Abstract The Scarlet Letter is a novel that contains a strong religious color. This thesis mainly researches on the embodiment of Christian doctrines in the personality of the main characters in The Scarlet Letter, especially the doctrines of sin and redemption. First, the thesis introduces the author Hawthorne and his works, the background of the novel and some relative information about Christian doctrines. Then it analyzes responsibility, revolt and kindness of Hester, and cowardice and hypocrisy of Arthur Dimmesdale. It combines Christian doctrines with the character and we can discover that Christian doctrines have a great influence on the character. Under the double torture of sin and self-redemption, Dimmesdale became more cowardly and hypocritical. He died quietly after he confessed his sin. Hester chose to undertake sin alone and she achieved the peace of her soul by her practical redemption behaviors. 69708

Key words: The Scarlet Letter; Christian doctrines; character

摘要《红字》是一本包含了浓厚的宗教色彩的小说。本文主要研究基督教义在这本书中的人物性格上的体现，主要是罪和救赎的教义。首先介绍作者霍桑和他的作品，《红字》的创作背景，还有基督教义的相关内容。然后分析海斯特的责任心，反叛和善良，迪默斯德的懦弱和伪善。把基督教义和他们的性格联系起来，我们可以发现，基督教义对他们的性格有很大的影响。在“罪”与“自我救赎”的双重折磨下，迪默斯德变得更加懦弱和虚伪，最终在坦诚罪行时平静死去。海斯特选择独自承担罪行，在实际的救赎行为中获得了灵魂的安宁。

毕业论文关键词：《红字》；基督教义；性格

Contents

1. Introduction 1

2. Literature Review 2

3. The Reflection of Christian Doctrines on the Personality of Hester and Dimmesdale 3

3.1 Responsibility, revolt and kindness of Hester Prynne 3

3.2 Cowardice and hypocrisy of Mr. Dimmesdale 6

4. The Influence of Christian Doctrines 9

4.1 The influence of the doctrine of sin 9

4.2 The influence of the doctrine of redemption 10

5. Conclusion 12

Works Cited 13

1. Introduction

Nathaniel Hawthorne（1804~1864）is an American outstanding romantic novelist in the 19th century. He was born in a declined noble family of New England. The whole family believed in Christianity. His grandfather and his father were captain. When he was four years old, his father died in a long voyage. After his father passed away, his mother and he moved to his grandfather’s home which was in Salem. In Salem, lots of factors greatly affected his minds and his future creations, such as a strong religious atmosphere, drastic sectarian struggles, and traditional education of his family and so on. At about nine years old, Hawthorne’s feet were injured when he was playing football. He had to stay at home for three years. Therefore, he had lots of time to read all kinds of books. It laid the foundation for his future writing. Hawthorne’s two forefathers were important persons of the integration of religion and politics authority in the Massachusetts colony. They had been involved in the Persecution of the Quaker activities, which made Hawthorne feel guilty. Therefore, one of his purposes of creating The Scarlet Letter was to be humiliated for his forefathers and to pray for washing off their incurred curses. 论文网

Hawthorne’s had created a number of excellent novels, including Mosses from an Old Manse, The scarlet Letter, The House of the Seven Gables, The Blithedale Romance, The Marble Faun and so on. His literature had a strong religious atmosphere. He focused on the problem of sin and moral. He claimed to wash evil by benefaction and self confession to purify the mind. Hawthorne had made a great contribution to American literature.