An Analysis of the Construction of the Multiple Spaces in The Scarlet Letter

Abstract

Nathaniel Hawthorne, one of the classic writers of American romanticism, wrote many classic works throughout his life, including The Scarlet Letter, the representative of romantic novels and his outstanding masterpiece. Extensive attention has paid on it since it was published. Many literary critics use different theories to explain this work, many of which explore the theme including good and evil, love and hate, and culture under the influence of Puritanism. However, previous researches have paid less attention on the space feature of The Scarlet Letter, and in the traditional narratological research, the space factor has also been ignored for a long time. In this thesis, the author will take space as the starting point based on the relevant spatial theory and spatial narrative research results, and interpret the multiple space construction in The Scarlet Letter in detail, further analyzing the narrative strategy adopted by Hawthorne in order to explore the cultural connotation of the multiple spaces constructed in his works.