生命教育

INTRODUCTION

One of the world's most popular novels, Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice has delighted readers since its publication with the story of the witty Elizabeth Bennet and her relationship with the aristocrat Fitzwilliam Darcy. Similiar to Austen's other works, Pride and Prejudice is a humorous portrayal of the social atmosphere of late eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century England, and it is principally concerned with courtship rituals of the English gentry. The novel is much more than a comedic love story, however; through Austen's subtle and ironic style, it addresses economic, political, feminist, sociological, and philosophical themes, inspiring a great deal of diverse critical commentary on the meaning of the work.

Plot and Major Characters

Pride and Prejudice focuses on Elizabeth Bennet, an intelligent young woman with romantic and individualistic ideals, and her relationship with Mr. Darcy, a wealthy gentleman of very high social status. At the outset of the novel, Elizabeth's loud and dim-witted mother, her foolish younger sisters, and her beautiful older sister Jane are very excited because a wealthy gentleman, Mr. Bingley, is moving to their neighborhood. The young women are concerned about finding husbands because if Elizabeth's father, a humorous and ironical man, were to die, the estate would be left to their pompous cousin Mr. Collins. Mr. Bingley soon becomes attached to Jane while Elizabeth grows to dislike his close friend Mr. Darcy, whom the village finds elitist and ill-tempered. Under the influence of his sisters and Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bingley eventually moves away to London. Mr. Collins, an irritating clergyman, then proposes to his cousin Elizabeth, who refuses him. He marries her friend Charlotte instead, and Elizabeth visits the couple at their estate, where she and Mr. Darcy meet again at the house of his aunt, also Mr. Collin's patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Mr. Darcy proposes to Elizabeth but she refuses him, partly based on her belief that he dissuaded Mr. Bingley from pursuing a relationship with Jane. In a letter to Elizabeth, Mr. Darcy explains his actions regarding Jane and Mr. Bingley, as well as the way in which he has treated his estranged childhood companion, Mr. Wickham. The next time Elizabeth sees Mr. Darcy, at his estate, she is better disposed toward him, but they are interrupted by a scandal involving Elizabeth's sister Lydia, who has eloped with Mr. Wickham. Mr. Bennet and his brother-in-law Mr. Gardiner attempt to resolve the situation, but it is actually Mr. Darcy who resolves the situation by paying Mr. Wickham and convincing him to marry Lydia. Mr. Bingley then returns to his estate in the Bennets' neighborhood and soon becomes engaged to Jane. Afterward, despite Lady Catherine's attempt to prevent the engagement, Elizabeth marries Mr. Darcy.

Major Themes

Austen's novel is principally concerned with the social fabric of late eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century England, a patriarchal society in which men held the economic and social power. In an often satirical portrait of the men and women attempting to gain a livelihood, Austen subtly and ironically points out faults in the system, raising questions about the values of English society and the power structure of the country. Pride and Prejudice contains many elements of social realism, and it focuses on the merging of the bourgeoisie and the aristocracy during the era of the Napoleonic wars and at the beginning of the industrial revolution. The novel is also engaged in an ideological debate that drives its plot and defines the essence of its main character. Interested in the balance between pragmatism, or the necessity of securing a marriage, and idealism, particularly Elizabeth's romanticism and individualism, Austen dramatizes her heroine's struggle to find a place within the conservative social institution of marriage. The precise nature of this balance is not necessarily clear, and despite what seems to be a happy marriage, it may not be entirely possible to reconcile Elizabeth's independence and naturalness with Mr. Darcy's conservatism and conventionality. Nevertheless, the novel seems to work toward an ideological balance and an alteration in the fundamental aspects of these characters that will lead to a reconciliation of the themes that they represent.

