论红字中的孤独因素

　　Abstract
　　NathanialHawthorneisanextremelyrenownedAmericanwriteroffiction。Henotonlyhascreatedquietafewclassicnovels，butalsohaswrittenquantitiesofthoughtprovokingshortstories。Untilnow，HawthorneandhisworkshavebeenthefocusofdiscussionfromtheChineseandforeignscholars。ThethemeofTheScarletLetterischaracterizedbymultiplicityandvariousconclusionsaredraminthefiledofthethematicstudies。Itseemsthatscholarshaveshownmajorconcernwithsuchdiathesisastheoriginalsin，themoralconsciousnessofHawthorne，religiousbelief，inpidualandsociety，thoughtsoffemaledoctrineandtheconflictbetweentheheadandtheheart。However，veryfewscholarshaveeverdoneathoroughresearchintothelonelinessdiathesisofthenovel。Thesedetailedanalysesfourcharacters’lonelinessandexpresstheaspectsoflonelinessinTheScarletLetter。
　　KeyWords
　　TheScarletLetter；loneliness；symbol
　　摘要
　　纳撒尼尔霍桑是美国非常著名的小说家。他不仅创造了若干部经典的长篇小说，而且还书写了数量可观且耐人寻味的短篇小说。至今为止，霍桑和他的作品一直是中外学者讨论的对象。《红字》是霍桑的代表作品，它的主题具有多样性的特点，因此在主题研究领域存在各种不同的结论。大部分学者偏重于探讨小说中的原罪意识、霍桑的道德观念、宗教信仰和女性主义思想、个人与社会的关系以及大脑和心灵之间的冲突等因素，而对小说中孤独因素的深入研究并不多见。本文分析小说中的四位主人公各自的孤独感，表达霍桑在小说《红字》中体现的孤独因素。
　　关键词
　　《红字》；孤独；象征
　　Introduction
　　TheScarletLetterwasdeclaredaclassicalmostimmediatelyafteritspublicationin1850，andithasstayedinprintandinfavoreversince，ithasbeenhailedbothasthefirstsymbolicnovelandasthefirstpsychologicalnovel。ButwhatreallysecurestheplaceofTheScarletLetterintheliteraryhistoryisitstreatmentofhumannature，sin，guilt，andpridealltimeless，universalthemesfromauniquelyAmericanpointofview。Therearemanydifferentcommentsandcriticismandonthewriter’sfamilybackground，thenovelmultiplethemesandwritingstyles，thenovel’ssocialandhistoricalbackdropstogetherwiththenovel’ssignificanceinsocietyandliterature。Thisarticlehasdoneathoroughresearchintotheaspectsoflonelinessinthenovel。Thethesisistoelaboratefourcharacters’loneliness：Hester，Chillingworth，DimmesdaleandlittlePearl。Theyarehavingdifferentloneliness。Hesterisalonelypursuerforlove；Chilingworthisalonelyrevengeseeker；Dimmesdaleisalonelybeggarforgod’sgrace；Pearlisalonelychildaskingforrecognition。TherearemanysymbolicrepresentationsinTheScarletLetter。Suchasnames，appearancesofthecharacters，somespecialeventsandactions，thesecansymbolizeloneliness。
　　I。ABriefInformationaboutHawthorneandTheScarletLetter。
　　A。ABriefIntroductionaboutHawthorne
　　Hawthorne’sworksmainlyincludefourromances：TheScarletLetter，TheHouseofTheSevenGables，TheBlithedaleRomance，andTheMarbleFaun，Threehortstoriescollections：TwiceToldTales，MossfromanOldManse，andTheSnowImageandOtherTwiceToldTales，andtwomythcollection：AWonderBookforGirlsandBoysandTanglewoodTalesforGirlsandBoys。
　　B。ABriefContentsaboutTheScarletLetter
　　ThestoryofTheScarletLetterisatriangularloveaffairsetintheSeventeenthCenturyBoston，thenapuritansettlement。AnagingEnglishscholarsendshisbeautifulyoungwife，HesterPrynnebyname，tomaketheirnewhomeinNewEngland。Butforunknownreasons，thehusbandhasnotjoinedherinthecolony。Theconsensusisthathehasbeenlostatsea。Whilewaitingforherhusband，HesterlovedwithArthurDimmesdale，herpuritanminister，andhasgivenbirthtoachild，pearl。TheloveaffairbetweenHesterandDimmesdaleresultsinadultery。Hesterconfessesbutrefusestorevealthenameofthechild’sfather。Asapunishment，sheissentencedtothreehoursonthescaffoldandalifetimeofwearingascarletletterAonherchest，themarkofhershame。Whentheelderlyhusbandcomesovertwoyearslater，heisbewilderedtoseehiswifeinpillory，wearingthescarletletterAonherbreast，holdingherillicitchildinherarms。Thewrongedhusband，whosepridehasbeendeeplywounded，isdeterminedtoseekouttheadultererandvowsrevengeonthemanwhohascuckoldedhim。