Abstract:Nathaniel Hawthorne is a famous and outstanding writer in American Literature of Romanticism period. His novel of The Scarlet Letter, always regarded as his most representative work, was published in 1850. 

As the first symbolic novel in American Literary history, it has been influencing American Literature deeply and significantly. The novel centres on one significant symbol : the red letter “A”. 

The letter “A” was sewed on the clothes of Hester Prynne, branded on the body of Dimmesdale, and was closely related to Pearl. This paper will explore the different meanings of the “A” on these three people, and shows the author’s viewpoint of letter “A”. 

Key words: the scarlet letter , affection, Hester, Dimmesdale, Pearl

Contents

摘要

Abstract

Introduction1

1. Hester’s A ..2

1.1 Her affection for Dimmesdale..2

1.1.1 A selfless affection for Dimmesdale.2

1.1.2 A protective affection for Dimmesdale.3

1.1.3 A constant affection for Dimmesdale..4

1.2 Her affection for Pearl.4

2. Dimmesdale’s A 5

2.1 His affection for Hester.5

2.1.1 An anguished affection for Hester5

2.1.2 A protective affection for Hester..6

2.1.3 A constant affection for Hester7

2.2 His affection for Pearl..8

3. Pearl’s A8

Conclusion.10

Works Cited11

Bibliography.12

Acknowledgements..13