淺析《紅字》中的象征主義

ABriefAnalysisofSymbolisminTheScarletLetter淺析《紅字》中的象征主義摘要霍桑作為19世紀(jì)美國偉大的浪漫主義小說家，在處理象征主義的運(yùn)用方面表現(xiàn)突出，對(duì)其符號(hào)的研究是理解其小說的必要條件?！都t字》是霍桑最重要的象征性小說，是霍桑作品中最杰出的作品，也是美國文學(xué)史上最具代表性的作品之一。本文旨在探討象征主義在小說中的運(yùn)用。主要論述了紅字A的深層象征意義和主要人物的象征意義。紅字是這部小說的中心象征，它的象征著通奸罪，海斯特的真愛，痛苦和堅(jiān)強(qiáng)的女戰(zhàn)士。小說同時(shí)也考察了珠兒、海絲特·白蘭、亞瑟·丁梅斯戴爾和齊靈沃思的象征意義。關(guān)鍵詞：象征主義；紅字“A”；人物AbstractAsagreatromanticnovelistinAmericanliteratureinthe19thcentury,Hawthornewasoutstandinginhandlingtheapplicationofsymbolism,andastudyofhissymbolsisnecessarytounderstandhisnovels.TheScarletLetterisHawthorne’smostimportantsymbolicnovel,whichstandsasthebestworkofHawthorneandoneoftheindubitablemasterpiecesofAmericanliterature.Thisthesisaimsattheexplorationoftheusageofsymbolisminthenovel.ItmainlydiscussesthedeepsymbolicsignificanceoftheScarletLetter“A”andthemajorcharacters.TheScarletLetteristhecentralsymbolofthenovel.Itsymbolizesadultery,Hester’struelove,extremeanguishandfemalewarrior.ThenovelalsoexaminesthesymbolicmeaningsoflittlePearl,HesterPrynne,ArthurDimmesdaleandRogerChillingworth.Keywords:Symbolism;scarletletter“A”;charactersContents1.Introduction……………12.Symbolicmeaningofthescarletletter“A”……...…………….12.1“A”for“adultery”,shameandhumannature….……………...…….12.2“A”forHester’struelove—ArthurDimmesdale…………………...…22.3“A”forextremeanguish………………32.4“A”foranimageoffemalewarrior…………..….…33.AnanalysisofSymbolismreflectedinthemaincharacters…43.1HesterPrynne—thesymbolofhighmorality…………………..……53.2ArthurDimmesdale—thesymbolofahalf-repentantsinner………….63.3RogerChillingworth—thesymboloftheoriginalsin.…………….63.4Pearl—thesymboloftherealscarletletter,amoralityandarevolt…...74.Conclusion…………..…8References………………10Acknowledgements……………………111.IntroductionNathanielHawthorneisoneofthemostprolificsymbolistinAmericanliterature,andastudyofhissymbolsisnecessarytounderstandinghisnovels.NathanielHawthornewasthegreatromanticnovelistofthenineteenthcenturyandthecorefigureoftheUnitedStatesRenaissance.NathanielHawthorne’snoveliscommittedtoexploringthemoralandspiritualconflict.Generallyspeaking,symbolismistheuseofthesimilaritybetweenthings,theoutwardappearanceofsomething,toexpressabstractconcepts,thoughtsandemotions.Asymbolissomethingusedtostandforsomethingelse.Inliterature,symbolisusuallyaspecificobject,whichismeanttorepresentamoreabstract,broadinscopeandsenseofthoughts—usuallyareligious,moral,orphilosophicalconceptorvalue.Symbolscanrangefromthemostobvioussubstitutionofonethingforanother,tocreationsasmassive,complex,andperplexingasMelville’swhitewhaleinMobyDick.NathanielHawthorneisbrilliantinliterarytechnique,especiallyintheuseofsymbolicmanipulation.IntheScarletLetter,symbolismrunsthroughthewholenovelandthescarletletterA,thecharactersinthestoryandthebackgroundareallendowedwithprofoundsymbolicmeaning.Inthispaper,thescarletletter“A”andthecharactersastherepresentativeofthesymbolismareemphasizedandinterpreted.2.Symbolicmeaningofthescarletletter“A”TheredletterAisthetypicalsymbolofTheScarletLetter.Itisrichinsymbolismandmystery,anditalmostappearsineverysceneofthiswork,andconnectseverycharacterinthiswork.ItwassewnonHester'scoat,carvedonthegravestoneofherdeath,mysteriouslyprickedinthefrontofDimmesdale’schest,andwiththedevelopmentofthestoryalsomagicallyappearedinthesky.ThescarletletterAcoversrichmeaningsinthiswork.However,thesymbolicmeaningoftheScarletLetterAisnotimmutable,anditssymbolicsignificancehasgraduallychangedwiththedevelopmentofthestoryandtheauthor'sfoothold.Belowthepaperwillanalyzeitfromtheromanticangleofmodernpeople.2.1“A”for“adultery”,shameandhumannatureThescarletletter“A”appearinginthestoryisthesymbolofadultery.“A”isthefirstletterintheEnglishalphabet,anditmeanscommencement.AccordingtotheChristiandoctrine,the“commencement”meansdegeneration,andnobodycanescapetheoriginalsin.Inthisstorytheredletter“A”wasfirstusedasapunishmentbythePuritans,andrepresentedahumiliatingcrimeofadultery.InaccordancewiththerequirementsofthePuritandoctrineatthattime,thefemalewhocommittedadulterywassentencedtowearingasmallredletterembroideredontherobeallherlifetoshowtheworldthatshehadcommittedthecrime.Bydoingthisistoletpeopleunderstandthatasmallsinwillpayaheavycostandtoactasadeterrenteffecttoothers.Hester,inthecaseofnotknowingherhusband’sdeath,hadprivatecommunicationwithherpastorDimmesdale,wentbeyondthebaselineofmorality.Finally,theadulterywasexposedtothepublicbecauseHesterwaspregnantandgavebirthtoPearlinprison.Whilestandingontheplatformtoacceptthesentence,theaudienceandpastorWilsonevenseducedherwith“Nametheman’sname!Inthatcase,yourrepentancewillhelptotakethescarletletterfromyourchest.”“I’llneversayit!”“Sayitandletyourchildhasafather!”“Iwon’tsay”.(Hawthorne,1850:49)HesterwassentencedtowearthescarletletterAforherlifetimetoshowthepeoplethatshewasguilty.Therefore,atthebeginningofthestory,thescarletletter“A”standsforadultery.Thescarletletter“A”alsoappearedinDimmesdale.Hisscarletletter“A”wasnotonhisclothes,butengravedonhischest.BecausehedarednotopenlyadmitthathewasthefatherofPearl,hehadnochoicebuttoself-tortureinthechamberofsecrets,fasting.Itisfutiletoachieveself-examinationwiththespiritofnear-collapseandnocturnaltravel.Finally,deeplytouchedbyHesterandPearl’struelove,hedecidednottohide.Whenfinishinghislastinfectiousspeech,heopenlyadmittedhisidentityafterhidingforsevenyears.Herippedthesashinthefrontofthevestments.Thescarletletter“A”onhischestwasfinallyrevealedtothepublic.2.2“A”forHester’struelove—ArthurDimmesdaleHestersewedthered“A”onherclothesandwornitalldaylong,asifshehadneverbeenwillingtotakeitoff.Italsoseemedtobetreatedasapieceofpreciousornaments.Itseemedthattheword“A”hadreallybecomeanimportantpartofherlifeandhadpenetratedintohersoul.PerhapsinHester’sheartthescarletlettersymbolizedthesecretofherheartandthesweetlovewithArthurDimmesdale.BecauseArthur’sfirstletterisalso“A”,itisthesame“A”asonherchest.ThereforeshedecidedtoputhisnameArthuronhischest.Althoughshealwayssufferedfrompeople’scynicism,shewasverycalm.Itseemedthatshecouldn’tseeotherpeople’seyes,couldn’thearthesarcasmofothers,sometimesevenalittlebitofarrogance.Itwasasiftheword“A”hadgivenhercourageandmagicalpower,andthatcourageandstrengthhadmadeheraverybeautifullight,whichcementedhermisfortuneandhumiliationwithaura.ForHester,itwasthisspiritualsupportthatmadeherspentalong,lonelyandarduoussevenyears,andinthesesevenyearsshelivedinisolation,withlittlePearlintheoutskirtsofthecountry,silentlysufferingfromloneliness.Eventhoughshecouldleavetheplacewhereshehadnojoyatanytimetoliveinanyotherplacesintheworldandtherewouldbenoshameinherfornotwearingthescarletletter.Shecanletgoofalltheisolatedlife,andintegrateintothesociety.Butitwasincrediblethatshestillregardedhereasherhomeandunwillingtoleavethis“paradise”.PerhapsitwasnoteasyforHestertolivehere,butitwashersin,andtherewashergrief,andherconfession.Forawomanwithafeelingoflove,wherethereislove,thereisherparadise,soshedidnotwanttoleavetheplacealoneuntilshewasburiednexttohim,sothatshecouldalwaysbethereforhim.Hertombstonewasalsoinscribedwith“A”,andthebloodredonthetombstoneannouncedtopeoplethatHesterhadwoneveryone’srespectwithhisownbrave,kindnessandenergy,andhadreplacedthedisgracewithsincerelove.2.2.3“A”forExtremeAnguish“A”maycontainthemeaningofanguish,mainlyforthethreemaincharacters.Hesteristhefirst.Shelovedlifeandhadhighhopesandgreatexpectationsforherbeautifullove.However,foravarietyofreasons,sheendedupmarryingthe“oldpedant”—RogerChillingworth,whocouldneverbringheranyhappiness.Chillingworthhadanuglyappearanceandadeformedbody.Thiswasherfirststepintotheabyssofsuffering.Later,whenshemovedtotheNewWorld,shemethertruelove,Dimmesdale.WiththeconstraintsofmarriageandtheharshdoctrinesofPuritanism,theyfellinlovewitheachotherunderpressure,whichbroughtendlesspaintothem.Forallherlife,Shehadtoweartheword“Adultery”.Nomatterhowmanyspecialmeaningspeoplehadgiventoit,shecouldnevergetridoftheoriginalmeaning,andfinallybroughtitintothegrave.Inordertoprotectthelovedonefrombeinginsulted,shewaswillingtobearallofthissilentlyforsevenyears.Despiteallthededication,thispoor,persistentwomanfinallydidnotprocesswhatshehasbeenlookingforwardto.ThisisthemostpainfulthingforHester.AlthoughatlastHesterandDimmesdalewereburiedtogether,sharingatombstone,itcannotbesaidthattheloversgettogether.Dimmesdaleisthenext.Thepainhesufferedwasentirelycausedbyhimself,notbytheoutsideworld.Thescarletletter“A”wasasymbolofshameandabeautifulaccessoryforHester.ButforDimmesdale,itwasaninvisiblemark,apainfultorment.Dimmesdale,whodidnothavethecouragetoconfesshissinsopenly,becametheinterrogatorofHester,andtheanguishofhisheartwasnotcomfortedalthoughitwasnotexposed.Hewasfullofcontradictions.Ontheonehand,hehasaspecialfeelingforHester;ontheotherhand,heisafraidoflosinghishonorandstatus.Therefore,Dimmesdale,acowardlyambivalent,beganhistwo-sidedlife.Hepretendedtobeapiouspastor,stillpreachingmissionaryforfearingoflosingthepeoplerespectingforhim.Itwasaheavyblowtohishypocriticalnature,andtherespectofthepeoplebroughthimevengreateranguish.

