls into question society's ability to use symbols for ideological reinforcement. More often than not, a symbol becomes a focal point for critical analysis and debate. The scarlet letter is meant to be a symbol of shame, but instead it becomes a powerful symbol of identity to Hester. The letter's meaning shifts as time passes. Originally intended to mark Hester as an adulterer, the “ A ” eventually comes to stand for “ Able. ” Finally, it becomes indeterminate: the Native Americans who come to watch the Election Day pageant think it marks her as a person of importance and status. Like Pearl, the letter functions as a physical reminder of Hester's affair with Dimmesdale. But, compared with a human child, the letter seems insignificant, and thus helps to point out the ultimate meaninglessness of the community's system of judgment and punishment. The child has been sent from God, or at least from nature, but the letter is merely a human contrivance. Additionally, the instability of the letter's apparent meaning calls into question society's ability to use symbols for ideological reinforcement. More often than not, a symbol becomes a focal point for critical analysis and debate.

14. The Meteor As Dimmesdale stands on the scaffold with Hester and Pearl in Chapter XII, a meteor traces out an “ A ” in the night sky. To Dimmesdale, the meteor implies that he should wear a mark of shame just as Hester does. The meteor is interpreted differently by the rest of the community, which thinks that it stands for “ Angel ” and marks Governor Winthrop's entry into heaven. But “ Angel ” is an awkward reading of the symbol. The Puritans commonly looked to symbols to confirm divine sentiments. In this narrative, however, symbols are taken to mean what the beholder wants them to mean. The incident with the meteor obviously highlights and exemplifies two different uses of symbols: Puritan and literary. As Dimmesdale stands on the scaffold with Hester and Pearl in Chapter XII, a meteor traces out an “ A ” in the night sky. To Dimmesdale, the meteor implies that he should wear a mark of shame just as Hester does. The meteor is interpreted differently by the rest of the community, which thinks that it stands for “ Angel ” and marks Governor Winthrop's entry into heaven. But “ Angel ” is an awkward reading of the symbol. The Puritans commonly looked to symbols to confirm divine sentiments. In this narrative, however, symbols are taken to mean what the beholder wants them to mean. The incident with the meteor obviously highlights and exemplifies two different uses of symbols: Puritan and literary.

15. Pearl Although Pearl is a complex character, her primary function within the novel is as a symbol. Pearl is a sort of living version of her mother's scarlet letter. She is the physical consequence of sexual sin and the indicator of a transgression. Yet, even as a reminder of Hester's “ sin, ” Pearl is more than a mere punishment to her mother: she is also a blessing. She represents not only “ sin ” but also the vital spirit and passion that engendered that sin. Thus, Pearl's existence gives her mother reason to live, bolstering her spirits when she is tempted to give up. It is only after Dimmesdale is revealed to be Pearl's father that Pearl can become fully “ human. ” Until then, she functions in a symbolic capacity as the reminder of an unsolved mystery. Although Pearl is a complex character, her primary function within the novel is as a symbol. Pearl is a sort of living version of her mother's scarlet letter. She is the physical consequence of sexual sin and the indicator of a transgression. Yet, even as a reminder of Hester's “ sin, ” Pearl is more than a mere punishment to her mother: she is also a blessing. She represents not only “ sin ” but also the vital spirit and passion that engendered that sin. Thus, Pearl's existence gives her mother reason to live, bolstering her spirits when she is tempted to give up. It is only after Dimmesdale is revealed to be Pearl's father that Pearl can become fully “ human. ” Until then, she functions in a symbolic capacity as the reminder of an unsolved mystery.

16. The Rosebush Next to the Prison Door The narrator chooses to begin his story with the image of the rosebush beside the prison door. The rosebush symbolizes the ability of nature to endure and outlast man's activities. Yet, paradoxically, it also symbolizes the futility of symbolic interpretation: the narrator mentions various significances that the rosebush might have, never affirming or denying them, never privileging one over the others. The narrator chooses to begin his story with the image of the rosebush beside the prison door. The rosebush symbolizes the ability of nature to endure and outlast man's activities. Yet, paradoxically, it also symbolizes the futility of symbolic interpretation: the narrator mentions various significances that the rosebush might have, never affirming or denying them, never privileging one over the others.

17. The End