TheoldscholarthedisguiseshimselfasaphysicianandchangeshisnametoRogerChillingworth。Gradually，hediscoversthatthevillainisnootherthanthemuchadmiredbrilliantyoungclergyman，ArthurDimmesdale。Thoughweigheddownbythesecretknowledgeofhisandhypocrisy，Dimmesdaleisfearfuloftheconsequencesofconfession，whichwouldbemoreseverefortheminister。Hedealswithhisguiltbytormentinghimselfphysicallyandpsychologically，developingaseriousheartconditionasaresult。Inthemeanwhile，hisconscienceisruthlesslypreyeduponbyChillingworth。Dimmesdalecutshimselfofffromcommunitywithersspirituallyaswellasphysically。
　　Ontheotherhand，Hester’sresponsetothescarletletterAandhersinisapositiveone。Thoughlivingonthefringeofthecommunityandsufferingsocialostracism，sheneverthelessbearsherpunishmentcourageously，expiateshersinbyperforminggooddeedssothatthecommunitygraduallychangesitsattitudeandsomeofherpeersevenshowtheirtrustandadmirationforherhonestyandskillfulness。AtonetimeHesterplanstoleaveAmericaandfleetoEurope，wherethetrueloverscanlivewithPearlasafamily。Thedaybeforetheshipistosail，Dimmesdalepreacheshismosteloquentsermonforthetownspeople。Afterwardsheimpulsivelymountsthescaffoldwithhisloveranddaughterandconfesseshissinandhypocrisyatpublicgathering。Hefallsdead，aspearlkisseshim。
　　Frustratedinhisrevenge，Chillingworthdiedayearlater。ButintheverywitheringhemakeshislastwillandtestamentandbequeathsaveryconsiderableamountofpropertytolittlePearl，thedaughterofHesterPrynnebyDimmesdale。Asheiresstohisfortune，PearlgrowsuptobemarriedintoanoblefamilyofEurope。
　　CausestheAspectsofLonelinessinTheScarletLetter
　　A。Hawthorne’sLonelinessinHisPersonalLife
　　Hawthorne’sfather，whoisawellknownshipcaptaindiedatseaandlefthiswife。Thenhiswifeattheageoftwentyeight，withchildrenaged6and4andaninfantofafewmonth。Shewithdrewentirelyfromsociety，andpermittedthehabitofsolitudetogrowuptosuchadegreethatsheactuallyremittedastricthermittotheendoflonglife。Hawthornehimselfthoughthatsuchanunhealthyandseparatedfamilyatmosphereprovidedamorbidconsciousnessthatparalyzedhispowers。WhenHawthorneafterleavingtheBowdonCollege，hereturnedtohisuncle’soldhouseinSalem。Hedevotedhimselftoreadingandwritingwithlesscontactwiththefamilymembersaswellasoutsideworld。OneofhisclosefriendsJonathanCilleywrote：
　　FromhisfamilyandhisfriendsprovidedcluestoHawthorne’slifewerefeelingsofgloomandalienation。
　　B。SocialandCulturalBackdropsofthenovel
　　ThestoryinTheScarletLetterwashappenedinBostoninthe1600’s。Atthattime，thepuritanswereprosecutedinEnglandbecausetheyrefusedtoabidebytherulesoftheChurchofEngland，andthentheylefttheirhomeandcametoAmericanaspermanentsettlers。Theywereforcedtosettleinanewlandfarfromhomeland。ThePilgrimFatherssufferedterriblehardshipsduringthefirstwinterandhalfofthemdied。Inordertosurvive，theyhadtofightagainstthenaturaldisastersandendurelonelinessinthenewworld。
　　。Fourcharacters’LonelinessinTheScarletLetter
　　A。HesterPrynne’sLonelyPursuerforLove
　　HesterPrynneisthemaincharacterinthenovel；shewasanhonestyandgoddesswoman。
　　HesterisawomaninneedofconsolationfromherloverDimmesdale。WhenshecametoBostonalone，forasinglewoman，shefelllonely。ThenshemettheministerDimmesdale。Theywerefallinloveeachother，butthisactionwasnotallowedbythePuritan。TheyincarceratedHesterandshemustwearthescarletletterAonherbosom，thescarletletterAsymbolicmeaningisAdultery。
　　B。Chillingworth’sLonelyRevengeSeeker
