《紅字》中的象征主義

論文題目：《紅字》中的象征主義ContentsTitle ⅠAbstractandKeywords ⅠI.Introduction 1II.TheSymbolicSignificanceofCharacters 22.1Prynne:Beauty,StrengthandIndependence 22.2Pearl:SinandSalvation 32.3Dimmesdale:Hypocrisy 32.4Chillingworth:Revenge 4III.TheSymbolicSignificanceoftheColorandtheLetter 53.1TheColorRed:Degeneration,Cruelty,LoveandPassion 53.2TheCapitalLetter“A”:Adultery,AbleandAngel 6IV.TheSymbolicSignificanceoftheSettings 74.1ThePrison:HarshnessofthePuritanSociety 84.2TheScaffold:RedemptionandJudgment 94.3TheForest:Nature 10=5\*ROMANV.Conclusion 10References 11Acknowledgements 13

=1\*ROMANI SymbolisminTheScarletLetterAbstract:TheScarletLetterisastoryofsin,atonementandrevenge.Itisthewideapplicationofsymbolismthatplaysakeyroleinthenovel.Thisthesisstartsfromsymbolicsignificanceofthenameofcharacters.Secondly,colorredandletter“A”,asmajorimages,areofvitalimportancetointerpretthework.Ontheonehand,thecolorredrepresentsdegenerationofHesterandthecrueltyofthePuritansociety,whileontheotherhand,itsymbolizestheloveandpassionbetweenHesterandDimmesdale.Themeaningoftheletter“A”onHester’sbreastchangesinpublicitywithplotdelving.What’smore,thesettingsplayasalientroleinhelpingreadersunderstandthenovelbetter.Hawthorne’sskillfulapplicationofsymbolisminTheScarletLetterreflectshistotaloutlookfortheworld.Keywords:TheScarletLetter;Symbolism;Characters;Color;Settings《紅字》中的象征主義摘要：《紅字》講述了罪惡、贖罪和復(fù)仇的故事，其中最引人注目的是作者在文中對(duì)象征主義的應(yīng)用。本文首先探討小說人物的名字及其自身象征意義；其次，小說中的紅色象征海斯特私通的墮落、清教社會(huì)的殘忍，以及她的愛情與激情，而字母A代表了教眾對(duì)海斯特看法的轉(zhuǎn)變；此外，對(duì)不同場(chǎng)景的解讀使讀者能夠深入了解《紅字》的內(nèi)核?；羯５摹都t字》意蘊(yùn)深刻，表明了他的世界觀。關(guān)鍵詞：《紅字》;象征主義;人物;顏色;場(chǎng)景 =1\*ROMANI.IntroductionNathanielHawthorne,oneofthegreatestromanticistsofAmericanliterature,wasbornin1804,inSalem,Massachusetts.Hewasadescendentofalong-historyPuritanfamily.Whenhewasfour,hisfatherdeceasedand,atthesametime,hismotherbecamementallydisorderedandwassecluded.AftergraduatingfromBowdoinCollege,hewasdrawnbacktoSalem.Thefollowingtwelveyearsinhismother’sSalemhomewereyearsofliteraryapprenticeship.Hereadwidely,preparinghimselftobethechronicleroftheantiquitiesandthespiritualtemperofcolonialNewEngland.Hepublishedhisfirstnovel,Franshawe(1828),andstorieslikeTwice-ToldTales(1837),TheWholeHistoryofGrandfather’sChair(1841),FamousOldPeople(1841)andMossesfromanOldManse(1946).Thepastsordidhistoryofhisfamilymadeagreatimpactonhislifeandliterarycreation.FromHawthorne’sprospect,therootofallthesocialissues,nomatterwhatconflictsexistamongpeopleorcriminalinvolvement,isacertain“sin”or“evil”intheearthlyworld.Therefore,HawthornemadeplentifuluseofsymbolismandappliedthesinfulandPuritanthemetoimparthisviewonthesordidnessofthepast.In1850,hepublishedTheScarletLetter,whichisthefirstsymbolismnovelinAmericanliteratureandoneofthebest-knownnovelsofHawthorne.ThestorydescribestheillicitloveaffairofHesterPrynnewithArthurDimmesdale(Chang,2003:61).Hester,thefemaleprotagonist,isayoungmarriedwomanwhosehusbandpresumedtohavebeenlostatseaonthejourneytotheNewWorld.ShebeginsasecretrelationshipwithDimmesdale,themoralidolofPuritans,andboresadaughternamesPearl.Sheisthenpubliclyvilifiedandforcedtowearthescarletletter“A”onhergowntoidentifyherasanadulteress,butsheloyallyrefusestorevealherlover.SheacceptsthepunishmentwithgraceandrejectstobedefeatedbytheshameafflictedonherbythePuritancommunity.Eventually,theyoungclergymancommitshiscrimepubliclyanddiesinHester’sarms.Inthenovel,Hawthorneabundantlyandskillfullyappliedthesymbolicmethodinordertoexpresshisabstractnotionandconceptinformsofthecharacters,thecolorred,thecapitalized“A”,andthesettings.