Expectation for The Future of Puritanism

李越

【Abstract】Nathaniel Hawthorne is deeply influenced by Puritanism and The Scarlet Letter is his representative work，which reflects his complex Puritanism thought. This paper try to reveal the hints that Hawthorne show expectation to the Puritanism through the analysis of Prynne and Pearl.

【Key words】Hawthorne； The Scarlet Letter； Puritanism； expectation； future

【摘要】納撒尼爾·霍桑受清教主義影響頗深，而《紅字》正是這方面的代表著作，該作品中體現了霍桑復雜的清教主義思想。本論文試圖通過對白蘭與珍珠的分析，揭示隱藏在行文之間的霍桑對清教主義未來的期望。

【關鍵詞】霍桑 《紅字》 清教主義 期望 未來

Nathaniel Hawthorne was one of the most influential novelists in America in the 19th century， his works mostly describe peoples mental attitude on ethics and morality. Much of Hawthornes writing center on the inherent evil and sin of humanity， and his works often provoke the readers to reflect on the evil of human nature. The Scarlet Letter tells the story of Hester Prynne， who conceives a daughter Pearl through an love affair and struggles to create a new life.

Hawthornes hometown， Salem， was the place where Puritanism forces were prevailing and several generations of Hawthornes ancestors were Puritans. Although he did not believe in Puritanism but he was deeply influenced by his familys deep-rooted Puritanism effect. In The Scarlet Letter Hawthorne doesnt concern the behavior of adultery itself but the deep effect that the incident had on the relevant characters， their inner subtle alteration after the incident happened and the collective unconsciousness of the public.

Hester Prynne committed adultery and cannot be accepted by the society then. However， Hester Prynne got liberation as early as she face her guilty and be honest before the public. This present the Puritanism thought that the sinners could be relieved by confession and atonement. After several years in England， Hester finally returns to her cottage where “had been her sin， her sorrow and yet her penitence”. She resumes wearing the scarlet letter and “had no selfish ends， nor lived in any measure for her own profit and enjoyment” to become a woman “lofty， pure， and beautiful； and wise， moreover， not through dusky grief， but the ethereal medium of joy； and showing how sacred love should make us happy， by the truest test of a life successful to such an end”.

Both Prynne and Pearl treated the scarlet letter “A” in a different way with the public. At the end of the novel， Prynne chooses to continue to wear the letter because she is determined to transform its meaning of guilty through her actions. When she dies， she and Dimmesdale share a simple slate tombstone engraved with an escutcheon described as： “On a field， sable， the letter A， gules” （“On a field， black， the letter A， red”）. The ending of Prynne show us that although the Puritanism of that time oppressed on peoples nature of seeking freedom. But people with rebellious spirit， like Prynne， can fight bravely for the chance to live the life they want.

In the novel， the character Pearl hints not only Hawthornes skeptic feeling but also expectation to Puritanism. Pearl is the consequence of guilty and functions as a living scarlet letter of her mothers adultery. However for Prynne she is a blessing and angel. Her existence gives Prynne courage to live and fight. In the eyes of the public， she is like the red “A” before Prynnes bosom symbolizes shame and guilt. But for her mother and herself， she is precious. She represents love and hope.

Pearl is free from the restraint of the Puritanism doctrine. Her mother considered that she should be a girl from the other world.She should be a flower，a sunlight and rivulet，and is bright and with dazzling brightness in the gloomy society ruled by Puritanism. The fresh and free spirit and life of Pearl described by Hawthorne seems to be a symbol to future Puritanism society. At the end of the novel， Pearl left England to Europe， because in that time Pearl cannot obtain happiness in the strict and severe Puritanism society.So at the end of the novel， Hawthorne is calling for changes of the Puritanism and the society. He hope that Puritanism society in the future will become more suitable for people pursuing free life just as their ancestors pursued when first set foot on this land.

References：

[1]Hawthorne，Nathaniel.The Scarlet Letter.南京：譯林出版社，2011.

[2]LiuFeng.A Pietist，or A Skeptic—On Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter and Puritanism Thought.Changchun University Of Science and Technology.Mar.2005.

[3]徐曉芳.從《紅字》看清教社會里女性的頑強抗爭[J].河南社會科學.2007.