...頁(yè)腳.頁(yè)腳..頁(yè)腳AnAnalysisofSymbolisminTheScarletLetterByTangGuaiguaiUndertheSupervisorofZhuLipingSubmittedinPartialFulfillmentoftheRequirementsFortheDegreeofBachelorofArtsEnglishDepartmentSchoolofForeignLanguagesLanzhouJiaotongUniversityJune2015

摘要納桑尼爾.霍桑是美國(guó)19世紀(jì)浪漫主義小說家.處在美國(guó)文藝復(fù)興時(shí)期的霍桑，崇尚民主與自由,而同時(shí)又不能完全擺脫心靈深處清教思想的束縛。因而他既是一個(gè)清教勢(shì)力的批判者，又是清教思想的繼承者?！都t字》是霍桑長(zhǎng)篇小說的代表作。其突出的藝術(shù)特色是其豐富的象征主義，因此被稱為第一部象征主義小說.小說中各種事物的象征寓意都呈現(xiàn)出多義性、系統(tǒng)性、和隱晦性。本文擬從小說紅字“A”,這一貫穿全文的意象，主要人物的名字以及場(chǎng)景描寫等這三方面來探討其多重的象征主義。通過分析作品中的各種象征主義來揭示作者的創(chuàng)作意圖,從而更好地理解小說的主旨。第一章主要介紹了霍桑和《紅字》及相關(guān)研究，并簡(jiǎn)單解釋了象征主義及其作用。主體部分分為三部分，第一部分分析紅色字母A隨著故事情節(jié)發(fā)展而具有的不同的象征意義即通奸—痛苦—能干—天使。第二部分詳細(xì)闡述了四個(gè)主要人物名字的象征意義，美麗直率的海斯特，孤僻憂郁的丁梅斯代爾，冷漠無情的奇靈渥斯，以及女孩珠兒。第三部分主要對(duì)作品中描述的意象的象征意義具體分析。結(jié)語部分總結(jié)全文。關(guān)鍵詞：霍桑；《紅字》；象征主義

AbstractNathanielHawthorneisafamousAmericanromanticnovelistinnineteenthcentury.AsinAmericanRenaissance,Hawthorneadvocatesdemocracyandfreedom,butatthesametime,heisboundedandcannotcompletelygetridofthedeepinfluenceofPuritanism.Therefore,heisacriticofPuritanism,andisthesuccessorofPuritanism.TheScarletLetteristhemasterpieceofHawthorne’slongnovel.TheprominentartisticfeatureofTheScarletLetterisitsrichsymbolism;thereforeitiscalledthefirstsymbolismnovel.Thesymbolismmeaningsofallkindsofobjectsinthenovelshowthepolysemy,motility,andevencontradictory.Thispaperwillexplorethemultiplesymbolicmeaningfromthescarletletter“A”,thenamesofthemaincharactersandobjectsthatdescribedinthenovel.Throughtheanalysisofvarioussymbolisms,wecanrevealthecomposing intentionofauthor,andbetterunderstandingofthenovel'stheme.Thispaperconsistsofthethreepartsincludingintroduction,mainbodyandconclusion.TheintroductionpartmainlyintroducesHawthorneandTheScarletLetterandtherelatedresearches.Themainbodyincludesthreeparts.Thefirstpartchieflyanalysesthedifferentsymbolicmeaningofthescarletletter“A”thatchangeswiththedevelopmentofthestory.Thesecondpartexpoundsthesymbolicmeaningofthefourmaincharacters’names.BeautifulandcandidHester,unsocialandgloomyDimmesdale,coldanddetachedChilingworthandsunnygirlPearl.Thethirdpartmainlydescribesthesymbolicmeaningoftheimagesthatwritteninthenovel,suchasprison,scaffold,androse-bushandforest.Thefinalpartisconclusion.Keywords:Hawthorne,TheScarletLetter,symbolismContents摘要...............................................................................IAbstract..........................................................................Contents..........................................................................ChapterOneIntroduction..........................................................11.1IntroductiontoNathanielHawthorneandTheScarletLetter.......11.2LiteratureReview...........................................................21.3SignificanceoftheStudy...................................................3ChapterTwoTheSymbolicMeaningoftheScarletletter“A”..............52.1Adultery....................................................................62.2Anguish......................................................................72.3Able.........................................................................82.4Angel.......................................................................9ChapterThreeSymbolicMeaningoftheMainCharacters’Names ...113.1HesterPrynne...............................................................113.2ArthurDimmesdale...........................................................133.3RogerChillingworth.........................................................143.4Pearl.......................................................................16ChapterFourTheSymbolicMeaningoftheObjectsandSettings........184.1ThePrison....................................................................194.2TheScaffold................................................................194.3TheRosebush...............................................................214.4TheForest....................................................................22ChapterFiveConclusion............................................................23References........................................................................26Acknowledgments...................................................................19

ChapterOneIntroduction1.1IntroductiontoNathanielHawthorneandTheScarletLetterNathanielHawthorneisafamousAmericannovelistandshortstorywriter.HeisthemostimportantAmericanromanticrepresentativeinthelatenineteenthcentury,andalsooneofthegreatestnovelistsinthehistoryofAmericanliterature.Hawthorn'sworksbelongtoromanticismor,morespecifically,darkromanticism.ManyofhisworksareinspiredbyPuritanNewEngland,combininghistoricalromanceloadedwithsymbolismanddeeppsychologicalthemes,borderingonsurrealism.Histhemesoftencenterontheinherentevilandsinofhumanity,andhisworksoftenhavemoralmessagesanddeeppsychologicalcomplexity.Hispublishedworksincludenovels,shortstories,andbiography.HislaterwritingsalsoreflecthisnegativeviewoftheTranscendentalismmovement.TheScarletLetteristherepresentativeworkofNathanielHawthorne’slongnovel,whichfocusesontheperformanceoftheauthor’sthoughtandartisticfeatures.Whenthisbookwaspublished,itachievedasuccess.HawthorneusedsymbolismwidelyinTheScarletLetterandmadefourmajorfigurestogetherskillfullywiththeonlyword“A”.Theuseofsymbolisminthestoryisfullofmysterythatenrichestheideologicalcontentoftheworks,andalsoincreasesthenovel’sartisticcharm.Itleavesimaginativespaceandinfiniteaftertastetoreaders.TheScarletLetter’sbiggestsuccessistheskillfuluseofsymbolismandtheexcellentcontrolability.Hawthorne’srichanduniquesymbolismopenedasymbolicnovelasanindependentliteraryvarietyprecedent.Hawthornebecameoneoffoundersofmodernliteratureofsymbolism,alsomakesthescarletletterbecamethefirstAmerican’scross-borderbook,andwontheworldreputationinliteraryworks.1.2LiteratureReviewNathanielHawthorneisoneofthemostinfluentialAmericanromanticnovelistsinthenineteenthcentury.BecauseofHawthorne’smoralambiguity,hisrichvisualimagination,hisdeepexplorationofthedreamscapesofindividuals,communities,andthenation,andespeciallyhis“powerofblackness”asMelvillecalledit,hisworkskeepintriguinggreatinterestsandhugepassionofthecriticsofdifferenttimesanddifferentperspectives.TheScarletLetterisconsideredasoneofthegreatestworksinAmericanliterature.Thereasonswhyitissofamousarethatitsambiguousconnotations,delicaterepresentations,mysticalimaginations,thrillingmoralimplicationsaswellasitsambiguousattitudetowardswomen.Criticsstudyitfromdifferentanglesandlevels,butallthecriticsgavethehighestevaluationtoTheScarletLetter.Inrecentyears,therearemanydomesticandforeignacademicatticswhicharewritingthescarletletter,forexample,Bianjunhasstudiedthepsychologicaldescriptioninthescarletletter;YangXiaomeihasanalyzedHawthorne’sambivalentattitudetowardswomeninthescarletletter;JinXiaoweihasstudiedHawthorne’sChristianthoughts,andsoon.However,anotherattractionisHawthorne’sskillfuluseofsymbolisminTheScarletLetter.Symbolismisoneofthemostimportantwritingskills,whichendowstheconcreteimageswithabstractmeaningtoenlightenthereader’simaginationandtoexpressadeepermeaning.Ifwewanttoexplorethedeepersignificancethroughthesurface,itisnotasimplething.Itmustinvolveinmanydisciplinesandtheoreticalproblems,sothispaperwillstudythesymbolismofTheScarletLetter.1.3SignificanceoftheStudyTheScarletLetterisNathanielHawthorne’srepresentativework.HawthorneusedskillfulsymbolisminTheScarletLetter,whichmadeTheScarletLetterbecamethefirstsymbolicnovelintheworld.Hawthorneexpressessuperspace,andsupermaterialfor"anotherworld"throughthesymbolismthatconsciousnesscannotachieve,andputtheinfinitemeaninginthefinitethings.Thispapermainlyanalyzesthesignificancesymbolicmeaningofthescarletletter“A”,themaincharacters’namesandtheobjectsdescribedinthenovel.ThroughthestudyofthesymbolismofTheScarletletter,itcannotonlymakethesymbolismsignificanceofcharactersclearertothereaders,butalsoshedlightonthesymbolicsignificanceofobjects.Atthesametime,thehistoryoftheAmericaatthattimewillbeclearlyshowntoreaders.Andthen,itbroadensreaders’horizons.BytheresearchofthesymbolismoftheScarletletter,itwillprovideanewviewtoreadersaboutsymbolism.IthelpspeopletofurtherunderstandHawthorne’sopinionandhisotherworks.Italsohelpspeoplelearntouseskillfulsymbolismintheirownwritings.Meanwhile,readerscanfindthethemesofthenovelindifferentaspects,andthenunderstandthenovelcompletely.ChapterTwoTheSymbolicMeaningoftheScarletletter“A”Symbol,akindofartisticreation,mainlydependsonthespecificthingstoexpresstheabstractmeaning,inordertoinducethereader’simaginationandassociation,soastoachieveanideologicalrealmtoaffordmuchfoodforthought.Itrangesfromthemostobviousandsubstitutionofonethingforanother,tomassive,complexandperplexingcreations.Characters,names,scenesandeveneventscanbeusedsymbolically.Inthe19thcentury,withthefastdevelopmentsoftheeconomy,Americanhassteppedintoanewstage,whilethetraditionalPuritanismstillinfluencedthoughtsofpeople.Furthermore,19thcenturyisalsothetimeofculturerenaissance;theTranscendentalismandtheMysticismareverypopularatthattime.InfluencedbyPuritanism,TranscendentalismandMysticism,Hawthorneismotivatedtomakeamuchdeeperexplorationonhumannatureandcausehisambiguityandconflictsininnerheart.Ononehand,herealizesthatthestrictPuritanismdestroythefreedomandhappinessofpeople,ontheotherhand,hecannoteradicatethetraditionthoughtssuchas“originalsin”fromhismindsincehewasborn.Suchstruggleandconflictsmakehimfeelambiguousandconfusedaboutlifeandworld.Hecannotfindagoodwaytochangethisworldandrevealhisideal;asaresult,hechoosessymbolismtoshowhisplightanddilemma.Thereasonwhyhechoosesitisthatsymbolismcanmakehisintentionhavemorethanonemeaning,sothathecanrevealhiscontradictorythoughts.