Andfinally,Chillingworth.AlthoughhedidnotloveHester,hestilldidnotgiveupontorturingher,didnotwanthertopursuetheirtruelove.Helookedatherasifshewerehispersonalobject.Later,whenHestermethertruelove,hedidnotchoosetohelpher,buttoretaliatebyunscrupulousmeans,usingsinasthetool,constantlytorturingbothofthemmentallyandphysically.Finally,HesterhadtoescapetheplacewithPearlandDimmesdale,whichmadeDimmesdaleonthevergeofcollapse.Whiletorturingothers,Chillingworthhimselffellintotheabyssofanguishaswell.2.2.4“A”foranimageoffemalewarriorHesterwasawomanwhowasrichinemotionanddaredtopursuetrueloveandhappiness.Althoughhertrueloveweresuppressedbythesocialenvironmentandpublicopinionatthattime,herinnerfeelingscouldnotbestrangled.Sheexpressedherselfinherownways.Shemeticulouslyembroideredtheredletter“A”ontherobe.SheexpressedherdreamthroughthepursuitofembroideryartandthePearl’selaboratedress.Alloftheseembodiesherfightingspirit.Hester’sfightingspiritwasreflectedfirstlyinfightingforthecustodyofPearl,whensheknewthatsomeoftheforcesinthetownweretryingtotakeherdaughterawayfromheranddepriveherofcustody,shetalkedtothegovernor.Shesaid,“Godgavemethechild!”Criedshe.“Hegaveherinrequitalofallthingselse,whichyehadtakenfromme.Shewasmyhappiness!—sheismytorture,nonetheless!Pearlkeepsmehereinmylife!Pearlpunishesmetoo!Seeyenot,sheisthescarletletter,onlycapableofbeingloved,andSOendowedwithamillion--foldthepowerofretributionsformysin?Yeshallnottakeher!Iwilldiefirst!”(Hawthorne,1999:152)Herfightingspiritwasreflectedsecondlyinelopementwithherlover.ShesawDimmesdalesufferingfromtormentofChillingworth,sosheboldlyputforwardtotakeofftheredA,bringtheirchildrenandDimmesdaletorunaway.Hesterseemedtobethementorofhissoul,constantlyencouraginghim.HesterofferedtoelopewithPearl,encouragingDimmesdalenottolookback.DespitetheplandidnotcometrueasaresultofChillingworth,shetriedherbest.Hesterhadneversuccumbedtopersecutionandhumiliationforhertruelove,andsheneverthoughtthatitwasamistaketofallinlovewithDimmesdale,nottomentionevil.Eventhoughshesufferedallkindsofhardships,shedidnotsurrender,butbecamemorematureandtenaciouslyfoughtagainstthecruelandcoldPuritandoctrine.Fromthispointofview,shewasanadamant,heroic,tenaciousAmazon.Tosumup,thescarletletter“A”alertedHester,lettingherreflectonherownbehavior.Itsuppressedhernatureandbroughthersuffering,butatthesametime,itpromptedhertoreachtheredemptionofhersoul.Therefore,shewasabletoberecognizedandrespectedbypeople,toachievetheirownrebirth.Itwasthiskindof“whiteterror”rulethatinspiredherresistance,andpeople’srejectionalsomadehertopursuethehappylifefirmly.Comparedwiththescarletletter“A”onHester’srobe,theword“A”hiddenintheinnerworldinDimmesdalewasgivenanothermeaningbytheauthor.Itwasnotonlyasymbolofthepastor’sself-reflectiononhisownbehavior,butalsoasymbolofthePuritan’sspirit.Inordertomaintainhisreputationandstatus,hehidhistruefeelingsinhisheartdeeply,andfinallycannotstandthetorture,confessedhissinsinfrontofthepublic.Hissoulwasliberatedwithherdeath.Intheconstantlystrugglebetweentheheroandtheheroineinthestory,themeaningofthescarletletter“A”hasbeendeeplysublimated.Scarletletter“A”notonlymadepeopleseetheshameandpain,butalsoseetheangelandabetterfuture.