=2\*ROMANII.TheSymbolicSignificanceofCharactersNathanielHawthorne,askilledwriter,likestoemployallkindsofsymbolicdevicesinhisworks,suchasbothcharacters’namesandthemselves.Thereismorethanmerelyonesymbolthatrepresentsfeaturesofacharacter.Forexample,thegivenname“Goodman”,inhisworkTheYoungGoodmanBrown,indicatesthatBrownisoneofthenormalpeopleasGoodmanmeansfarmerinEnglish.AndinTheScarletLetter,Hesterisawomanofbeautyandstrength.Also,sheisasymbolofindependence.AndPearl,asthenativedaughterofHester,actsbothareminderandaredeemerofhersin.AndDimmesdale,ahighlyrespectedclergyman,standsforthedarksideofhypocrisyinhumannature.Inaddition,Chillingworth,Hester’shusband,representsrevenge.HeissocallousthatdevoteshimselfidentifyingtheloverofHesterregardlessofwhathashappenedonhiswifewhenhewasmissing.Thevariousmeaningsofcharactershighlightthecolorfulcharacterizations.2.1Prynne:Beauty,StrengthandIndependenceHesterPrynne,themainheroineofthenovel,was“tall,withafigureofperfecteleganceonalargescale”(Hawthorne,2012:15)inthebook.SheisamarriedwomanwhosehusbandpresumedtohavelostatseaonhiswaytotheNewWorld.Howeverherpregnancyrevealsthatshebetrayedthemarriage.Shewasforcedtowearascarletletter“A”onhergownandbeinpublicviewaspunishmentforadultery.Firstofall,itisnotdifficulttoconnectHesterwiththeGreekgoddessHestier,oneofthesistersofZeus,whotakeschargeofstovesandcookersontheearth,givingpeoplehopeandwarmth.Thus,inalargedegree,Hesterisasymbolofbeautyandwarmth.Shemakesotherwomeninthetownbegreenwithenvytoherbeautyandgrace.Afterjudgment,shestillkeepskindtohelpothersalthoughshedoesnotliveabetterlife.Then,asanadulteress,inPuritans’eyes,sheisguilty,however,Hawthornedepictedherasbothasinnerofadulteryandasaintwiththequalityofstrengthandindependence.Itisshowninthefactthatsherejectedtorevealthenameofherchild’sfatherthoughshewouldbehumiliatedtowearthescarletletter“A”onherbreast.Shefacedtheshamedirectlybeforepublicignominywithcourageandlivedapositiveliferatherthanabandoningherself.OtherthanescapingtosomeplacefarawayfromBostonorhidingthescarletletterthatembroideredonherbreastandlivesameanlife,shedependsondoingneedleworkforsubsistence.Andnomatterhowinnerwoundafflictedher,shewasstillreluctanttoidentifyPearl’sfatherbutrearingherchildalonewithoutanyresentment.ItseemsthattheauthordidnotintendtocriticizethecrimeHestercommittedbutwasdesiroustopresentthemoralelevationinHesterafterherpunishment.Apartfromkeepingself-sufficient,Hesterwouldspareearningstosupportforneedyandhandicappedpeopleregardlessofhowpeopleinsultorlaughather.Thatiswhypeoplegraduallychangedtheconsiderationforherandwereunwillingtoaccepttheoriginalinterpretationoftheletter“A”.Themeaningoftheletter“A”changedfrom“Adultery”,“Able”to“Angel”.2.2Pearl:SinandSalvationPearl,asthedaughterofHesterandDimmesdale,isconsideredasalivingscarletletter,asymboloftheirsin.SheistheproductofsinthatconstantlytormentsHesterandremindsheroftheiradultery.Whetherrealizesitornot,fromtimetotime,Pearlnaturallyorconsciouslypaidattentiontothescarletletteronhermother’sbreast.Italwayswakesherfeelingofshameandconsidersthelittlegirlasaccompanyingbyaflowofwildspirits.ThelittlePearlisovertlydifferentfromotherchildrenasifshepossessessomemagicpower.Asshegrowsup,Pearlsensitivelyrecognizesshewasisolatedfromotherchildrenbutshewouldnotfeelinferiortootherswhenshefeltdespisedbyothers.Sheis“alovelyandimmoralflower,outoftherankluxurianceofaguiltypassion.”Herexistence,atfirst,wasnotwelcomedandblessed.Thename“Pearl”,foranother,indicatesthatthegirlisthegreattreasureofHesterthatshepaidextremepricesandshewishesthatherdaughterwouldbepure.InHester’seyes,Pearlisabreaker,arebelofrules.Also,ThatisthereasonwhyHesteroftendecoratesPearlinredclothes.Everycloudhasasilverlining,GodgavethechildasthesalvationtohealthebitternessofPrynne.Insomedegree,thebirthofPearlislikethedeliberateddesignofGodinordertoendowherwithasecondchanceforatonementandgiveherareasontoliveonearth.PearlsoundslikePurlwhichmeansthesoundofflowingriver.ThisapprovesthatPearlisascleanasriverandcontainsmystique.AndPearlactslikethepurifierofthespiritualworldofHesterandDimmesdaleforsheisalifegivenbirthbythem.Here,PearlisbothapresentfromGodandthehopeofHester.ItisPearlthatplaysanimportantroleincheeringupHesterfacinglifepersistentlyandindependently.2.3Dimmesdale:HypocrisyArthurDimmesdale,thesecretloverand“accomplice”ofHesterPrynne,wasayoungclergymanwhohasgreatpassiontowardreligion,abundantknowledgewithextraordinarytalentandscholarachievement.HegraduatedfromoneofthemostfamousEnglishuniversities,pouringallofhislearningofthetimeintothewildernessoftheNewWorld.Hehascharmingappearance,“withawhite,lofty,andimpendingbrow,large,brown,melancholyeyes,andamouthwhich,unlesswhenheforciblycompressedit,wasapttobetremulous,expressingbothnervoussensibilityandavastpowerofself-restraint.”(Hawthorne,2012:47~48)Agreattalentandscholarshipaccomplishmentthoughhehas,thereisalwaysakindofmelancholyandpanicatmospherebroodingoverhim.HawthornenamedtheyoungclergyDimmesdalewithgreatapplicationofsymbolism.Firstly,“Dim”meanslackinginlight,andnotbrightorharsh.Secondly,“Dale”meansanopenrivervalley(inahillyarea).Therefore,thenameof“Dimmesdale”,asitwere,symbolizestheinnerworldoftheclergymanresemblestoamysteriousdimdale,reflectinghisconductanddeedsinthenovel.Dimmesdalebelongstotheupperclass,andinquiteafewpeople’smindoftheparish,heisanidolwhoispureandstainless,butasamatteroffact,heisaprototypeofhiddenguilty.Heisasymbolofhypocrisywhenhechosetobealooker-onbeholdingHester’spunishment.Dimmesdaleknewaboutthesinbuthelackedcouragetorevealandcommitcrime,tofightwiththepublic,toacknowledgehishypocrisyandegoism,onlycheatedhimselfbypartlyregretting,torturinghisspiritandhopingfortheforgivenessofGod.Hewascapableofrevealingtruth,regrettinghiscrimesecretly,andstandingonthescaffordwhereHesterhasbeenpunishedwhennightfalls.2.4Chillingworth:RevengeRogerChillingworth,husbandofHester,isaneruditedoctorwhowassoabsorbedinknowledgethatratherstayingwithhiswifelivinghappilyinMassachusetts.Chillingworthwas“smallinstature,withafurrowedvisage,which,asyet,couldhardlybetermedaged.Therewasremarkableintelligenceinhisfeatures,asofapersonwhohadsocultivatedhismentalpartthatitcouldnotfailtomouldthephysicaltoitself,andbecomemanifestbyunmistakabletokens.”