The“Sin”AnalysisinTheScarletLetter

鄧永秀

【Abstract】The Scarlet Letter，one of the immortal representatives of Romanticism literature makes the American writer Nathaniel Hawthorne known around the world.The unique organization of the novel，the skillful use of symbolism and metaphor demonstrate the writers profound insight and unique view of the society and the human nature，which make the “sin” rise to a higher level.

【Key words】The Scarlet Letter； sin； Symbol

I.Introduction

Nathaniel Hawthorne （1804-1864） is a great American writer in the 19th century.His works won him worldwide reputation through his insightful psychological analysis，complexity and ambiguity，dark，gloomy atmosphere as well as skillful use of symbols.The Scarlet Letter is one of such rewarding works in which it reflects all of the above characters of Hawthorne.Hawthorne wrote The Scarlet Letter not only for merely presenting the story itself，but also for the presentation of the moral themes.

II.An analytic study of the embodiment of “sin” in The Scarlet Letter

A.“Sin” and its consequences

Hawthornes writing character is embodied mostly in his major work The Scarlet Letter.Hawthorne dissects the human society by the “sin” and presents the crime problem at first.Hester Prynne is publicly exposed with a scarlet，a shameful symbol.But she refuses to say her Puritan minister.The author discussed these questions，like “where is the sin？ Who is the real sinner？” through several chief persons fates.It is Prynne in the work that is punished publicly for her sin.However，she also lives the unusual life which is a result of her “sin” for many years，and requites ingratitude with kindness to make the scarlet letter，a shameful symbol，become a sign of virtues.On the other hand，Dimmesdale，the representative of the false religion，suffers a lot by his potential sin first.However，the author lets him make a breast of his crime at last to give him a revival in morality.

Prynnes husband is a victim outwardly，and he wants to take revenge.So the sinful venom corroded his soul and made him a devil.Hawthorne describes the mans ugly image and uglier soul.It is Chillingworth who is the real sinner.

B.Hawthornes idea of “sin” being revealed in the novel

1.Hawthornes “sin” theory-“sin” stemming from the inner world.Hawthorne probes “sin” in the religious meaning.He often watches the social phenomenon from the thought and regards some mysterious “sin” as the fundamental reason that brought about all the social problems.He thinks it could be done from the “sin” to solve these problems.He once said “Once the inner world of people is cleaned，the “sin” wandering in the outside world will disappear by itself .

2.The exposure of the “judge” of the “sin” showing his skeptical attitude towards “sin” and its judgment. While showing his sympathy and compassion for the “sinner”，Hawthorne does not fail to analyze the Governor，the “judge of the sin”.The Governor thinks he is the paramount and sacred judger，and has the right to judge peoples bodies and their souls.They override the common people and name themselves gods.But，why does the governor wear the elegant embroidered dress that is made by Prynne？ By such an “ignoble” woman？ Just using a little narration，the author tears the masks off from those so-called saints faces and exposes their wicked hearts and false nature.Through these，readers come to realize that those “seniors” who are on behalf of the highest authority do not have the right to trail Prynnes “sin” at all.And they would never find the truth by that.

C.The historical limitation of Hawthornes idea of “sin”

The limitation of his “sin” idea has much to do with his black vision of life and human beings.Hawthorne was born and reared in pious New England.He believed that ideas or moral themes were very important elements in fiction.Hawthornes view of man and human history originates，to a great extent，in Puritanism.Hawthorne is attracted in every way to the Puritan world，even though he condemns its less humane manifestations.And on the other，with the Puritan world or society as a historical background，he discusses some of the most important issues that concern the moral life of man and human history.

III.Conclusion

The Scarlet Letter is a profound analysis of the past of the Puritans.It is regarded as Hawthornes masterpiece and one of the indubitable masterpieces of American literature.The novel leads to a discussion about other cases in which a law or a legal sentence conflicts with a persons morality.In the novel，Hawthorne is concerned with right and wrong，with the effect of conscience on the people，the effect of the past on the burdens of the present.In short，he was concerned with human nature and he wrote essentially as a moralist.This is the main reason for me to write the paper to analyze “sin” showed in the novel.

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