Critical Reception

Probably Austen's most widely read novel, Pride and Prejudice, which has been continuously in print since its publication in 1813, has been the subject of volumes of diverse critical reactions. Evaluations of this work have included condemnatory dismissals such as that of Mark Twain, measured praises of Austen's sophistication and wit, and plaudits for the novel as the author's masterpiece. Many early critics focused on the social realism of the novel, commenting on the depth, or lack of depth, of Austen's characters. Criticism of the novel from the nineteenth century through the early twentieth century also tended to regard Austen as a moralist, discussing the value system that Pride and Prejudice establishes. Critics from the 1920s through the 1950s focused on Austen's characteristic themes and stylistic devices, as well as discussing her choice of subject matter and the moral and ideological journey that Elizabeth undertakes throughout the course of the novel. During the 1960s and 1970s, commentators offered contextual criticism that evaluated Pride and Prejudice within the literary and social world in which Austen wrote. It was also during this period that new directions in criticism of the novel began to be explored. Since the late 1960s, for example, critics have approached Austen's novel from a variety of linguistic standpoints, such as Mikhail Bakhtin's theory of dialogism, as well as analyzing the work in terms of postmodern theory and applying new developments in psychology to the text. There has also been increased attention given to the political subtext of the novel, suggesting new ways of interpreting its relationship to the historical context of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. In the later decades of the twentieth century and into the early years of the twenty-first century, the most prominent trends in criticism of Pride and Prejudice have derived from the perspectives of literary feminism, including analysis of the novel's view of female oppression, its portrayal of the patriarchal society of the time, and its treatment of the possibility, fantasy, and reality of female power. Feminist critics such as Judith Lowder Newton have envisioned the novel as a triumphant fantasy of female autonomy, while Jean Ferguson Carr warns that Austen's exclusion of Mrs. Bennet from the social world reveals a persistent subjugation of women throughout the novel. In addition to strictly feminist readings of Pride and Prejudice, many essays not associated with this school of social and literary thought either incorporate or challenge various feminist claims in relation to Austen's work.

--------------------------------------

Story:

Pride and Prejudice

Jane Austen

When Mr. Bingley, a rich young bachelor, rents Netherfield Park, one of the neighboring estates, excitement stirs in the Bennet family, which includes five mrriageable daughters. The flighty Mrs. Bennet immediately begins plotting which daughter to marry off to the unsuspecting Bingley, but her long-suffering husband suggests that Mr. Bingley might want some choice in the matter . Before long Mr. Bennet is persuaded by his wife to pay a formal call at Netherfield Park.

The Bennet daughters meet Mr. Bingley at the Meryton Ball. Also in attendance is Mr. Bingley's aristocratic friend Fitzwilliam Darcy, who turns up his nose at the vulgarity of Mrs. Bennet and snubs her daughters . Elizabeth Bennet, the liveliest and most intelligent of the Bennet girls, overhears the newcomer making condescending remarks about the local provin-cial society. When he refuses to be introduced to her, Elizabeth Bennet becomes instantly prejudiced against him, despite his good looks and great wealth.

More successful at the ball are the amiable Mr. Bingley and Elizabeth's lovely, good-natured older sister, Jane, to whom Elizabeth is closely attached . Soon after, Bingley and his sisters become friends with Jane Bennet, and the romance between Bingley and Jane seems to flourish. Eventually Darcy unbends a bit toward Elizabeth, and the two engage in ironic banter.

One day while visiting the Bingleys in the rain, Jane comes down with a bad cold and is compelled to stay at Netherfield Park. Elizabeth walks three miles through the mud to visit and nurse her sister. Her disheveled appearance when she arrives is meat for Caroline's gossip, but Mrs. Bennet sees the episode as a great opportunity to cement relations between Jane and Bingley. While Elizabeth is nursing her sister, Darcy pays her more attention, and Caroline's jealousy rages.

Bingley's sister Caroline is interested in Darcy herself. She tries unsuccessfully to poison his mind against Elizabeth. A more serious obstacle to the romance is Darcy's distaste for Elizabeth's vulgar, scheming mother and for the younger Bennet girls: flighty, officer-crazy Lydia and Kitty, and dull, plain Mary.

Meanwhile the Reverend William Collins, a cousin of the Bennets, who is in line to inherit Mr. Bennet's estate, comes to visit. The supremely conceited Mr. Collins talks constantly about his patroness, the rich and arrogant Lady Catherine de Bourgh, an aunt of Darcy's. Since she has urged him to marry (and her word is his command), he proposes to Elizabeth in a ludicrously pompous manner. She rejects him immediately, displeasing her mother but immensely satisfying her father who is fonder of her than of his other daughters .

Unabashed by his rejection, Mr. Collins proposes again, but finally concedes defeat. Immediately after, he becomes engaged to a friend of Elizabeth's, the placid, unimaginative Charlotte Lucas.

One of Darcy's acquaintances is a dashing young officer, George Wickham, who poisons Elizabeth's mind against Darcy by telling her that Darcy is a wicked, cold-hearted man who has refused to carry out the wishes of his father's will, cheating Wickham out of a legacy. Fearing to meet Darcy face to face, Wickham stays away from a ball which he knows Darcy willl attend. Misinterpreting Wickham's motives, Elizabeth becomes increasingly suspicious of Darcy.

