霍桑_红字_中的身体叙述_李姣.docx

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1、 独创性声明 学位论文题目 : 霍桑红字中的身体叙述 本人提交的学位论文是在导师指导下进行的研究工作及取得的研 究成果。论文中引用他人已经发表或出版过的研究成果，文中已加了 特别标注。对本研究及学位论文撰写曾做出贡献的老师、朋友、同仁 在文中作了明确说明并表示衷心感谢。 学位论文作者：签字日期： 2013 年 4 月 15 曰 本学位论文作者完全了解西南大学有关保留、使用学位论文的规 定，有权保留并向国家有关部门或机构送交论文的复印件和磁盘，允 许论文被查阅和借阅。本人授权西南大学研究生院可以将学位论文的 全部或部分内容编入有关数据库进行检索，可以采用影印、缩印或扫 描等复制手段保存、汇编学位

2、论文。 (保密的学位论文在解密后适用本授权书，本论文： V 不保密， 保密期限至 年 月止 ） 。 学位论文版权使用授权书 签 字 曰 期 ： 年 月 曰 签字曰期： 2013 年 4 月 15 曰 Body Narrative in Hawthorne Scarlet Letter A Thesis Submitted to the Department of English Language and Literature School of Foreign Languages Southwest University in partial fulfillment of the requir

3、ements for the degree of Master of Arts in English Language and Literature by Li Jiao under the Supervision of Professor Luo Yimin April 2013 Acknowled gements I would like to thank those who have offered their help to me in writing this thesis. First, I owe the deepest gratitude to my supervisor, P

4、rofessor Luo Yimin, who not only guides me on the right way to the study of British and American literature but also shows great patience in revising this thesis. In the past three years, he is always generous and selfless in sharing his enormous and comprehensive knowledge of literature. Moreover,

5、he supports me unwaveringly through hardships and tough times in my study as well as in my life. As a great scholar and mentor, I have learned many precious values from him, such as studiousness, patience, generosity, integrity etc., which will benefit me a life time. I am deeply grateful for his de

6、votion, without his expert guidance and patient revision this thesis would not have been completed. His devotion of time and energy give me the confidence to finish this thesis. My heartfelt gratitude also goes to other professors in Southwest University. I would like to thank Professor Liu Lihui, w

7、hose courses of Bible and Modem Literature have greatly inspired me; and Professor Yan Kui? whose courses provide me with the general understanding of western literary criticism; and Professor Liu Yu, from whose courses I have learned feminism which is great helpful in understanding literature works

8、; and Professor Luo Lang, whose course of British and American Poetry guides me into the wonderland of poetry; and Professor Wang Wei, from whose course I have learned the basic knowledge of drama. At last, I would like to thank my dear friends, Yang Li, Hu Peipei? li Jiajing 5 Shi Meng and Zhang Qi

9、ngqing who have shared information with me and encouraged me when I wrote this thesis. Thank you all. Ty 夜黍扛守 f 句身体私龙 内容摘要 霍桑是 19 世纪美国最杰出的作家之一，也是美国文学的奠基人之一。他的代表作红字 一经问世就取得了巨大的成功 ,被誉为美国浪漫主义的杰作，同时也被认为代表了霍桑最高的 文学成就。霍桑在小说中体现出他矛盾的宗教观，评论家从不同角度对其进行了研究。然而 鲜有人从红 字中人物的身体角度出发，通过揭示小说中的身体叙述来研究霍桑的宗教观。 本文通过细读红字，从小

10、说中男女主人公的身体叙述出发，并结合身体文化批评， 分析各种身体形象在小说中的深层意义，揭露了淸教思想对身体的压迫及主人公渴望通过身 体反抗来获得 0 由，同时也传达出霍桑对清教思想的的矛盾态度。在批判淸教主义的残忍冷 酷的同时，霍桑也运用其教条作为衡 M 人物的标准，认为人们必须为罪付出相应的代价，只有 通过救赎才能从罪恶中解脱。 本文共分五个部分，导论部分概括了自红字出版以来评论家对小说中霍桑宗教观的 分析。这 些评论主要从宗教研究，原型批评及女性主义方面对霍桑在小说中 M 现出的清教宗 教观进行了分析。但是以上评论都没有考虑霍桑运用身体叙述来传达其宗教观。第一章研究 了自尼采至福柯以来的

11、身体理论的发展。西方传统观念中身体一直处于灵魂的对立面，灵魂 高于身体。清教教义对身体也持否定的态度。自尼采提出身体理论以来，身体开始受到重视。 而弗洛伊德，梅洛 -庞蒂及福柯的身体理论进一步证实了身体的重要地位，为解读红字中 身体叙述提供了依据。第二章着重探讨了小说主人公在清教思想压迫下所呈现出的两种类型 的身体：标记的身体及痛苦的身体。通过身体叙述，霍桑在批判清教教条压抑人性的同时， 也指出主人公必须为罪行付出代价。第三章分析了在清教思想束缚下身体所表现出的两种反 抗状态，即美丽的身体及身体的重生。霍桑赞美了主人公具有反叛意识的身体，但也认为只 有通过忏悔和救赎才能得到解脱。结论部分总结了