3.AnanalysisoftheSymbolismreflectedinthemaincharactersHawthorneisaromanticnovelist.Hisworksarefullofimaginationandstrongsubjectiveopinions.Intheprefaceto“TheHouseoftheSevenGables”,heclaimsthathisnovelisnottopursuetheveracityofreallife,buttothetruthofthepeople.Therefore,thecharacterinhisstoryisnotcomplicate,butalwayscontainsprofoundsymbolicsignificance.Heoftengivesspecialdescriptiontothecharactersaccordingtohisspecificcreativeintention,torevealthecharacter’sfateandthebackground,plot,endingandthemeofhiswork.Hawthornewantedtoexpresstheircharacteristicswithoutbeingnoticedbythereadersatthefirstsight.InTheScarletLetter,thefourmaincharacters—Hester,Dimmesdale,Chillingworth,Pearl,havetheirowndifferentsymbolicmeaningsrespectively.Thesymbolismwillbediscussedinthefollowingparts.1HesterPrynne—thesymbolofhighmoralityHesterwasastrongwomanwhosilentlyrebelledagainstthecrueltyofreligionandsocialinjustice.Althoughshewasawoman,beinginaweakpositioninsociety,aslongasanythingwasrelatedtoherhappinessandinterests,shewasreadytoresist.Atthebeginningofthestory,sheadamantlybrokeawayfromthelawenforcementofficerandstumbledforwardwhenshewasjustoutofjail.Withawoman'sweakbodyandastrongheart,shewithstoodthepersecutionofthecruelreligioussociety.NomatterhowWilsonseducedher,shewon’ttellthechild’sbiologicalfather.WhenthegovernorandtheupperclassofthereligioussocietyattemptedtotakePearlaway,shedidnotfearandrefused.Shesymbolizedthepersistentpursuitofloveandtruth.Forthesakeofthesacredlove,Hestercanendurehumiliationandresisttheheavypressure.Shewasmorecapable,braver,andtenaciouseventhanamaninthepursuitofherhappylife.SheturnedouttobethespiritualpillarforDimmesdale’stogetridofreligiousshacklesandthementortotakepracticalactions.

Apparently,HesterseemedtosuccumbtothePuritandoctrine,butinessenceshebelievedthatwhatshehaddoneisnotwrong.ShefeltthatsheandDimmesdaleweretrulyinlove,andtherewasnoneedtotaketheso-calledrulesandregulationsintoaccount.Shewasproudofherlife,becauseshehadatleastonetruelove,freeloveinherlife.ShehadneverregardedthelovewithDimmesdaleasasin,aswhatshehadsaidtoDimmesdaleintheforest:whattheyhavedonewassacredcontribution.Soshefranklyworetherobewithscarletletter“A”.Besides,thescarletletter“A”allowedhertorememberArthur’strueloveforher,asthescarletletterstandsforArthurDimmesdale.ShewasstrongerthanAnnaKareniancreatedbytheRussianwriter,LeoTolstoy,andmorenoblethanMadameBovary,createdbyFrenchwriterFlaubert.Althoughtheyhadthesamethemeofethics,thestoryofAnnaandMadameBovaryendsinsuicide,andthereadersonlyhadpityfortheirlife,whileHesterliveddoggedly.Inadditiontoarousingthesympathyofreaders,herhumiliatingexperiencegainedreaders’admiration,understandingandpraise.Inthiswork,Hesterwasdepictedasasymbolofhighmorality.HerexperiencewasalsorecognizedbyHawthorne,whobelievedthatanyharshpunishmentandmercilessrevengecannoteliminatetheevil,andtheonlyeffectivewaywastheprocessionthatHesterexperienced—“admitherguilt,isolation,repentance,dogoodworks,returntosociety”.SohenotonlyletHesterfranklyadmitherbehavior,puttingthescarletletter“A”symbolforadulteryonherchest,butalsoengravedonthetombstoneafterherdeath.Shewasgoodatgiving,helpingothers,beingdiligentandthrifty,andfinallywinningtherecognitionandrespectofpeoplebyhergooddeedsandstrength.Herforbearing,hard-workingandkind-heartednotonlyencouragedtheprotagonistDimmesdale,butalsoinfluencedthedark,sinfulsocialenvironment.HerimagerepresentedHawthorne’sviewthatinfrontoftheevil,wemustbehonest,andexposethedirtiestthing.3.2ArthurDimmesdale—thesymbolofahalf-repentantsinnerDimmesdalewasdifferentfromHesterforfearoflosingtheirhonorandsocialstatus,hedidnothavethecouragetoadmithisbehaviorandcoveruphisownprivacyforalongtime,whichpushedforwardthemainlineofthestoryconstantly.Themostironicthingwasthatthepastortoldhisaudienceagainandagainthathewasadownrightvillain,theworstsinner,anunimaginableevil.Hewantedtolightenhishypocrisyandburdeninthisway.Ofcourse,heespeciallywantedtobeatruehonestman,andwhathedidmakeparishionersthoughthewasspotlessandapiousPuritan.Lateron,Dimmesdalefeltthathewasunworthyofpeople’sworship,butinfacthewasmorepopular.ThecowardlyDimmesdalewastorturedbytheguiltofhisheart,andheclosedhimselfinasecretchamberofself-torture,fasting,andstandingaloneonthescaffoldinthedarknighttorepent,atthesametime,hehadtosufferfromthearrangementofhisrival,Chillingworth.Helivedalifeworsethandeath,andfinally,afterfinishinghislastinfectioussermoninhislife,heholdthehandofHesterandPearltogethertowardsthescaffold,exposedtotheworldthe“A”infrontofhischest.Dimmesdalewentthroughtheprocessfromconcealingtoconfessingthetruthtothepublic,andfinallytotheliberationofthesoul.Therefore,heisthesymbolofahalf-repentantsinner.3.3RogerChillingworth—thesymboloftheoriginalsinChillingworthwasHester’slawfulhusband.Inthepainfulrelationshipbetweentheothertwoprotagonists,Chillingworthwasoriginallyasympatheticvictim,butintheendhevictimizedothers,sointhiscase,Chillingworthrepresentedtherealsinner,anunforgivablesinner.ThestorytoldusthatChillingworthescapedfromtheIndiansandcametothenewland,justtocatchupwithhiswifeHester,whowastriedforadultery.Heaskedhiswifewhoherparamourwas,buthiswifedidn’ttellhim.Hedecidedtofindouttheintriganthimself.Sohechangedhisnameandidentitytoadoctorrelyingonlittlemedicalknowledge,andslowlyhefoundsomeclues,soheapproachedthepastor,Dimmesdale,inordertoachievethepurposeofpeepingintohisinnersecret.Toretaliation,heapproachedthepastorasagoodfriend.Hishumbleattitudemadehimfeelthathewasnotonlyagoodman,butalsoatrustworthyperson.SlowlywhenhefoundthatthepastorDimmesdalewasHester’ssecretlover,henotonlywantonlytorturedDimmesdalementally,butalsotriedtopreventhimfromwalkingtothescaffoldtoopenlyadmithisownsin,inordertoachievethepurposeofcontrollinghimforever.Butlater,undertheinspirationofHester’struelove,Dimmesdalefinallywenttothescaffoldandconfessedhissins.Therefore,hecompletelyfreedfromthecontrolofChillingworth.Withthedeathofhisbody,Dimmesdalecompletedthespiritualliberation.However,afterthedeathofthepastor,Chillingworth’sappearanceandbehaviorchangedovernight.Allhisstrengthandenergyseemedtohavedesertedhiminasudden,sothatheobviouslywithered,likethegrassinthesun,graduallydisappearedfromthepeople’svision.ThelifeofChillingworthdependedonthepastor.Curiosityandvengeanceturnedhimintoamurderousdevil,who,whiledestroyingothers,alsosenthimselftoapathofdestruction.

Fromthedevelopmentofthestory,Chillingworth’ssinwasthedeepest.Heisadestructorofotherpeople’shappiness.Atleasthemadethreemistakes.First,heshouldnotmarryHester.HewasnotequaltoHesterintermsofsoul,ageorappearance,justashisshouldersareunbalanced,heandHesterhadbeeninanunequalposition.Second,heshouldnotlettheyoungandbeautifulHestergotoaforeigncountryalone,sinceshemayencountermanyproblems,buthewasnotinHesterside.Third,theunendingmentaltortureforDimmesdale,asthecriticssaid“Themorehetorturesothers,themorehedestroyshimself.”Inthedestructionofotherstheyhaveembarkedonaroadofnoreturn.InHawthorne’seyes,Chillingworth’sbehaviorwastantamounttoblasphemy,andhewasthesymbolofarealsinnercomparedwithHesterandthepastor.Inshort,hewasasad,poor,hatefulsinner.