Shortly after the ball, Bingley and his sisters suddenly leave Netherfield for London. Elizabeth is convinced that Bingley's sisters are trying to keep him from marrying Jane whom they consider beneath him . Jane accepts the break with outward composure, but soon visits her aunt, Mrs. Gardiner, in London, hoping to see Bingley there by chance. When Elizabeth joins Jane in London, she learns that Bingley has never called on Jane. Elizabeth believes that Darcy has deliberately kept Jane's presence in the city from Bingley.

In March, Elizabeth visits her friend Charlotte Lucas, now married to Mr. Collins, in Kent. She realizes with a sudden wave of sympathy that Charlotte, a rather homely girl of advancing years, married Mr. Collins out of necessity, fearing a lonely and poverty-stricken life as an old maid.

While in Kent, Elizabeth again meets Darcy who is visiting his aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Again, Darcy is attracted to Elizabeth. He proposes to her in so haughty a manner that she rejects him and upbraids him for what she considers his mistreatment of her sister and of the unfortunate Wickham. Darcy listens to her accusations in silence. The next day he writes her a letter admitting that he has tried to keep Bingley from Jane because he considers the Bennet family beneath his friend's attentions. He strongly denies having wronged Wickham, however, and demolishes the officer's claim that he has been cheated out of an inheritance. Furthermore, he informs Elizabeth, Wickham had been carrying on an intrigue with Darcy's sister Georgiana.

Despite its condescension toward the Bennet family, the letter begins to allay Elizabeth's prejudice against Darcy. Under no illusions about her mother and younger sisters, Elizabeth begins to see Darcy's inherently honest character. Her new impression of him is strengthened by the evidence of an old Darcy family retainer who has nothing but good to say of Darcy . Elizabeth again meets Darcy while she is traveling with her intelligent and fashionable uncle and aunt.

Earlier Lydia has insisted, over Elizabeth's objections, on going to Brighton, where Wickham's regiment is now stationed. Before long, Elizabeth is shocked by a letter from Jane informing her that Lydia has run off with Wickham. Elizabeth tells Darcy what has happened and returns home, full of anxiety for her irresponsible younger sister .

To add to Elizabeth's woes, she now feels that Darcy, whom she has begun to love, will have nothing to do with her, for Lydia's behavior confirms all he has ever said about the commoness of the Bennet family. To Elizabeth's surprise , however, Darcy, who is now deeply in love with her, has gone off secretly to London, where he finds Lydia and Wickham, pays Wickham's many debts, and give him ￡1,000 with which to marry Lydia.

Mr. Bennet had also gone in search of the couple but has returned from London without success. When Lydia returns home, she tells Elizabeth that Darcy had attended her wedding. Elizabeth's suspicions of Darcy's part in the affair are confirmed by a letter from her aunt, Mrs. Gardiner, whom Darcy had sworn to secrecy.

After Lydia and Wickham leave, Mr. Bingley retuns to Netherfield Park, accompanied by Darcy. Bingley soon becomes engaged to Jane, much to the Bennets satisfaction .

The arrogant Lady Catherine de Bourgh descends on Longbourn, furious because of a rumor that Elizabeth and Darcy have become engaged. (Lady Catherine wished Darcy to marry her own daughter, a pathetically listless and unattractive girl.) Haughtily she demands that Elizabeth give up Darcy . Elizabeth, however, is more than adequate to the challenge. Without losing her temper, she coolly tells Lady Catherine to mind her own business. When Lady Catherine tells Darcy that Elizabeth refuses to give him up, Darcy begins to hope that Elizabeth returns his love.

Thus encouraged, Darcy again proposes to Elizabeth, this time with proper humility, and is happily accepted. Mrs. Bennet, having married off three of he daughters, is filled with joy. Mr. Bennet philosophically awaits any further suitors who may come along.

