Abstract
This paper is devoted to the religious thoughts in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Minister’s Black Veil. The speeches and deportments of the minister Hooper and the congregation reflect Hawthorne’s thoughts of Original Sin and Anti-Puritanism implied in the story. These two ideas appear in the story alternately, which creates an effect of religious irony. Puritanism plays an important part in the life of America. The Puritans emphasize the doctrine of Original Sin which means that everyone is born with sins. Although Hawthorne believes in Original Sin, he opposes the other doctrines and behaviors of the Puritans. This ambivalent thought originates from Hawthorne’s complicated family and social background. Some of Hawthorne’s ancestors were men of prominence in the Puritan theocracy. Some of them took part in the persecution of the Quakers and Salem Witchcraft Trial. This experience of his family left a shadow on Hawthorn’s heart and made him hate the Puritanism. However, after all Hawthorne was deeply influenced by Puritanism so he believed in Original Sin and advocated that people with repent and benevolence can get salvation.
Keywords: Nathaniel Hawthorne The Minister’s Black Veil Irony Original Sin Anti-Puritanism
本文重点略论了霍桑的著作《牧师的黑面纱》中的宗教思想。通过对故事中琥珀牧师和众教友的言谈举止等细节的略论，揭示故事中所隐含的原罪思想和反清教主义思想。这两种思想在文章中交替出现，英语毕业论文，产生出极大的宗教讽刺效果。清教作用着美国的各个方面，它强调原罪说，原罪是指人类生而俱来的、洗脱不掉的“罪行”。霍桑相信人生来有罪，但是却反对清教的其他主张和做法，英语论文，他的这种矛盾思想来源于他自身复杂的家庭和社会背景。霍桑一家世代都是虔诚的清教徒，他的祖先中有多位在迫害教友派及臭名昭著的1692年萨莱姆“驱巫案”中扮演过不光彩的角色。家族的这种经历让霍桑厌恶清教，心理上也是种怀有负罪感。然而深受清教熏陶的霍桑深信人生来就有罪，提倡人们以忏悔和善行洗刷自己的罪恶。
关键词 霍桑 《牧师的黑面纱》 反讽 原罪 反清教
Nathaniel Hawthorne is an American novelist and short story writer. His works belong to romanticism or, more specifically, dark romanticism, cautionary tales that suggest that guilt, sin, and evil are the most inherent natural qualities of humanity. Many of his works are inspired by Puritan New England, combining historical romance loaded with symbolism and deep psychological themes, bordering on surrealism. Because of his special social background, Hawthorn’s opinion on Puritanism is very complicated. On one hand, he describes human’s evil and salvation vividly and deeply. On the other hand, he reveals and criticizes the extremeness and hypocrisy of Puritanism. |
