Abstract: Nathaniel Hawthorne is one of the greatest romantic novelists and short story writers in the United States in the 19th century. The Scarlet Letter is his masterpiece. Its background is about the colonial time of America two hundred years ago but reveals the cruelty of the social code, the deception of religion and the hypercriticism of morality at that time. The heroine, Hester Prynne, is considered by many scholars as the new-born feminist soldier who suffers a lot. She tortures in the pains of the contradiction between the reality and her dream, living at the edge of life but struggling for her life. This thesis will make a detailed analysis of the character of the heroine and her independent spirits from four aspects: an introduction to the author and the novel, the intention of creating Hester, the original image of Hester and the image as a sinner, aiming to comprehensively analyze how her independent spirit presents itself in the novel.

Key words: intention; original image; independent spirits; the spirits of independent

CONTENTS

摘要

Abstract

1. Introduction1

  1.1 A brief introduction of the author and the novel

  1.2 Literature review of The Scarlet Letter

2. Hawthorne’s Intention of Creating Hester2

2.1 Puritan Influence on Hawthorne

2.2 Hawthorne’s Own Thought on Puritanism

3. Original Image of Hester: Strong and Brave3

3.1 A Graceful and Beautiful Lady

3.2 Eager for True Love

3.3 Protecting Dimmesdale

4. As a Sinner, Working Hard to Get Salvation4

4.1 Being Ashamed for “Adultery”

4.2 Working Hard As a Mother and Sinner

4.3 Final Image of Hester: Angle, Bearing the Pain of Losing Lover

5. Conclusion6

Bibliography7

Acknowledgements8