12、红字中的身体描写所代表的意义，指 出通过身体叙述，霍桑传达了其对清教思想的矛盾态度。 关键词：霍桑；红字；身体叙述 Body Narrative in Hawthorne Scarlet Letter Abstract Nathaniel Hawthorne is one of the greatest American writers in the nineteenth century. He is also one of the founders of American literature. The Scarlet Letter which is regarded as his mast

13、erpiece has achieved great success since its publication. It is reputed as the best work in American Romanticism and regarded as the representation of Hawthornes literary genius. Hawthorne5s paradoxical attitudes towards Puritanism is reflected in the novel. Critics have studied his religious views

14、from different perspectives. However, not many scholars have probed into the body images of the characters in The Scarlet Letter from the perspective of body narrative for the sake of Hawthornes religious views. Through a close reading of the novel, this thesis, by analyzing the bodies of the main c

15、haracters with body criticism and exploring their embedded meanings, aims to uncover the oppression of the human body imposed by Puritanism as well as how the bodies rebel against the oppression to gain freedom. At the same time, this thesis tries to convey Hawthornes contradictory attitudes towards

16、 Puritanism. On one hand, he criticizes the cruelty and oppression of Puritanism. On the other hand, he uses some of its doctrines to evaluate the characters. He believes that people should pay for their sins and one can be free from evil by redemption. This thesis consists of five parts. The first

17、part serves as an introduction to the reviews and literary criticisms on Hawthornes religious attitudes presented in the novel. Scholars have interpreted the novel from the aspects of religious study, archetypal criticism and feminism to explore Hawthornes attitudes towards Puritanism， However, none

18、 of these points have considered Hawthornes employment of the body narrative policy. The first chapter focuses on the body theories from Nietzsche to Foucault. In western tradition, the soul is supreme which is opposite to the body. Puritanism also holds negative opinion towards the human body. Sinc

19、e Nietzsche has advanced his body theory, the human body became the center of attention. Body theories put forth by philosophers like Freud, Merleau-Ponty and Foucault have further confirmed the importance of 西南大学硕士学位论文 Abstract the human body. Their theories have provided the basis for the interpre

20、tation of body narrative in The Scarlet Letter, Chapter two explores two kinds of oppressed human body under the fetter of Puritanism. They are the marked body and the afflicted body. Through body narrative, Hawthorne criticizes the inhuman Puritan doctrines. But at the same time, he also points out

21、 that the protagonists should pay for their sins. Chapter three analyzes the resistance of the human body. They are the beautiful body and the reborn body. Hawthorne shows his appreciation of the resistant human body. But he believes that the protagonists can only be set free through confession and

22、redemption. The last part concludes the embedded meanings of the different kinds of human body in The Scarlet Letter and indicates that Hawthorne has conveyed his paradoxical attitudes towards Puritanism through body narrative. Key words: Hawthorne； Scarlet Letter Body Narrative 西南大学硕士学位论文 Contents

23、Contents Acknowledgments . i Abstract and Key Words in Chinese . ii Abstract and Key Words in English . . . iii Introduction . 1 Chapter One Body Theory from Nietzsche to Foucault . 10 Chapter Two The Marked and Afflicted Body . 20 Chapter Three The Beautiful and Reborn Body . . . . . 33 Conclusion

24、. 43 Bibliography . 46 V 7 Introduction Nathaniel Hawthorne is the most influential novelist of American Romanticism in the nineteenth century. Acclaimed as the ctAmerican Shakespeare95 by Herman Melville, Hawthorne has created quantities of enlightening short stories and classic novels. His works h

25、ave attracted great attention from the nineteenth century till now. He enjoyed a great reputation in his own generation and was highly hailed by critics and writers. As the indisputably first great writer in America, Hawthorne works represent both the maturity and height of American literature. It i

26、s a acknowledged fact that most of Hawthorne works are closely linked with Puritanism. As a Puritan descendant, Nathaniel Hawthorne was born on the fourth of July, 1804 in Salem, Massachusetts. For generations, his family members believe in Puritanism. The influences of his upbringing and his Purita

27、n ancestors are evident in his literary works. His literary reputation is also closely related to Puritanism. Though Hawthornes religious stand is deep influenced by his family， his belief is different from his ancestors. Hawthorne believes some aspects of Puritanism are intolerant and cruel. He fou

28、nd a good example for this cruelty with his own ancestors, William and John Hathome. They both were involved in the persecution of Quakers and witches. John Hathome was one of the judges who had participated in the infamous Salem witch trials and he was the only judge who never had repented of his s

29、inful and cruel actions. Therefore, Nathaniel later changed his last name from “Hathome” to “Hawthorne” to make a clear distinction from his ancestors.1 Due to his family history and social background, a strong sense of evil and sin in Puritan term always lingering in Hawthorne5s mind which has grea

