Psychoanalytic Approach to Hawthorne＇s The Scarlet Letter

Abstract:This paper intends to analyze Hawthorne's The Scarlet letter through a psychoanalytic approach. Into this， Freud's theory of the id in two aspects should be analyzed. One is how the id fights with superego and gets punished， which is reflected in Hester and Dimmesdale's anguish and torture after adultery; the other is how the id is relieved through displacement into a symbol， which is reflected in the town people's eternal obsession in Hester's scarlet letter “A”. The paper draws a conclusion on the distinction between sin and evil.

Key words:Psychoanalytic approach

Id

Displacement Sin and Evil

摘要： 此論文旨在以心理分析的角度解析霍桑紅字中的罪與惡。對此，將以弗洛伊德的本能理論為解析基礎。一方面，海斯特與丁梅斯代爾為所犯下的通奸罪飽受折磨體現出人性本我與超我的斗爭以至妥協。另一方面，小鎮人們本我欲望的投射導致對海斯特胸前象征罪惡的紅字永久癡迷。最后文章得得出罪與惡的分水嶺。

關鍵詞：心理分析

本能 投射 罪與惡

According to Freud， id contains our secret desires and it wishes only to fulfill the urges of the pleasure principle. It operates on impulse， wanting immediate satisfaction for its instinctual desires. In contrast to id， the superego operates on morality principle and it serves repressing the desires and instincts forbidden by society. It manifests itself through punishment or creating an unconscious sense of guilt and fear. In scarlet letter， the hero and heroin break social restrictions to pursue the id of instant sexual pleasure which is human nature， while the town's people and clergymen embody the superego to make moral judgments and punishment.

Hester is publicly punished and condemned by townspeople at the start of the novel， which marks the beginning of her shame and alienation from the community. She is ostracized out of the town to become an outcast by settling in an abandoned cabin， which is at the edge of town and away from the punishing force. However， the power of superego can't be ignored and it constantly reminds her of the sin committed and makes her feel ashamed and lonely. She devotes part of her time to charity work， hoping to feel better， but even this is more punishment than solace: those she helps frequently insult her. Through long years of contemplation， Hester achieves reconciliation between her id and superego and creates a life that Scarlet letter becomes a symbol of knowledge and wisdom. Dimmensdale， on the other hand， is internally tortured by his sense of sin and guilty. Though he is not condemned publicly by the townspeople， he is trapped and tortured in the conflict between his self and morality. His mental anguish and physical punishment lead his condition to worsening and deterioration. His death is the punishment of superego toward the id and is the ending of the battle between them.

As to another perspective， Freud also argues that psyche may create window to the id through displacement into a symbol to release repressed feelings or ideas. Hester's letter A is the symbol， which the townspeople show an eternal obsession in. It is a symbol of sexual sin and desire aspired by adults. Through staring at， talking about and condemning on this image， their repressed sexual desire can be released. Actually， Hester serves more a scapegoat for the townspeople to manifest their skin deep piety and purity and to relieve their hidden forbidden desires.

Thus， the sin adultery committed by Hester and Dimmensdale constitutes an instinctual desire which shows no injury against other human beings. It's a breaking of rules for the sake of happiness in human nature， While evil can be found in the cruel judgment of townspeople， who deny human nature and seek only punishment and injury on their scapegoat.

Works Cited

Freud， Sigmund. Freud's Readings of the Unconscious and Arts， Beijing: China Renmin University Press， 1998.

Freud， Sigmund. Beyond the Pleasure Principle， Middlesex: penguin book ltd.，1984

Nathaniel， Hawthorne， edited by Ross C Murfin. The Scarlet Letter， Boston: Bedford St. Martin's ，2006.