TheScarletLetteroffersanextraordinaryinsightintothenormsandbehaviorofthe17thcenturyifAmericanPuritansociety.Thebasicconflictsandproblemsofitsmaincharacters,however,arefamiliartoreadersinthepresent.Thefemaleprotagonist,hasborneachildoutofwedlockandhasbeenjailedforoverthreemonthsandsentencedtowearasymbolofheradultery,ascarlet“A”onherdressatalltimes.Itconcernsaboutthemoral,emotionalandpsychologicaleffectofthesinonpeopleingeneral.It’snotsimplyalovestoryorastoryofsin.TheScarletLetterbyNathanielHawthorneusesthescarletletterstosymbolizetheharshnessofPuritansociety,showinghowtheybrandsinnersforlife.

　　ThestoryhappenedinBostonabout200yearsago.Itnarratesloveaffairsbetweenthreepersons.Thepunishedwoman.HesterPrynneandhishusband.WhocalledhimselfRogerChillingworth.Heisanoldmisshapenmanandadoctor.Hesterdoesnotlovehimatall.Anothermanisayoungminister,Dimmesdale,whohasahighpositionamongministersandishighlyrespectedamonghispeopleintown.HesterandDimmesdaleloveeachother.Buttheirloveisforbiddeninthattime.Itissinful.Duetothis,HesterispunishedbysocietywithaletterAonherchest,whichconsideredanevil,ashame.

　　Inthisnovel,themainlineseemstobearoundtheletterA.Hesterisbraveenoughtofacethecruelreality.Sheisalwayswithamindofcourage.Shehasbeenalonewithherchildforsolong,withlittercommunication.Shame!Hopelessness!Loneliness!HesterhastoweartheletterAdayafterday,sevenyearsasforpunishmentandillfame.

　　Whenawomanhaslivedthroughadifficultexperience,hercharacterchangesagreatdeal.Ifshebealltenderness,shewilldie.Ifshesurvive,thetendernesswillleaveher.Hester’scharitabledeedsandquiethumilityhaveearnedherareprievefromthescornofthecommunity.Theletteronherchestrepresentsherworkonearth,alwayshelpingothers,withoutexpectinganythanks.Neverafterwards,doesthatscarletletterleaveherchest.Thetownspeoplenolongerviewtheletterasapunishment,butratherasrepresentinghergreatstrengthandbraveryandthysayitmeans“Able”.

　　ButArthurDimmesdale,hissinagainstHesterandPearlisthathewillnotacknowledgethemashiswifeanddaughterinthedaylight.Hekeepshisdreadfulsecretfromallthoseunderhiscareinthechurchforsevenyearsforfearthathewilllosetheirloveandwillnotbeforgiven.Heistooweaktoadmithissins.Hesuffersfrommysterioushearttrouble,seeminglycausedbypsychologicaldistress.What’sworse,heisanadvisortothetownspeopleabouttheirsins.

　　AfterMr.Dimmesdale’sdeath,noonechangesmoreinappearancethanRogerChillingworth.Allhisstrengthandenergyhasbeenusedtoharmhispatient.Thisunhappymanhasmadehisaiminlifetoaddtothesufferingoftheyoungminister.Whentheeviloldmannolongerhassuchapurpose,thedeviltakeshimbacktothehell.Itisacurioussubjectofobservation,however,whetherhatredorlovearenotofthesameplace.Eachtakesagreatdealofemotionfromoneperson.Thetwofeelingsseembasicallythesame,expectthatoneissmileduponbyGod,whiletheotherisworshippedbythedevil.

　　我这里正好有一篇

　　ThetwolovershaseverdecidedtofleetoEurope,wheretheycanlivewiththeirdauthterPearlasafamily.Theyfeelasenseofreleasethere.However,theirplanfails……WhenHesterdies,