(Hawthorne,2012:33)FirstappearedinChapterThree,hewaslookingforachancetotakerevenge.UponnoticingHesterwasbeingpunished,hecaredmuchmoreaboutwhowasthebaby’sfatherthancaringaboutwhathashappenedtohiswife.HewasevenindifferentabouthowherlifewentoninMassachusetts.Hewascold,selfishwithnoloveandsympathy,hisangerwastheproductoffeelingbetrayedandthedesireforcontrolandpossession.Inaccordancewithhischaracter,hisnameechoedhistemperaswellashisfeatures.“Roger”,isthehomophonyofrogue,whichisusedtodescribedeceitfulandunreliablescoundrels,expressingthatheisnotdeceitandadmirableashisappearance.Underthedisguiseofawise,knowledgeablescholar,wasthebloodofenvyandofcravingforrevengecirculatingaroundhiswholebody.Thenitcomestohislastname,“Chillingworth”,whichmeanssoscaryastocausechillsandshudders,meanwhile,“worth”and“worse”arehomophonous.Inall,RogerChillingworthisamanoficeandfilledwiththedesiretoavenge,tofindoutwhoistheaccompliceofHester.=3\*ROMANIII.TheSymbolicSignificanceoftheColorandtheLetterInaccordancewithdefinition,asymbolissomethingconcretethatrepresentsorsuggestsanotherthingthatcannotinitselfbepictured.Itiswidelyacknowledgedthat,inTheScarletLetter,lotsofcolorsareemployedextensivelyassymbols.InChapterSeven,PearlwearsaredgownwithgoldtrimandHester’s“A”wasembroideredinthreadofscarletcolorwithgoldcolor;whileChillingworthisdressedinblack,whichsymbolizehiscold,bleakcharacter,broodedoverthedesireofrevenge.Also,therearestillmanyothercolorsinthebook,murkygrey,colorgreenandthelike.Butinthisthesis,colorredisthemainargumenttodiscuss.Theessentialsymbolinthebookisthescarletletter“A”,whichapparentlyisthesymbolofHester’sadultery,orinnarrator’swords,“woman’sfrailtyandsinfulpassion.AsHester’sstorydevelops,“A”representsdifferentthingsandhasdifferentmeanings.3.1TheColorRed:Degeneration,Cruelty,LoveandPassionHawthorneemployedcolorsasthemajorimplementofsymbolism,however,inTheScarletLetter,themostoftenappliedisthecolorred.IncontrarytoChina,thecolorredhasmanynegativeinterpretationsinWesterncountries.Inthefirstplace,thescarlet(asscarletcolorisbrightred)letter“A”onHester’sdressmostobviouslyrepresentsherdegenerationorsin,asshewasforcedtowearit.Tobeginwith,thecolorscarletisalwaysconsideredasasymbolofdecadence,inanotherword,ascarletwomanisanimmoralwoman.InlightofholyBible,itisrecordedthatoncewomencommitadulterytheyarecompelledtowearscarletorredclothes.Hence,thecolorscarletisaddedonreligiousmeaningwhichmeansdegenerationandcarnality.SecondlyitsymbolizesthecrueltyofthePuritanpublicandsocietythatexertseverhumiliationuponHester.Redisthecoloroftheblood.“ThesymbolburnedHester’sbosondeeply”(Hawthorne,2012:97)suggeststhatshesuffersgreathumiliationineveryday.Moreover,Dimmesdale’sredstigmathatmarkeddeeplynotonlyhisbodybuthissoul,whichisobviouslyasymbolofhissin,repentanceandspiritsuffering.Inreligiousview,thecolorredisthebloodofthemartyr,symbolizingeverlastingpunishmentbyGodandspiritualPurity.Besides,Pearlasalivingscarletletter,insomedegree,isoftendressedinredandcalled“Ruby”,“Coral”,“redrose”,and“alittlebirdofscarletplumage”.Apartfromthenegativemeaning,thecolorredalsohasgoodmeanings.HesterpursuedherlovevalorouslyandthecolormarksherpassionatelovewithDimmesdale.ThatisthereasonwhyshechosetobeburiednexttoDimmesdalewhenshepassedaway.Inaddition,Pearlisoftenassociatedwiththecolorred.TheredcolorPearlalwayswearsinalsoshowsasymbolthatsheisaproductofloveandtransientmaniabetweenHesterandDimmesdale.ThecolorredisnotonlytheembodimentofHester’sdegeneration,thecrueltyofthePuritanpublic,butalsotherepresentationoftheloveandpassionwithinHesterandDimmesdale.3.2TheCapitalLetter“A”:Adultery,AbleandAngelInTheScarletLetter,theletter“A”alongwithitssymbolicmeaningsalmostoccursthroughoutthebook,linkingallthecharacterappearedinit.Thecapitalletter“A”hasrichinterpretationsthroughthepages,forinstance,itisembroideredonHester’sgownforhersin,andengravedonHester’stombstoneaftershedied,itisalsostabbedonthebreastofDimmesdaleasasymbolofhisremorseandmentaltorture,anditevenmysteriouslyappearsintheskywithchangeablemeanings.ItfirstoccurredinChapterTwo,atthetimewhenHesterwasforcedtobeinpublicignominyinscaffold,andinlinewithHawthorne’sdepiction,thescarletletter“A”was“sofantasticallyembroideredandilluminateduponherbosom”.(Hawthorne,2012:16)AccordingtoCalvinisticcanon,oncepeoplecommitthelastofsevencommandments–adultery,theyarecompelledtowearthescarletletter“A”onbosomasasymbolofadulteryforpunishment.ForHester,thescarletletter“A”isnotasymbolofadulterybutalsoasymbolofalienation.Acastawaysheisfromsocietyandpeopletreatherwithadifferentialmannerbylaughingatherpublicly.Theletter“A”isasymbolofwhatsocietywantstoseeassettinganexampleofrelativity,itisasymbolofsinaswellandfunctionslikeadeterrentforallthepeople.Therefore,clergymenwillpausetopreachsermonsoncetheyencounterHesterinthestreet.However,HawthornepointsthatHester,atthattime,canseewhenpeoplepityher.Inthiswaytheletter“A”isabletobeunderstoodasasymbolofthehiddenshameofthecommunity,notforHesteralone.ItisexplainablewhyHesterviewsan“A”onaplentyofbreastsnotmerelyonhers.Astimegoesby,inthenovel,thecapitalized“A”possessesavarietyofsymbolicmeaningsnotjustasymbolofadultery.FromHester’sprospect,theletter“A”representscruelhumiliationofthePuritancommunityatthebeginningofthebook,meanwhileitindicatesthatsheisskillfulatneedleworkaswell.Inordertomakealiving,tobringupherdaughterPearl,Hesterbegantoearnherlivingbyherexcellentembroideryskill.Otherthanescapingfromthefactsorbetrayingherlover,Hesterlivesalonebyherselfandaffectedthesurroundedwithcharmingcharactersofkind,industry,courage,strengthandoptimismwhichshowssheisan“Able”woman.People’sinterpretationoftheletter“A”hasturnedtobepositive.Afterwards,exceptforbasicsubsistence,Hester,indefianceoftheprejudiceandmisunderstandingofthecommunitydisinterestedly,didherbesttospendherearningsaidingthepoverty-strickenandthesick.Inthisway,peoplewerereluctanttounderstandthe“A”asitsoriginalsymbolforsinbutinterpreteditas“Angel”whentheywatchedascarlet“A”onthenightofJohnWinthrop’sdeath.Therefore,inthecourseofthestory,itisseemedthatthemeaningoftheletter“A”changedfrom“Adultery”,“Able”to“Angel”.