　　RogerChillingworthwasanabandonedhusbandbyhiswife。HewasanoldandlonelyscholarinEnglanddehumanizedbyalifeabstrusestudying。Histwisted，stooped，deformedshouldersmirrorhisdistortedsoul。Heignoredhiswifeformostofthetime。Hemadeamistakeofmarryingayoungandbeautifulwife，whohadanimpulsiveandpassionatenature。ForHester，marriagewasnotasacramentalunionifthecouplesdidnotloveeachother。SheconsideredhermarriagewithChillingworthasinvalid，forsheremindedhim，‘Ifeltnolove（foryou），norfeignedany’。Husbanddidnotdeservetruelovefromhiswifeandhewasdestineditlivethroughalonelymarriedlife。InviewofthestrikingdifferentbetweenChillingworthandHester，theirunioncanberegardedasunnaturalrelationshipsofageandyouth，deformityandyouth，andastudiousmindandapassionatenature。WhenHestercametoBostonaloneandshefellinlovewithArthurDimmesdale，whichresultedinadultery。Fromthenon，RogerChillingworthwastotallyabandonedbyhisyoungandpassionatewife。
　　RogerChillingworthwasanunapproachablestrangertolittlePear。Pearl，thedaughterofHesterandDimmesdale，isoftendefinedbymanycriticsasthesinchild，theunholyresultofHester’sandArthurDimmesdalefallfromgrace。Pearl’sexistencebroughthumiliationuponhermother’slegalhusbandChillingworth。Itwasnaturalforthemtokeepadistancephysicallyandmentallywhenevertheycameacrosseachother。
　　WhenChillingworthknewthefacts，Hebecamealonelyrevengeseeker。Heappearedascalm，gentle，passionless。Therewasyet，wefear，aquietdepthofmalice，hithertolatent，butactivenow，inhisunfortunateoldman，whichledhimtoimagineamoreintimaterevengethananymortalhadeverreekeduponanenemy。Tomakehimselftheonetrustedfriend，towhomshouldbeconfidedallthefear，theremorse，theagony，theineffectualrepentance，thebackwardrushofsinfulthoughts，expelledinvain！Allthatguiltysorrow，hiddenfromtheworld，whosegreatheartwouldhavepitiedandforgiven，toberevealedtohim，thepitiless，tohim，theunforgiving！Allthatdarktreasuretobelavishedontheveryman，towhomnothingelsecouldsoadequatelypaythedebtofvengeance。
　　Tobearevengeseeker，forlorncreaturethathewas，andmorewretchedthanhisvictim。RogerChillingworthwilllonelyinhiswholelife。
　　C。Dimmesdale’sLonelyBeggarforGod’sGrace
　　Dimmesdalewasahypocriticalministerisolatinghimselffromthecommunityandhislover。HefellinlovewithHester，hewastheadulterer，buthedidnotadmitwhenHesterhadbeeninquested。Dimmesdalewasguiltyoftwosins。OnewasthecommissionofadulterywithHester，andtheotherwashiscowardlyandhypocriticalfailuretoconfess。UnlikeHesterwhoopenlyexposedhersin，Dimmesdalelivedwithaburiedsinofhisown，whichwasthesourceofhisendlessagony。Inprivate，ArthurDimmesdaletriedtoavoidatrulyintimaterelationshipwithhisflocksothatthecommunitycouldnotenterhisworld。Heseemedtobeatalossinthepathwayofhumanexistence，andcouldbeonlyateaseinsomeseclusionofhisown。Hewalkedalone，ofteninshadowybypaths。
　　HewasafatherwithindifferencetohisdaughterPearl。Dimmesdalewasayoungclergymanandheshouldbewhollydevotedtogodandfollowedallthestrictpuritanrules。Inamomentofweakness，DimmesdaleandHesterbecamelovers，andababypearlresultedfromtheirunionastheproductofthesinofadultery。Hesterhadmadehersinpubliclyknown，whereasDimmesdaleattemptedtohidetheshamefultruthabouthim。ThusDimmesdalewasfurtherguiltyofthesinofdishonestyandhypocrisybesidesthesinofadultery。Inordertoconcealhissinsandkeephissocialpositionasapiouspriest，Dimmesdalemadestrenuouseffortstokeepalooffromhisloverandhisdaughter。
