Abstract: Nathaniel Hawthorne is the pioneer of American psychoanalysis novels. And his masterpiece, The Scarlet Letter, has attracted much attention for its vividly drowned characters. This thesis attempts to take this novel as the text, on the basis of the relationship between Pearl and Hester, Dimmesdale, Chillingworth, and unify the current academic works so as to analyze the contradictory features of Pearl displayed in this novel. Pearl is playing the role of the spiritual stay as well as mental torture to Hester; to Dimmesdale, Pearl is the debunker of sin as well as the motivity to confess; and to Chillingworth, the existence of Pearl is the starting point of revenge as well as the finish line of love. From the image of the characters, this thesis describes them from both artistic expressions and narrative characters, as well as their connection with the development of the novel. Hawthorn’s novel has a detailed and profound description of its characters in certain social background. After some research of the role of Pearl, it will further our understanding of American psychoanalysis as well as Hawthorne himself.

Keywords: The Scarlet Letter; Pearl; contradictory features; relationship

Content

摘要：

Abstract:

Introduction-5

1. The contradictory features of Pearl in her relationship with Hester Prynne.-6

1.1 Pearl being the spiritual stay as a daughter-6

1.2 Pearl being a mental torture as the symbol of sin-7

2. The contradictory features of Pearl in her relationship with Arthur Dimmesdale.-8

2.1 Pearl being a debunker of his hypocrisy-8

2.2 Pearl being the motivity of his ultimate confession-9

3. The contradictory features of Pearl in her relationship with Roger Chillingworth.-10

3.1 Pearl being the starting point of his revenge-10

3.2 Pearl being the finish line of his love-11

4. The contradictory features of Pearl herself.-13

4.1 A wild and rebellious little elf-13

4.2 A pure and naive child-14

Conclusion-15

Bibliography..16

Acknowledgments..17