=4\*ROMANIV.TheSymbolicSignificanceoftheSettingsBydefinition,settingisboththe\o"Time"timeand\o"Location(geography)"geographiclocationwithina\o"Narrative"narrativeorwithinaworkof\o"Fiction"fiction.A\o"Literaryelement"literaryelement,thesettinghelpsinitiatethemain\o"Theatricalscenery"backdropand\o"Mood(literature)"moodforastory.Elementsofsettingmayinclude\o"Culture"culture,\o"Historicalperiod"historicalperiod,\o"Geography"geography,and\o"Hour"hour.Alongwiththe\o"Plot(narrative)"plot,\o"Character(arts)"character,\o"Theme(literature)"theme,and\o"Style(fiction)"style,settingisconsideredoneofthefundamentalcomponentsof\o"Fiction"fiction.Settingisanimportantelementinanarrativeandinsomeworksthesettingbecomesacharacteritself.Thetermsettingisoftenusedtorefertothesocialmilieuinwhichtheeventsofanoveloccurand\o"Novelist"novelist\o"DonnaLevin"DonnaLevinhasdescribedhowthissocialmilieushapesthecharacters’values.Sheclaimedthatpeopleallshapedtoalargeextentbythetimeandplaceinwhichtheyliveanditisimpossibletoseparatestarklycharactersandplotsfromsettings.Andmakinggooduseofsetting,anovelcanbeapowerfulinstrumentforsocialchangesuchasTheJungleandTheGrapesofWrath.Theelementsofthestorysettingincludethepassageoftime,whichmaybestaticinsomestoriesordynamicinotherswith,forexample,changingseasons.TherearelotsofscenesinTheScarletLetterwhichcannotcomprehendwithoutmuchendeavorininterpretingitsmeanings.Therearethreemainsettingsinthenovel,theprison,thescaffoldandtheforest,eachofwhichplaystheroleindeepeningthetheme.PrisonfirstlyemergedatthebeginningofthenovelasasymboloftheevilofthePuritansociety.Then,therecamethescaffoldwhichappearedthreetimesseparatelyatbeginning,middleandtheend.ItmeansjudgmentandredemptionofHesterandDimmesdalewhichconstructstheframeofthenovelandbecomesthekeytobetterunderstandtheideasandpurposesofthewriter.Eventually,thesettingforestrepresentsnaturalfeelingsinsidepeople’smindwhicharealwayssuppressedbythePuritanauthority.4.1ThePrison:HarshnesssofthePuritanSocietyTherearelotsofdescriptionsofprisonandcemeteryforthatHawthorneoftenexplorestheinnersinofhumanbeingasthemajorthemeofhisnovels.Thestorybeginsinprisonandendsincemetery.InChapterOne,itisdepictedthat,“Thefoundersofanewcolony,whateverUtopiaofhumanvirtueandhappinesstheymightoriginallyproject,haveinvariablyrecognizeditamongtheirearliestpracticalnecessitiestoallotaportionofthevirginsoilasacemetery,andanotherportionasthesiteofaprison.”(Hawthorne,2012:2)ThePuritanswereagroupofEnglishReformedProtestantsinthe16thand17thcenturieswhosoughtto“purify”theChurchofEnglandfromits“Catholic”practices,maintainingthattheChurchofEnglandwasonlypartiallyreformed.ThePuritanswouldtryhardtoachievetheirdoctrinesandvalues,pursuingsomekindofpurificationandperfection,notonlyspirituallybutphysically.Asamatteroffact,ifsomeonedidnotstriveforhisperfectionsuccessfully,hewouldbepunishedjustlikethecaseofHester’s.Theprison,foronething,provedthatSalemisasocietyofself-perfection.(Zeng,2003:7)Foranother,itisalsoaproofthatPuritansocietypunishedindividualswhobroketheircanonsoutofthelaws.Thedepictionsinthenovelabouttheprisonshowsthatitwasaged,rustyandyetstillfunctionedwellimprisoningcriminalswithinit.ItsymbolizestherigidityofthePuritancanonsthatnobodycouldbreakitandwinhisfreedom.Moreover,itindicatesthattheprisonisametaphoroftherigorousPuritanauthorityonthevirginland,whichshowednotolerancetowardalienation.HawthornedirectlychallengedthenotionbythrowingthenameAnnHutchinsonintotheopeningpages.Hutchinsonwasareligiouswoman,whodisagreedwiththePuritanteachings,andasaresultwasimprisonedinBoston.