“A”hasrichsymbolicmeaningandmysterycolor,anditalmostappearsineverysceneofthisnovelandlinkseverycharacterskillfully.ItissewnonHester'scoat,carvedonhertombstoneafterherdeath,mysticallytattooedonDimmesdale’schest,evenmiraculouslyappearedintheskyduringthedevelopmentprocessofthestory.Thescarletletter“A”hastherichestsymbolicmeaninginthenovel.Butthesymbolicmeaningof“A”isnotimmutableandfrozen;itwillchangewiththestorydevelopingandtheanther’sbasisonthepoint.NowIwillanalyzethesymbolicmeaningfromtheromanticangleofmodernpeople.2.1AdulteryThescarletletter“A”isasymbolofadulterywhenitfirstappearsinthestory.“A”isthefirstletterintheEnglishalphabet.“First”is“origin”,firstlyitmeansbeginning.AccordingtotheChristiandoctrine,“origin”meansdegenerate,anditistheoriginalsinthatnoonecouldavoid,anditisalsotheoriginaldegenerationofhuman’sancestors.Inthiswork,thescarletletter“A”isasymbolofPuritanpunishment,anditrepresentstheshamedadultery.Accordingtotherequestofpuritandoctrineatthattime,awomanwhohasadulterymustadornthescarletletterthatembroideredonhergownasapunishment,inordertoshowhercrimetopeople.Letpeoplethatalittlecrimewillpayaheavyprice,inordertosetagoodexampletoexecuteoneasawarningtoothers.HesterfallinlovewithministerDimmesdalewithoutknowingherhusbandliveornot,thatbeyondthebottlelineofmorality.FinallyitisknownbyothersbecausethebirthofPearl.ThenHesterisjudgedbyministersatScaffold,eventhoughtheministersalternatebetweencoercionandtemptationtoforcehertotellwhoPearl’sfatherwas,Hesternevereversaysthat.Therefore,Hesterispunishedtoadornthescarletletter“A”inherwholelife,toshowhercrimetopeople,soatthebeginningofthisstory,“A”meansadultery.2.2Anguish“A”alsostandsforanguish,whichcanbefoundfromthetwomaincharacters.Firstly,itisHester.Sheloveslife,hashighprospectandgreatexpectationforlove.However,finallyshemarriesanoldpedantChilingworthwhoisincapableofgivingheranyhappiness,andhehasuglyappearanceandphysicaldeformity.Thisisherfirststepintothedeepsuffering.Aftersheimmigratestothenewworld,shemeetshertruelover—Dimmesdale.However,becauseoflimitationofmarriageandexigencyofpuritandoctrine,eventhoughtheyfallinlovewitheachotherunderthosepressures,theybringendlesspaintobothofthem.Hesterhadbearthescarletletter“A”inherwholelife,nomatterhowmanymeaningsdoesthe“A”have,theprimarymeaningisadultery,andfinallyshebringsitintohergrave.Inordertoprotectherloverfromaffront,sheiswillingtoendureallofsufferingsinsilenceanditlastforsevenyears.Inspiteofsuchsacrifice,thispoorandpersistentwomanneverwinsthebeautifullovethatshehasbeenlookingforwardto.AnotheranguishpersonisDimmesdale,thepainheborndoesnotcomefromtheoutsideworld,buthimself.Thescarletletter“A”Hesteradornedisasymbolofshame,butitisalsoabeautifuldecoration.ButforDimmesdale,“A”isaninvisiblebrand,andapainfulsuffering.Havingnocouragetoadmithiscrime,DimmesdalebecameHester’sinquisitionfaintheartedly.However,eventhoughhiscrimeisnotbeenexposed,thepainburieddeeplyinhisheartdoesnothavespiritualcomfort.Heiscontradictedandcomplicated,andhewandersbetweenconfessinghiscrimeandhisclergymanstatus.Allofthosepainsdepresseshimbreakdown.2.3AbleThesymbolicmeaningsofredletter“A”aremorethan“adulteryandanguish”.Later,itsmeaningchangesinto“able,andadmirable”.Atthebeginning,allpeopleindowntownblamedHesterforcommittingadultery.However,theredletter“A”showedtheabilitythatsheisskillfulinneedlework,andthevirtuethatshetriesherbesttohelppoorandsickpeople.Herskillinneedleworkfirstlycanbeseenfromthedecorationforthescarletletter“A”,shestitchedthe“A”onhergownwithgoldthreadthatmakesitbeautifulandelegant.Hestermakesitbecomeafineart,anditbecomesoneofherbeautifulornamentastimepasses.Herskillinneedleworkalsocanbeseenfromthecolorfulandprettyclothesofherdaughter—Pearl.EvenHesterherselfalwayswornsimpleandplaingown,butshealwaystriedherbesttomakeexquisiteclothesforPearl.Hesterwassoskillfulinneedlethatmakesherfamousinwholedowntown.Evenwhenmanypeoplestillaccuseherofhercrime,theybegintoaskHestertomakeanexcellentneedleworkforthem,especiallyfortherichandthenoble.Heroutstandingneedleworksnotonlyallowhertomaintainastablelife,butalsoproveshewasveryable.2.4AngelWiththetimegoing,Hesteralwayshelpsthepoorandthesickwithoutanyrepaying,andsheevendoesnotdaretohopeotherswouldaccepther.However,afteryearsofHester’shelp,serviceandshowingsympathytothepoordowntown’speople,“A”isgraduallyregardedasasymbolof“admirableandangle”.“Theletteristhesymbolofherbeautifulcharacters.Suchhelpfulnessisfoundinhersomuchpowertodoandpowertosympathies---whichmanypeoplerefusetointerpretthescarletletter“A”byitsoriginalsignification.”Atthistime,peoplerealizeHesterhadanoblecharacter,andsheisanadmirablewoman.“Doyouseethatwomanwiththeembroideredbadge?ItisourHester,thetown’sownHesterwhoissokindtothepoor,sohelpfultothesick,socomfortingtotheafflicted!”peopleintownbegantobelievethatHesteristheanglewhogaveherloveandtimetothepeoplewhoneededit.Finally,Hesteruseherspiritualinnocenceandkindnesstoredeemforhercrime,andbecameanable,admirableangle.ChapterThreeSymbolicMeaningoftheMainCharacters’NamesInBritishandAmericanliterature,itisacommonwritingwaytogivecharactersinworksthespecialname.Thosenamesnotonlyhelpauthorstoenrichtheportrayalofcharacter,butalsoshowreaderstherelationshipbetweencharactersandthemes.ThisfeaturealsocanbeseenfromthenamesthatHawthornegavetothefourmaincharactersinTheScarletLetter.Thisspecialwayofnamingwillmaketheworksmorewonderful,anditwillcentrallyreflecttherichsymbolicmeaningofnames,thusitcanhelpreaderstograspthethemeofworksdeeplyandcomprehensively.Inthischapter,wewillcarefullyanalyzethesymbolicmeaningofmaincharacters’names.3.1HesterPrynneTheheroineofstory—HesterPrynne,asapoorwomenwhoisretaliatedbyherheartlesshusband,butshedoesnotlosecourageoflife.Herinnerheartisfullofstrengthandyearningforbeautifullife.Thereisnodoubtthatthemeaningofhernameisthereflectionofherpersonalitytraits,thisisreasonwhytheauthorgivethisnametoher.Theword“Hester”hastwomainmeanings.Firstly,“Hester”putreadersinmindofHesti-a--sisterofZeus,agoddesswhocontrolsthekitchenrange.Shestandsforwarmth,soauthorgivethisnametotheheroinetoshowhisprofoundmeaning.Instory,Hesterisalwayshappytootherseventhoughsheisalsointrouble.ShenotonlyfeedsPearlbyherskillfulneedleworksbutalsohelpthepoorandthesick.ThebehaviorofHestermakesthischillworldwarmer.Secondly,Hestersoundslike“hastier”,whichisthecomparativeof“hasty”.Itmeansthoughtlessandrash,actually,Hester’smarriageishasty.Nomatterwhatreasonisit;thedecisionthatshemarriesoldanduglyChilingworthissorashthatshedoesnotfeelhappyatall.Aftersheimmigratestothenewworld,shefallsinlovewithyoungandhandsomeministerDimmesdalewithoutcarefulconsideration.HercrimeisexposedwhenshegivesbirthtoPearl.Thensheispunishedbyministerstowearthescarletletterinherwholelife.ThemeaningofHester’snamemakesuscautiousdeeplyaboutwhatisauthor’sintentionofcreation?Ononehand,HawthorneappreciateshighlyHester’shelpfulactions;ontheotherhand,hemakesherpayapainfulpriceforherhastybehavior.WhydoesheletHestergoesintotheholeshedigsforherself,andthenmakeshershinybecauseofherkindnessanddiligence?ItisbecausetheauthorhasbeendeeplyinfluencedbyPuritanismthoughts.HewantstoapproveofHester’sbehavior,butatthesametime,heisafraidforcriticism.Hefeelsthiskindofbehaviorgoesagainstthedoctrineofpuritanism.Allofthisindicatesthatthethemeofthisworkisambiguous,orinotherwords,itisdiversified.YouhadtoadmitthattheauthorhasgreatoriginalityintheportraitofHesterPrynne,whichhighlightthethemeconvincinglybyitsrichsymbolicmeaning.3.2ArthurDimmesdaleTheheroofthisstoryisArthurDimmisdalewhoisawell-regardedminister.Dimmeansdarkandweakanddalemeansvalley,soitmeansDimmesdaleisa“dim—interior”clergyman.Actually,Hispaincompletelycomesfromhimselfnottheoutsideworld.Heisaveryhypocriticalandcowardlyman.Hecouldnotresisthislustandimpetuosityanddothethingsheshouldnottodothatgoagainstthegodhebelieved.However,hehasnocouragetoadmithiscrime,becauseheisadmirableandrespectableminister,andheisperfectintheeyesofcommonpeople.Asamodelandgoodexample,hisfollowersevenregardhimasangle.Inordertoprotecthishonorandstatus,hehadtoconcealhiscrime.However,heisveryanguishinhisinnerheartbecauseofmoraltorment,spiritualself-accusationandthedevotionalrespectofhiscongregations.Suchcontradictorythattheoutsideandtheinsidearenotinagreementmakehimfeelutmostpressureanddepressed.Intheendofthiswork,inordertoavoidunbearablepressure,theministerstandsinthescaffoldandthrowsbackhisclothestoshowhiscrimetotheworld.Thescarletletter“A”onhisbreastisbaredunderthesun.However,howcouldthisworldappearsonhisbreast?Isittheministerwhobrandedtheletterbyhimselfinordertoconfesshissin?Orisitthegodwhomarksthislettertopunishhiscrime?DespiteHawthornedoesnottellreadershowthislettercomes,itstrengthensartisticappealofthisworkandmakereadershavefreeimagination.TheinitialsofArthurDimmesdaleareAD,whichstandsforAdam.ItprovesthatthecrimethatHesterandDimmesdalecommitsjustliketheAdamandEva.AdamisattractedbyEva,andtheneatstheForbiddenFruit.FinallytheyannoythegodandaredrivenoutoftheGardenofEden.Asanobleminister,Dimmesdalealsodothethingsthatheshouldnotdo,andheisfinallyabandonedbygodsbecauseofhiscrime,sothenpropelshimtowardstheroadofdeath.Inshort,theauthormakesreaderslearnthedestinyofArthurDimmesdalefromhisname,howwonderfulitis!3.3RogerChillingworthRogerChillingworthisoneofthemaincharactersinthiswork.Heistherepresentativesofintellectuals,butheisold,uglyandphysicaldeformity.Actually,heisthemanwhocommitstheunforgivablecrime.Foralongtime,hegoesagainsthisconscience,andlivesalonerelyingonhiscrazyrevengeonDimmesdaleandHester.HisnameRogersoundslikerogue,obviously,itshowsthatheisahoodlumandinimmoralbehaviorinthework.HemarriesHesternotbecausehelovesherbutheneedssomeonetolightthehouseholdfireinhislonelyandchillyheart.HecannotsatisfyyoungandbeautifulHester’sgoodexpectationforthetruelove.SuchmiserablemarriagedestroysHester’syouthandleadstoHester’stragedydirectly.Fromthisaspect,itisRogerchillingworththatattributestothescarletletterandthelatercrime.WhenheescapesfromtheIndiansandcomesbacktothenewworld,heseeshiswifeiscriticizedforadulterybychance.Atthistime,heloseshissensecompletelyandplanstorevengecrazily.EventhoughhedoesnotloveHester,hedoesnotlethergotofindherlovebutforceshertotellwhoisadulterer.AfterHesterrefusestotellhimthetruth,hedecidestofindthemanbyhimself.HeneitherintendstohelpHestergetridoftroublesomelife,norconsolesherinthemental.AfterheknowsthattheadultererisArthurDimmesdale,hepretendstobeadoctorandtorturestheyoungministercrazily.Inthismoment,Chillingworthhaslosthishumannaturecompletely,andhisheartisfullofhatred.Themanwholiveswithanimosityusuallydoesnothavegoodend,whenhedestroysothers,healsodestroyshimselftoo.HissurnameChillingworthismadeofchillingandworth.Chillingcomesfromtheword“chilly”,whichmeansthemaniscoldandmerciless.HesterpleadshimmanytimestostophisrevengetoDimmesdale,buthenevergivesup.HehascrazilytorturedDimmesdaleforsevenyears,finallymakestheyoungminister’smentalbreakdown.AfterDimmesdaledies,Chilingworthlosescourageandhopeoflifebecauseforalongtime,hehaslosthimselfandjustlivesforrevenge,sosoonhediestoo.3.4PearlFirstly,PearlisthebeautifuldaughterofHesterandDimmesdale,andsheistheonlysunnypersoninthenovel.Theword“pearl”isoriginatedfromtheBiblestoriesanditmeanstheverypreviousthings.EventhoughthebirthofPearlexploresthesecretbetweenHesterandDimmesdale,andmakesthempaythehighpricefortheircrime,Pearlstillisapricelesstreasureintheirheart.Moreover,PearlistheonlyspiritualsustenanceofHesterandencourageshertofacewiththeunbearablehumiliationandblame.Justasthedescriptioninthework“shenamedtheinfant‘Pearl’,asbeingofgreatprice—purchasedwithallshehad—hermother’sonlytreasure!”HawthornecomparesPearltomanybeautifulthings.Sheisabeautifulflower,abrilliantsunbeam,andmostimportantly,sheprovidesanemotionalanchorforHester.TheexistenceofPearlconciliatesHester’sheartandmakesherforgetthesufferingshebearing.Secondly,Pearlsoundslikepurl,whichmeanstheauthorwantstocomparelittlePearltoaclearmurmuringstream.PearlisnotonlytheremindersofHesterandDimmesdale’scrime,inotherwords,sheisamirrororanalarmbellfortheircrime;butalsosheisthesoulsanctifierofHesterandDimmesdale,whichsuperviseandurgethemtocorrecttheirerrorsandmakeafreshstart.Therearerelevantdescriptionsinthework:HesterandDimmesdalemeetinthebrookandPearlinotherside,eventhoughtheyareclosetoeachother,Pearlnevercrossesthestreamandcomestothem.Justastheministersays“thestreamistheboundaryoftwoworlds”.Ifthestreamistheboundaryofinnocenceandevil,thenPearlisthelittledemonontheotherside.Amongthefourmaincharacters,onlyPearlisperfectinthemoral,andinnocentintheheart.Asasymbolofbeautyandinnocence,thereisnodoubtthatherexistenceisapowerofaspiration,whichmakeusbelievethatlifeandsocietyarebeautifulandhopeful.ChapterFourTheSymbolicMeaningoftheObjectsandSettingsInthenovel,exceptforthesymbolicmeaningofthescarletletter“A”andfourmaincharacters’names,theobjectsandsettingsthataredescribedintheworkalsohavetherichsymbolicmeaning,suchastheprison,thescaffold,therosebush,andtheforest.4.1ThePrisonAtthebeginningofthisstory,theprisonisintroducedfirstlyinchapteroneas“thefoundersofanewcolony,whateverUtopiaofhumanvirtueandhappinesstheymightoriginallyproject,haveinvariablyrecognizeditamongtheirearliestpr