傲 慢 與 偏 見

〔英〕 珍· 奧斯丁 Jane Austen

當年輕、富有的單身漢賓格萊先生租下附近一處莊園——尼日斐Netherfield花園時，有五個成年待嫁女兒的班納特一家頓時為之激動起來。輕浮的班納特太太立即開始籌畫該將哪個女兒許配給沒料想到將發生這種事的賓格萊，可是長期忍氣吞聲的丈夫卻提出，賓格萊先生對此事也許會挑三揀四。但不久，班納特先生終於被妻子說服，正式到尼日斐花園去拜訪。

在梅利頓舉行的舞會上，班納特家的女兒們結識了賓格萊先生。出席舞會的還有賓格萊的貴族朋友費茨威廉·達西，他對班納特太太的粗俗嗤之以鼻，還怠慢了她的女兒們。伊莉莎白在班納特家姑娘中是最活潑、最聰慧的一位，她無意中聽到這位新來者十分高傲地貶損當地庸俗的社交界。當他拒絕由別人介紹給她時，伊莉莎白對他頓生偏見，儘管他相貌英俊，家財萬貫。

在舞會上較成功的是和藹可親的賓格萊先生和伊莉莎白的秀美動人、性情溫和的姐姐潔英。伊莉莎白十分喜歡她。不久以後，賓格萊和他的姊妹跟潔英·班納特成了朋友，格萊與潔英之間的戀情似乎熱乎了。終於，達西對伊莉莎白稍許隨和了一些，兩人也相互嬉謔嘲弄起來。

一天，潔英冒雨走訪賓格萊兄妹，因而患重感冒病倒，只好留在尼日斐花園。伊莉莎白穿過泥濘的道路，步行三英里去看望並照料她姐姐。她到達時的狼狽相，為卡洛琳說長道短提供了話柄。而班納特太太則將這一插曲看成是鞏固潔英同賓格萊之間關係的大好機會。在伊莉莎白照料她姐姐期間，達西更是對她大獻殷勤，卡洛琳爭風吃醋，大發脾氣。

賓格萊的妹妹卡洛琳本身對達西頗感興趣。她竭力破壞他對伊莉莎白的好感，卻未能成功。阻擋他們相戀的一個更為嚴重的障礙是，達西討厭伊莉莎白那粗俗而喜歡算計的母親，還有班納特家好些年幼的姑娘們：輕浮而狂熱追求軍官的麗迪亞和吉蒂，以及平庸乏味的瑪麗。

在此同時，牧師威廉·柯林斯前來拜訪，他是班納特姐妹的一個表兄，按順序該輪到他繼承班納特先生的財產。十分自負的柯林斯先生多次談到其女庇護人富有而傲慢的凱薩琳·德·包爾夫人，她是達西的姨母。由於她催促他結婚（她的話對他來說即是命令），他便向伊莉莎白求婚，舉止浮誇，滑稽可笑。伊莉莎白當即加以拒絕，這使得她母親很不高興，卻讓喜歡她甚于其餘女兒的父親感到十分滿意。

遭拒絕後，柯林斯先生並不感到羞愧，再次求婚，但最終不得不自認失敗。緊接著他就和伊莉莎白的女友夏綠蒂·盧卡斯訂了婚，她性情溫和而頭腦缺乏想像力。

達西的一位熟人是個浮華的年輕軍官，名叫喬治·韋翰。他使伊莉莎白對達西產生惡感，說他是個邪惡、冷酷的人，拒不執行他父親的遺囑，騙取了留給韋翰的遺產。由於不敢面對達西，韋翰沒有參加一個舞會，因為他知道達西將會出席。伊莉莎白錯誤地理解了韋翰的動機，對達西的疑忌與日俱增。

舞會後不久，賓格萊及其姊妹們突然離開尼日斐花園前往倫敦。伊莉莎白確信，賓格萊的姊妹們因認為潔英配不上他，正竭力阻止他娶她。潔英表面上鎮靜地接受了這一關係的中斷，但不久便去倫敦探望她的姑母加德納夫人，希望在那裏能邂逅賓格萊。當伊莉莎白與潔英在倫敦會合時，她獲悉賓格萊從未看望過潔英。伊莉莎白相信，是達西故意不讓賓格萊知道潔英在倫敦。

三月份，伊莉莎白在肯特郡去看望此時已嫁給柯林斯先生的女友夏綠蒂·盧卡斯。她心中驀地湧起一股同情，意識到夏綠蒂只是因相貌平平，年齡日見增長，由於害怕成為老姑娘，過孤獨、貧寒的生活才不得已嫁給了柯林斯先生。

在肯特郡小住時，伊莉莎白再次與正在探望其姨母凱薩琳·德·包爾夫人的達西相逢。達西再次為伊莉莎白所吸引。他向她求婚，但因態度高傲，她拒絕了他，並譴責他不公正地對待她的姐姐和可憐的韋翰。達西默默無言地聽取了她的指責。第二日他卻寫給她一封信，承認他曾阻撓賓格萊與潔英接觸，因為他覺得班納特家配不上他的朋友，不值得他獻殷勤。但他堅決否認他曾對不起韋翰，並駁斥了那個軍官所謂的韋翰被騙去一份遺產的說法。而且，他還告訴伊莉莎白，韋翰過去一直同他妹妹喬治亞娜有私通關係。

