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3. Direct Description
The psychological description is mainly pided into the two catageries: direct description and indirect description. In The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne used many different ways to show the personalities of the main characters and the theme. The meticulous psychological description is the most important characteristic in this novel, meanwhile, it is the main reason that this novel is very popular in different countries. Hawthorne was familiar with the early colonial life, so he could describe people’s psychology at that time very clearly. The direct description is also pided into three types: internal monologue, the expression of emotion and intuition and the description of illusion. Now we can discuss the specific embodiments of these psychological descriptions in The Scarlet Letter and their unique effects.
3.1 The Internal Monologue
Firstly, we can analyse the main character Dimmesdale. In the novel, he is a very religious man, Hawthorne used many psychological descriptions to show Dimmesdale’s real feelings. Most obviously, Dimmesdale’s internal monologue is described vividly. For instance, in the chapter three, his disciplinary words to Hester can clearly reflect his minds. He hates sham, but he dares not to confess the crime. Then in the chapter twelve, Dimmesdale had been driven by the impulse, when he wanted to confess the crime, another voice always stopped him. In Dimmesdale’s mind, he is a coward and a poor man, he wants to confess the crime but he can’t, meanwhile, he can’t continue his life like before, the two ways are all impossible for him, so he is very painful in his mind, this is also the embodiment of his contradiction. Dimmesdale is tortured by the complicated feelings, illusion appeares on him, he is afraid and extreme disturbed even he doubts his body. Let’s continue to see the chapter twenty, “ ‘That is most fortunate!’ he had then said to himself … ‘ At least they shall say of me,’ thought this exemplary man.” Now we can’t recognize him even himself doesn’t know which one is true. The internal monologue of Dimmesdale mainly shows his contradiction, which is his most obvious characteristic.文献综述
We all know Chillingworth is a indispensable villain in The Scarlet Letter, and the psychological description to him is usually more vivid. In fact, Roger Chillingworth also has much internal monologue. “ ‘This man,’ said he, at one such moment, to himself, ‘pure as they deem him – all spiritual as he seems – hath inherited a strong animal nature from his father or mother. Let us dig a little further in the direction of this vein!’” (Hawthorne, 1996:88) This is the beginning of his exploration to Dimmesdale and at the same time it is the continuation of the evil. In the chapter twnety-three, “ At this instant, old Roger Chillingworth thrust himself through the crowd – or, perhaps so dark, disturbed and evil, was his look, he rose up out of some nether region … and caught the minister by the arm.” (Hawthorne, 1996:217) We have to say, Chillingworth is so vicious, till this time, he still hasn’t let Dimmesdale off, he just wants to make Dimmesdale more painful so that he can get fleeting pleasure.