30、tly influenced his writings. Therefore, most of Hawthorne5 s works have been full of Puritan traits. As E. A. Duyclanck says, 66the spirit of his old ancestors . lives in Nathaniel Hawthorne”（ qtd.in Andrews 13). It is natural that Hawthorne sets most of his stories in the Puritan New England, and t

31、he l 西南大学硕士学位论文 Introduction characters are Puritans whose actions and words are strictly restrained and controlled by Puritanism. Therefore, many critics have paid their attentions to the Puritanism reflected in Hawthorne5 s works. Herbert Schneider states that 6tHawthome has revealed the empirical

32、 truth behind the Calvinistic symbols. He also recovers what Puritanism professed but seldom practiced-the spirit of piety, humility, and tragedy in the face of the inscrutable ways of God.2 Other critics also find that Hawthornes works tend to criticize some of the inhuman Puritan doctrines rather

33、than agree on them. Stuart Pratt Sherman considers Hawthorne as a critic as well as a satirist of Puritanism. T.S. Eliot also believes that Hawthorne5 s works have truly expressed his criticism on the Puritan morality. However, some other critics take a middle ground. They consider Hawthorne as both

34、 a critic as well as an inheritor of Puritanism. For instance, Frank P. Steams believes Hawthorne has pursued a middle course. He believes that Hawthorne has distanced himself from the puritans in some aspects but he has not completely abandoned Puritanism. Barrett Wendell also points out that Hawth

35、orne could never get rid of the influence of Puritanism he has inherited from his ancestors. He deems that Hawthornes writings are most characteristic when he expresses that constant， haunting sense of ancestral sin. In view of these critical ideas, it is clear that Hawthornes works are greatly infl

36、uenced by Puritanism. His paradoxical attitudes towards Puritanism is reflected in most of his works, especially in his Scarlet Letter. It is widely acknowledged that The Scarlet Letter represents the height of Hawthorne literary genius. It is of great importance and universally considered as his ma

37、sterpiece. Since its publication, The Scarlet Letter has received much attention in American literary field. Though the story of The Scarlet Letter seems simple with straightforward plots, it has profound and thought-provoking meanings which make the novel a masterpiece and establish Hawthorne lasti

38、ng reputation as the Father of American literature. The uncertainty and ambiguity in the themes and characters of the novel have helped to bring its popularity. At the same time, Hawthorne9s paradoxical attitudes towards Puritanism in the novel has also attracted critics attentions and interests. Re

39、views and analyses of Hawthomes religious views reflected in novel have 2 西南大学硕士学位论文 Introduction never ended. Michael J. Colacurcio has generalized a conclusion from the early reviews of the novel. He has observed that most early critics praised the novel for the rightfully Puritan morality it reve

40、als. These critics believe that Hawthorne5s Puritan morality is upright and perfectly reflected in his novel.3A magazine at that time acclaimed The Scarlet Letter as the most ethical book of that age. In Muffin eyes, The Scarlet Letter tcwas actually a morally instructive work that warned against th

41、e pitfalls of sensuality in general and adulterous misdeeds in particular95 (207). Everet A. Duyckinck also reveals the moral values of the novel which he believes is stem but beneficial.4 Edwin Percy Whipple holds the same opinion, he says u the most abandoned libertine could not read the volume wi

42、thout being thrilled into something like virtuous resolution.5 He notices that instead of being carried away by sympathy, Hawthorne has arranged the fate of the sinners according to the principles of Puritanism dominating the society. These first reviewers are supportive. They have spoken highly of

43、the rightfully Puritan morality reflected in the book and believe Hawthorne has showed his agreement on Puritanism. At the same time, not all of the early critics praise the Puritan morality revealed in the novel unreservedly. Though speaks highly of The Scarlet Letter George Ripley worries the Puri

44、tan morality conveyed by the novel is not explicit enough. He states that the moral values are “shadowed forth rather than expressed.”6 There are also some negative reviews. Arthur Cleveland Coxe, an Episcopal bishop, criticizes the morality in The Scarlet Letter is evil. He rebukes Hawthorne for ig

45、noring a wealth of more suitable “historical” matters in favor of “the nauseous amour of a Puritan pastor” and complains that a “ladys frailty is philosophized into a natural and necessary result of the Scriptural law of marriage,9 in Hawthorne5 s novel.7 He is very skeptical about whether the novel

46、 could help the readers to consolidate their religious belief. At the same time, he suspects that Hawthorne has paid too much attention to human feelings and ridiculed religion in the novel. Coxe shrewdly notices the influence of The Scarlet Letter on readers and declares the novel is no good for readers9 spiritual world. The Puritan morality revealed in the novel is also criticized by Orestes Brownson. He believes The Scarlet Letter has 3 西南大学硕士学位论文 Introduction not reflected any laudable moral values. Brownson points out that values conveyed by