摘 要

《红字》是美国作家纳撒尼尔·霍桑的一部著名小说。在这本小说中，霍桑叙述了女主人公海斯特·白兰在新英格兰浓重的清教气氛中因为犯了通奸罪而受到孤立的故事并成功地塑造了一个坚强的女性人物角色海斯特。本论文旨在分析霍桑的小说《红字》中海斯特身上体现的生态女性主义，包括对生态女性主义的简要概述，海斯特与自然的和谐共处，海斯特的女性意识，海斯特这个角色身上反映出的作者霍桑关于生态女性主义的理念。通过海斯特·白兰这个人物，霍桑成功地揭示了他意图表现的主题：提倡生态和谐和性别平等。

关键词：《红字》；海斯特·白兰；生态女性主义；自然；女性；清教思想

Contents

1. Introduction------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1

2. Demonstration---------------------------------------------------------------------------------3

2.1 An overview of the theory of eco-feminism---------------------------------------------3

2.1.1 The views on the relation between females and nature in eco-feminism----------3

2.1.2 The criticisms to patriarchal world outlook and binary-opposition thinking in eco-feminism-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5

2.2 Hester’s harmonious coexistence with nature ------------------------------------------6

2.2.1 Hester’s identification with nature -----------------------------------------------------6

2.2.2 Hester’s natural nurture of her daughter Pearl — the embodiment of nature----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------8

2.2.3 Hester’s striving for a harmony between human and nature ---------------------- 9

2.3 Hester’s feministic consciousness-------------------------------------------------------10

2.3.1 Hester’s rebellion against representatives of the patriarchal society — Roger Chillingworth and Arthur Dimmesdale -----------------------------------------------------11

2.3.2 Hester’s rebellion against puritanical bondage --------------------------------------12

2.3.3 Hester’s self-reliance and her salvation of fellow women -------------------------13

2.4 Hester reflecting Hawthorne’s eco-feministic thoughts ------------------------------15

3. Conclusion------------------------------------------------------------------------------------16

Notes---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------18

Works Cited-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------19

Bibliography------------------------------------------------------------------------------------20

On Eco-feministic Thoughts Reflected in the Character of Hester Prynne in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter

1. Introduction

Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864) is one of the greatest novelists in the early 19^th century in the United States. Hawthorne was born in a distinguished family in New England and his family has been pious followers of Puritanism for generations. The strong atmosphere of Puritanism from the family and the social environment strongly affected him. On one hand, it made him depressed and reflective when he was young. On the other hand, it made him closer to nature, seeking for the consolation from nature itself. When Hawthorne was young, he lived in his grandfather’s manor, fishing, reading, enjoying the freedom and happiness from the natural scenery. All these have a great influence on Hawthorne’s whole life and later on his works. At the same time, affected by feminism movement peaked in the 19^th century and the deep reflection of Puritanism, Hawthorne gradually formed his ecological thoughts and feministic consciousness, which were quite advanced at that time and valuable to male writers of that time.

Hawthorne attempted to write novels in the 1830s and he wrote some famous novels as follows: Mosses from an Old Manse, The House of the Seven Gables, The Blithedale Romance, The Marble Faun, etc. Hawthorne’s most important novel The Scarlet Letter was first published in 1850. The novel tells a story about a lady named Hester Prynne who marries an old doctor called Roger Chillingworth without love. As a result, Hester is so lonely that she falls in love with a young minister Arthur Dimmesdale and they have a baby called Pearl. Then Hester is imprisoned and punished by the public. However, Hester is so brave and persistent that she refuses to speak out the name of the child’s father. She nurtures the little girl and makes a living on her own. Hester is isolated for a long time because of the guilt of adultery, which exposes the coldness and hypocrisy of the colonial society.