3.4Pearl—thesymboloftherealscarletletter,amoralityandarevoltPearlwasthecrystallizationofthesecretloveofHesterandDimmesdale,whichwastheresultofevil,theproductoffault.Butinthiswork,Hawthornelikenedhertoabird,aflower,orapieceofsunshine.Shewasvivaciousandstubborn,fullofwildness,andatthesametimewaslikable.Pearlcanbesaidtobeasymbolofhopeandvitality.Shewasthewholeortheonlyspiritualsustenanceofhermother,Hester,thehopeofalllife.WithoutPearl,Hestercouldnotcontinuetoliveintheworld.Thepurposeoftheauthor'sdescriptionoflittlePearlwastomakethecharacterplumper,andtogivehermoredistinctivesymbolicmeaning.Pearlwasthesymboloftherealscarletletter.Pearlwasthemostcomplexsymbolofthebook.Shewasasymboloflifeandvitality,butalsoasourceofothersymbols.Shewasalivingscarletletter,apreciouscreature,andanembodimentofmoralityandthought.ForHester,shewasadrag,andaspiritualsustenance.OneofPearl'smostsignificantsymbolswasherassociationwiththescarletletter.WhenHesterstoodbeforethepeople,fullyexposed,herfirstimpulsewastoclasppearltoherbosom.Theembracewasnotsomuchamotherlyimpulse,butusingababytohidethemark,asewnorpastedmarkonherclothes.However,shesoonrealizedthatusingatagtocoveranothermarkisofnohelp,soshejustputthebabyonthearm.Althoughherfaceflushed,Hestersmiledproudly,lookingaroundthetownresidentsandneighborsaroundherwithleisurelyeyes.Onherlongskirt,scarletletterAwasexposed.Hereinfact,pearlwasanotherformofthescarletletter.HestercalledherPearl,becauseshewasthepricelessgiftofherlife.Hadpearlnotbeenborn,Hesterwouldnothavebeenadespisedsinner,andlivedamuchbetterlife.AlthoughHestersufferedmuchforpearl,sheconsideredPearltobethemostpreciousgiftofGod,thewholeofherlife,andthecouragetolive.WithoutPearl,shewouldalmosthavegivenuponherlife.Pearlwasthesymbolofamorality.ThatwastomakeHesterandDimmesdaletaketheirdueresponsibilityandpaythepricefortheirsins.Pearl’sexistenceplayedanimportantroleinpromotingthemoralself-renewalofHesterandDimmesdale.Thescarletletteronhermother’sbosomborethedeepestmemoryofPearlinherinfancy.Asanaivechild,sheeventouchedthebrightscarletletteronhermother’sbreastwithherlittlehands,whichmadehermotherashamed.Later,shelearnedtoplaywithflowerstohismother,throwingflowersonthescarletletterofhermother’schest.ShewornclotheswiththescarletletterAonherown.Ontheirwaytotheforest,HesterwantedtotakeoffclotheswiththescarletletterfromPearl.Pearlscreamedanddidn’twanttotookoffherclothes,andrefusedtocrossinfrontofthebrook,untilhermotheragreedtohernottotakeoffherclothes.PearlseemedtobeapermanentmementotoHester’spastmistakes,whichmadeherneverforgetthepast,andnevergetawaywiththisdisgracebroughttoher.Infact,Pearl’sappearanceforcedDimmesdaletoadmithisguilt.Sheasthemostvividsymbolofthescarletletter,announcedtotheworldwhoweretheguiltyparents.Atlast,withthehelpofHesterandPearl,Dimmesdaleascendedthegallows,andconfessedhiscrimes.Pearlkissedhim,andatthelastmomentofhislifeconfessedthathewasherfather.PearlbroughtDimmesdaleatrueknowledgeofhimself,andofwhatwastruemorality.Dimmesdaleendedhiscrimeatthecostofhisownlife.Pearlwasthesymbolofarevolt.Pearl,theproductofHester’sandDimmesdale’sadultery,wasdoomedtoanindissolublebondwithsinbyherbirth.NotonlythesocietyidentifiedPearlastheavatarofevil,sinandbirth,evenHesterherselfworriedaboutPearlbecauseofherbohemiannature.Pe