儘管這封信對班納特家的態度很高傲，但它開始消除伊莉莎白對達西的偏見。伊莉莎白對母親和妹妹們不抱任何幻想，她開始看清達西固有的誠實品性。她對於他的這種新印象，由於達西家一個老家僕的證明而又得到加深，這老家僕對達西讚不絕口。在陪同她那明智而緊跟時尚的姑父、姑母旅行時，伊莉莎白與達西再次重逢。

早些時候，麗迪雅不顧伊莉莎白反對，執意前往布里奇頓，那裏駐紮著韋翰所在的部隊。不久，伊莉莎白接到潔英來信，告訴她麗迪雅已同韋翰私奔，她對此大為震驚。伊莉莎白將已經發生的事情告訴達西，然後返回家去，對不負責任的妹妹滿懷焦慮。

令伊莉莎白愁上加愁的是，她已開始愛上達西，但她覺得他將不會與她有任何往來，因為麗迪雅的行為證實了他曾說過的關於班納特家平庸俗氣的言論。但出乎伊莉莎白意料之外，此時深深愛上了她的達西已秘密前往倫敦，在那裏找到了麗迪雅和韋翰，還清了韋翰欠下的許多債務，還贈給他一千英鎊用於跟麗迪雅結婚。

班納特先生也出去尋找這對年輕人，但從倫敦徒勞而歸。麗迪雅回到家中，她告訴伊莉莎白說，達西出席了她的婚禮。伊莉莎白猜疑達西在這件事中起了作用，而她姑母加德納夫人的來信證實了她的猜疑，雖然對此事達西曾讓加德納夫人發誓保密。

麗迪雅與韋翰離開後，賓格萊先生便在達西的陪同下返回了尼日斐花園。不久，賓格萊和潔英訂了婚，使班納特夫婦滿心歡喜。

傲慢的凱薩琳·德·包爾夫人屈尊駕臨朗伯恩，因聽到傳聞伊莉莎白已與達西訂婚而大發雷霆。（凱薩琳夫人希望達西娶她自己的女兒，一個冷漠、討厭得可憐的姑娘。）凱薩琳夫人盛氣淩人，要求伊莉莎白放棄達西。然而，伊莉莎白對這一挑釁完全應付裕如。她未發脾氣，只是冷冷地告訴凱薩琳夫人不要管閒事。當凱薩琳夫人告訴達西說伊莉莎白拒絕放棄他時，達西開始希望伊莉莎白會報答他的愛情。

受到這樣的鼓舞，達西再次向伊莉莎白求了婚，這次態度謙卑、得體，被愉快地接受了。已經嫁出三個女兒後，班納特太太滿懷喜悅，班納特先生則十分明達地等待再有求婚者上門。source:http://www.enotes.com/nineteenth-century-criticism/pride-prejudice-jane-austen 

• The Scarlet Letter

• Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter is famous for presenting some of the greatest interpretive difficulties in all of American literature. While not recognized by Hawthorne himself as his most important work, the novel is regarded not only as his greatest accomplishment, but frequently as the greatest novel in American literary history. After it was published in 1850, critics hailed it as initiating a distinctive American literary tradition. Ironically, it is a novel in which, in terms of action, almost nothing happens. Hawthorne's emotional, psychological drama revolves around Hester Prynne, who is convicted of adultery in colonial Boston by the civil and Puritan authorities. She is condemned to wear the scarlet letter "A" on her chest as a permanent sign of her sin. The narrative describes the effort to resolve the torment suffered by Hester and her co-adulterer, the minister Arthur Dimmesdale, in the years after their affair. In fact, the story excludes even the representation of the passionate moment which enables the entire novel. It begins at the close of Hester's imprisonment many months after her affair and proceeds through many years to her final acceptance of her place in the community as the wearer of the scarlet letter. Hawthorne was masterful in the use of symbolism, and the scarlet letter "A" stands as his most potent symbol, around which interpretations of the novel revolve. At one interpretive pole the "A" stands for adultery and sin, and the novel is the story of individual punishment and reconciliation. At another pole it stands for America and allegory, and the story suggests national sin and its human cost. Yet possibly the most convincing reading, taking account of all others, sees the "A" as a symbol of ambiguity, the very fact of multiple interpretations and the difficulty of achieving consensus.