　　Tobeapiouspuritans，Dimmesdalesufferingunderbodydisease，wasgnawedandtorturedbysomeblacktroubleofthesoul。Inhissecretcloset，underlockandkey，therewasabloodyscourge。Oftentimes，thisprotestantandpuritanpinehadplieditonhisownshoulder；laughingbitterlyathimselfthewhile，andsmitingsomuchthemorepitilesslybecauseofthatbitterlaugh。Itwashiscustom，too，asithasbeenthatofmanyotherpiouspuritans，tofast，not，however，likethem，inordertopurifythebodyandrenderitthefittermediumofcelestialillumination，butrigorously，anduntilhiskneestrembledbeneathhim，asanactofpenance。Hekeptvigils，likewise，nightafternight，sometimesinutterdarkness；sometimeswithaglimmeringlamp；andsometimes，viewinghisownfaceinalookingglass，bythemostpowerfullightwhichhecouldthrowuponit。Hethustypifiedtheconstantintrospectionwherewithhetortured，butcouldnotpurify，himself。
　　Theministerwellknewsubtle，butremorselesshypocritethathewas！thelightinwhichhisvagueconfessionwouldbeviewed。Hehadstriventoputacheatuponhimselfbymakingtheavowalofaguiltyconscience，buthadgainedonlyoneothersin，andaselfacknowledgedshame，withoutthemomentaryreliefofbeingselfdeceived。Hehadspokentheverytruth，andtransformeditintothevariesfalsehood。Andyet，bytheconstitutionofhisnature，helovedthetruth，andloathedthelie，asfewmeneverdid。Therefore，aboveallthingselse，heloathedhismiserableself！
　　ThebiblebeginswithastoryofAdamandEve，whichwereexpelledfromtheGardenofEdenforeatingfruitsfromthetreeofknowledge，andtheywereforcedtotoilonearth。TheexperienceofHesterandDimmesdaleremindsreadersofthestoryofAdamandEvebecause，inbothcases，sinresultinexpulsionandsuffering。InthecaseofDimmesdale，hecommittedthesinofadulteryandconsequentlyhesufferedalottogainmoralregenerationandthegracefulpardonfromgod，butinvain。Hisfamilybecameanunpardonablesinnerbecauseofhishiddensin。Attheendofthenovel，heheroicallythrewoffthehypocrisy，pride，andthefearsthathadmadehislifeanongoingdeceptionandmountedthestepsofthescaffoldinbroaddaylight。WithhislastbreathDimmesdalewasabletobringacertainpeacetohisownsoulanddroppedtheunbearableburdeninmind。Inthelightofhisreligiousbeliefs，Dimmesdalegainedmoralsalvationandhecouldgotoheaventoenjoygod’sgrace。Accordingtosecularism，however，thelossoflifeisthegreatestpunishmentforasinnerandDimmesdaleisnotatallforgivenbygod。
　　D。Pearl’sLonelyAskingforRecognition
　　Pearl，isthedaughterofHesterandDimmesdale。HesternamedtheinfantPearl，asbeingofgreatpricepurchasedwithallshehadhermother’sonlytreasure！Howstrange，indeed！Inotherhand，becauseofhershamfatherDimmesdale，shehadnofather’sloveinhergrowingpath。Shelivedwithhermother；Pearlisanelfchildofhermother。Intheworld，shejusthadmother’slove。Dimmesdaleforhispublicity，hecan’tadmitPearl。Heabandonedherforever。
　　BecausePearlwasaserioussinforthesociety，whenshewasachild，shehadnofriends。Pearlarrivesatagethatwascapableofsocialintercourse，beyondthemother’severreadysmileandnonsensewords！Andthenwhatahappinesswouldithavebeen，couldHesterhaveheardherclear，birdlikevoiceminglingwiththeuproarofotherchildishvoice，andhavedistinguishedandunraveledherowndarling’stones，amidalltheentangledoutcryofagroupofsportivechildren！Butthiscouldneverbe。Pearlwasabornoutcastoftheinfantileworld。Animpofevil，emblemandproductofsin，shehadnorightamongchristenedinfants。Nothingwasmoreremarkablethantheinstinct，asitseemed，withwhichthechildcomprehendedherloneliness；thedestinythathaddrawnaninviolablecircleroundabouther。Shewantstoattentionfromthesociety。
　　。SymbolicRepresentationsofLoneliness
　　First，thesettingsweredescribedwithsymbolicmeanings。Inthefirstscaffoldscene，Hesterwasstandingonthescaffoldaloftandfarawayfromthecrowdandthephysicaldistanceheremanifestedaninternalalienation。LaterHesterresidedinasmallcottagewhichwasabandonedbyanearliersettler。Thecottagewaslocatedontheoutskirtsofthetown，andtherewerenootherhabitationsaround。ThedetaileddescriptionsaboutthelittleandlonesomedwellingsuggestedthatHesterwasisolatedfromthecommunity。WheneverHesterappeared，therewaswidespaceseparatingherfromothercitizens。‘AswasusuallythecasewhereverHesterstood，asmallvacantareaasortofmagichadformeditselfabouther，intowhichthoughthepeoplewereelbowingoneanotheratalittledistance，oneventured，offeltdisposedtointrude’（Nathaniel，Hawthorne。1996：198）。ThefactthatHesterstoodinacircleandotherskeptapartwasatypicalsymbolofHester’ssolitude。Sunshinealwayssymbolizesloveandwarmthwhereasdarknessisanemblemofalienationandlonelinessinliteraryworks。Inthegovernor’shall，‘theshadowofthecurtainfellonHesterPrynne，andpartiallyconcealedher’（Nathaniel，Hawthorne。1996：66）。Intheforest，pearlaccompaniedhermotherandjumpedinthesunshine。Curiously，thesunshineseemedtoshunHester。Whensheattemptedtogapsomeofthesunshine’s，itvanished。HerethestrikingcontrastsbetweenpearlwhohappilyrompedinthesunshineandHesteruponwhomtheshadowfellalsoimpliedHester’sloneliness。
　　Inadditiontosettingandcharacters’appearances，somespecialeventsandactionscanembodyloneliness，too。Dimmesdalespeakingabouthissinfulnesswasinterpretedashumilityandpietyinreligion。Hedidnottrustanyoneinhiscongregation。Heoftenhidinhissecretclosedandtorturedhimselfwithoutpity。Such
　　factsprovedthatthepriestwasisolatedfromthecommunity。Hisdeathafterhisfinalpreachinpublicmightembodyhisabandonmentbygod。ItwasisolationbetweenaSinfulpriestandpinegod。Pearlwasanaturalchildandherbirthwasagainstthepuritanlawsandrules。Pearlwasestrangedfromthehumansocietybutshewasinharmonywiththeforestandallthewildthingsinit。‘Thegreatblackforestbecametheplaymateofthelonelyinfant，aswellasitknewhow’（Nathaniel，Hawthorne。1996：167）。Itwasalienationandlonelinessbetweenmanandsociety。LittlePearlactedlikeanimpandhermischievousbehaviorsweremysterioustohermother。Pearl’sfatherhadnocouragetoadmitheridentityandPearlwouldwashoffherfather’skissinabrook。Theisolationbetweenparentsandthechildrevealedthealienationamonghumanbeings。Pearlwasalwaysbyhermothersideandsheseemedtobeonenesswithhermother。ThisfactshowedthatPearlhadnofriends，nofather’sloveandnoattentionfromthesociety。Shewasgrowinginsolitude。
　　Conclusion
　　Asfarashiswritingstyleisconcerned，HawthornehascontributedalottobothAmericanandworldliterature。HeisthefirstAmericanwritertodefinehisworksasRomances。HisromanticwritingisalandmarkoftheRomanticperiodinAmericanliterature，andhisfourromancesenrichtheworldliteratureaswell。Besides，Hawthorneisoneoftheforefathersofsymbols。
　　Thisthesisexpresslonelinessbyfourcharacters，embodypeople’spsychologyinthespecificallysociety。Atthesametime，ThescarletletterisoftenusedasanexampletoshowHawthorne’sskillsinusingsymbols。
　　Hawthorne’scontributiontosymbolismalsoliesinthefactthatheadvisedhiscontemporaryHermanMelvilletorewritehisMobyDick，whichturnsouttobeagreatsuccessbyemployingsymbolisminthestory。Hawthorneisalsoamasterofpsychologicaldescription。ThescienceofpsychoanalysisisbasedonSigmundFreud’stheoryoftheinstinctualdriversandC。GJung’stheoryofCollectiveUnconsciousness。Thetheoriesinpsychoanalysisgreatlyinfluencedmodernwriters，andproducedafreshwayofwriting：streamofconsciousness，whichwaspopularinthe20thcentury。Infact，longbeforethetermpsychoanalysiscameintobeing，Hawthornehadalreadybeguntopracticethetechniqueofpsychoanalyticalwritingtoexploretheinnermindofthecharacters。Hawthorneisworthyofthetitleasapathbreakerinpsychoanalyticalwriting。Intermsofhisthematicchoicesorhiswritingstyle，Hawthorneisawriteraheadofhistime。Hisliteraryachievementsenlightenedhiscontemporariesaswellasotherwritersafterhim
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