温州师范学院外语系98英本（1）
杨小敏
Abstract: Nathaniel Hawthorne's representative works The Scarlet Letter is centered first on a sin committed by Hester and Arthur Dimmesdale and it details how sin affects the lives of the people involved. By analyzing four major characters (Hester Prynne, Arthur Dimmesdale, roger Chillingworth, and Pearl), the writer in this paper attempts to probe into the effect of sin in this book. Hester is tortured physically and mentally and "shame, isolation from society"comes to her until she goes out of the shadow of sin. It causes the clergyman Dimmesdale psychological torments, leading to his death. Roger Chillingworth, the husband of Hester, is the most affected one, from a decent scholar into a jealous monster, an ugly devil. The sin is proved to produce purity in the form of Pearl, daughter of Hester and Dimmesdale. Her "goodness" in moral eventually teaches Hester and Dimmesdale to take responsibility for their sin.
Keywords: the effect of sin Hester Prynne Arthur Dimmesdale
Introduction
Nathaniel Hawthorne spent three years to finish The Scarlet Letter which brings
him great fame in the World Literature. The setting if this novel is in 17th
century New England colonial period. The puritans established the social organization
with politics and religion, constrained human's natural desire and lived an
austere way of life. Under such a surrounding, the sin i.e. adultery committed
by Hester and her secret lover is unbearable to them and is due to receive punishment.
In the following, the paper is to research into the effect of sin, which is
one of the major themes in this novel.
1. Hester Prynne
2. Arthur Dimmesdale.
3.Roger Chillingworth
4.Pearl
Conclusion
In summary, the writer in this paper primarily analyzes the four main characters:
Hester Prynne, Arthur Dimmesdale, roger Chillingworth, and Pear, from the angle
how the sin committed by Hester and Dimmesdale affects the people involved.
Goodness, evil, beauty, and ugliness are shown in various characters of The
Scarlet Letter, which makes this book a world classic.
Bibliography
http:// www.gradesavor.com/ClassicNotes/Titles/thescarletletter/fullsumm.htm/
Hawthorne Nathaniel , 1981,The Scarlet letter, Bantam Books, USA
胡荫桐，刘树森， 1997 ，《美国文学教程》，天津，南开大学出版社
霍桑， 1991 ，《红字》，北京，人民文学出版社
田俊武，1999，霍桑〈红字〉人名寓意研究，外国文学研究第1期