Story:

In the early 1600s, in Boston, a young woman named Hester Prynne was found to be guilty of adultery(通姦). Because of this crime, she had to wear a scarlet letter A on the breast of her gown(長上衣). She also had to stand on the stocks (木台)for three hours with her baby in her arms so all the people could see her shame.

Some people said she would have been condemned to death(被判死刑) if the kind Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale hadn't spoken in her behalf(替她).

As she stood on the platform, a strange-looking man came out of the nearby forest. Hester appeared upset, and the man put his finger to his lips as a sign of silence(示意不要出聲).

Hester was known in the community to be from a good family in Antwerp, Belgium. She had married a scholar and had been sent by him to the New World(新世界(指當今的美國). Her husband was to follow shortly, but his ship was lost at sea. She had lived quietly in Boston until the time of this disgrace(恥辱；丟臉). Now, standing on the stocks, the local dignitaries (高官顯貴)called on her to name the man who shared her guilt. Reverend Dimmesdale spoke to her the most about this(指她的共犯姓名). Nevertheless, she refused. She was taken back to prison.

In prison again, Hester became very disturbed. A call sent out for a doctor, and a man who called himself Roger Chillingworth came forth. He told the jailer he'd just arrived in town after living with Indians for a year. He was the man Hester had seen while she stood on the scaffold(刑台) , and she recognized him as her missing husband.

He too wanted Hester to name the child's father, but again she refused. He swore he'd find out for himself, and he asked her not to reveal (洩露) that he was her husband. She agreed.

Hester finally settled down (定居下來) with her daughter in a small cottage near the town. She named the girl Pearl, and she dressed her colorfully. She earned her living doing needlework, and always she wore the A on her breast. Pearl was a spry and lively (活潑) child, and some church members wanted to take her away from Hester, whom they saw as an unfit mother. When Hester went to the governor to ask him to help her keep Pearl, Reverend Dimmesdale spoke in her behalf. The governor agreed to let them stay together.

Meanwhile, Roger Chillingworth and Arthur Dimmesdale were living in the same boarding house, and they became very close. As Chillingworth got to know the Reverend better, he discovered that the Reverend suffered greatly from guilt (因罪惡(感)而使內心大受折磨). Most people thought the Reverend was only being righteous (正直的；正義的), but Chillingworth suspected that Dimmesdale himself might be Pearl's father.

One night Dimmesdale couldn't sleep, so he went for a walk. When he got to the stocks, he climbed up to find out what it felt like((站在刑臺上)的滋味如何). Just then Hester and Pearl walked by, and the Reverend called them to join him. When all three stood there, Dimmesdale cried out in shame that he was indeed Pearl's father. Chillingworth, in the shadows, watched the entire scene.

Hester recognized that Dimmesdale was very sick, and she believed that Chillingworth was driving him ever deeper into ill health (生病). When she encountered (碰到；遇到) her former husband in the forest, she begged him to leave the Reverend alone (不再打擾…). He refused, so she told him she'd tell Dimmesdale of her relationship with Chillingworth. When she did this, Dimmesdale made plans with her to leave the colony together, with Pearl, in secret. They would leave in four days and would return to Europe.

The day they were to sail, Hester learned that Chillingworth had also made plans to leave and would, in fact, be on the same ship. Hester was filled with despair(失望).

After the Reverend gave what would be his final sermon(宣道), he weakly left the church with others of his congregation(會眾；教會). They proceeded down the street until they approached Hester and Pearl, who were standing near the stocks. Dimmesdale then took them by the hands and climbed upon the scaffold. There he confessed all in front of the entire town, and he tore off his minister's band(寬領帶)*. He sank to the platform, dying. Some said they noticed a scarlet A on his exposed breast(露出的胸口).

Chillingworth also died shortly afterward, and he left much money to Pearl. Hester left the colony for a while, but years later she returned. She moved back into her cottage and continued to wear the scarlet letter. Now, however, the letter was a symbol of her goodness rather than her shame. In old age, she asked that the only mark on her tombstone (墓碑) be the letter A.

* p.s.: Thanks to magpieuk who had pointed the problem in the translation of a "minister's band". With the picture below, we get to know clearly a "minister's band" actually is not a tie but a detachable collar.

magpieuk: Just to remind helen's readers that a 'minister's band' (mentioned and translated into Chinese in Helen's introduction to the Scarlet Letter) is a type of detachable collar worn by a christian minister/priest.