(Zeng,2003:8~9)Theauthordepictsthebeautifulrosebushbynomeanssprungupunderherfootstepswhensheenteredtheprisondoor.ThissuggeststhatthePuritanabsolutismmightwellbesorigorousastodestroybeauty.4.2TheScaffold:RedemptionandJudgmentThechoiceofsettingandthecreationofatmosphereareimportantmeanstothetheme.Obviously,itisscaffoldthatisoneofthesignificantsceneswhichsetsunderHawthorne’sskillfuldesign,playingakeyroleinindicatingthetheme.Thescaffoldappearsinthebeginning,themiddlepartandthelast,formingtheskeletonofthenovelwhichgaveachanceforreaderstoexploretheinnerworldofHesterandDimmesdale.ItwasasunnydaywhenHesterfirstshoweduponscaffold,forcedbystaffstosufferpublicignominy.Inthiscase,itservesasametaphorofjudgmenttowardsthesinasthebrightnessofthesunshine,whenshewasstandingonthescaffold,outsidetheprison,contrastswiththeuglinessofhersin.ThescaffoldemergedtwiceinanobscurenightofearlyMay.Dimmesdalewasdroveundertheimpulseofremorse“walkingintheshadowofdream”,meanwhile,HesterandPearlwereonthewayhomeaftertheyhadbeenjustwatchingatadeadbed.Hefounditwashardtohidehislovetowardhisloverandchild,Dimmesdaleastonishinglysummonedthem,“Yehavebothbeenherebefore,butIwasnotwithyou.Comeuphitheronceagain,andwewillstandallthreetogether!”(Hawthorne,2012:359)ThisisaproofthatDimmesdalewaseagertorevealhissecret,tocommitthecrime,buttheyoungclergywastooweaktohavecouragefacingthepublic.Thescaffoldisnotonlyaplaceofpunishmentbutalsoaplaceofredemption.Itrelievesguiltypeopleunderstandingthattheywereadmittedasasinnerandthattheydonothavetocopewiththeprisonandtheguiltoftheirmindsanymore.Soitsymbolizestheopenacknowledgementofsin.OnceDimmesdalestoodatthescaffoldcouldhefacethecrime,hencerevealhissoultotallybeforeGod,gaininghisownatonement.ItisthisplacethatbothHesterandDimmesdalecommitcrime.OnlyinherecouldDimmesdalesethissoulfrombloodysuffering.What’smore,atthelastpartthescaffoldappearedagainwhentherewasabigcelebrationtakingplaceinEngland,Dimmesdalestoodonitaftersermons,revealinghiscrimeandreceivingpunishment.OntheonehandthescaffoldformstheframeworkofTheScarletLetter,ontheotherhand,itindicatesthethemesinandpunishment.4.3TheForest:NatureTheforestisnotonlyaplaceoffreedombutalsoaplaceofdarkness.Firstofall,asforthefourmaincharacters,itisaplacewherenoPuritancanonsexistsandwhereservesasashelterunderHawthorne’sdesign.ItisarefugewherepeoplecouldbefreefromthenormalPuritanlife.TheforestisasymbolofNature,wheretherigidmoralsofPuritansocietycannotworkout.Intheforest,Hesterwasabletohavevariousemotions,andexpressherlove.TheclergymancouldshowhistruefeelingforHesteraswellinhere.“Ifthisbethepathtoabetterlife,asHesterwouldpersuademe,Isurelygiveupnofairerprospectbypursuingit!NeithercanIanylonglivewithouthercompanionship…”(Hawthorne,2012:548)ThePuritancommunitywouldnotapprovesuchexpressionofemotionsbecausemanshouldrestrainhimselfandbeincontrol.Theforestawokethenaturalfeelingsandreactionsinsidepeopleofthedepressivesociety.Nomatterwhowalksintheforestwillhebeaffectedtorevealingthenaturalaspectthathasbeenhiddendeeplyinhismind.OccupyingintheforestHestercouldtakeoffherhatandunlooseherhair,settingfreeherspiritfromthebitternessofcrime.Shewasabletoberealherself,neverbeafraidtoshowoffheryouthandbeauty.Andalsointhere,Dimmesdal