TheSymbolicMeaningof“A”inscarletletter.doc

The?Symbolic?Meaning?of“A”?in?scarlet?letter Thesis Statement: The scarlet letter“A”as a main symbol, which has different symbolic meanings according to different people’s views and different periods, shows great significance in developing and elaborating the theme of the book, The Scarlet Letter. Ⅰ.A brief introduction to The Scarlet Letter 1.Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804--1864), the author, is a great writer in American literary history. 2.The main plot of The Scarlet Letter is a tragic live story in the colonial times in Boston. 3.The theme of the novel is the conflict of the human heart with itself and how to deal with the sin on one’s act and the sin on one’s soul. Ⅱ.Symbols in The Scarlet letter. 1.The scarlet letter“A”,the main symbol in The Scarlet Letter ,was endowed with plentiful meanings. 2.In The Scarlet Letter, there are many other symbols. A. The rusty prison-door means the darkness of that times. B. Rose-bush, fragrance and fragile beauty stand for the light of hope in America. C．A deformed man has abnormal soul. Ⅲ.Different interpretations of the symbol “A”. 1.Different periods have different meanings. A. At the beginning, the letter“A”stands for“adultery”or“adulteress”. B. After many years of hard work, the letter“A”means“Angel”. ??? C. For Hester’s kindness and honesty, the letter“A”means“Angel”. 2.Different people have their own ideas on the symbol “A”. A. To Hester, it is the moral sin in a public way. B. To Dimmensdale, it tortures his soul and his heart. C. To Chillingworth, it indicates his shame and he can get unlimited power for his revenge. 3.Pearl is more of a symbol than a character. To a great extent, she is a living “A”. A. To Hester, she is the fruit of human love and physical passion. B. To Dimmensdale, she is a reminder of his sin. C. To Chilingworth, she is an unforgettable shame and the motivation to take his revenge. Ⅳ. The symbol has its great significance. 1. Symbolism is a literary device which is wed frequently to indicate the au