Hester Prynne 赫斯特·普林
I am a beautiful and independent woman, but my life is miserable and unlucky. I am married woman, but I had an affair with another man and had a baby. Now the townspeople want me to tell them who the father of my child is! However, I will never tell. I will never betray another person.
我是位美丽而独立的女性,但我的生活充满了痛苦和不幸。我结了婚,可跟另一个男人有染,并生了孩子。现在镇里的人都要我告诉他们谁是这孩子的父亲!但我不会说。我永远不会背叛那个人。
Reverend Dimmesdale 丁梅斯代尔牧师
Oh, my life is wretched! I tell people to behave properly, and to live according to God's will. They respect me despite my youth. Yet, I am not worthy of their respect. I have a terrible secret that is burned upon the skin above my heart. Oh, how can I wash away my guilt and be free once more?
唉,我悲惨的生活!我告诫人们要正当行事,要遵从上帝的意愿生活。尽管我年轻,人们都敬重我。然而,我不值得他们尊敬。我的心口上,灼烧着一个可怖的秘密。唉,我怎样才能洗清我的罪恶,重获自由呢?
Pearl 珠儿
While other children have a father, I don't! However, this does not bother me too much. I am free to play and do what I want most of the time. The adults think that I have no manners, but they are all too serious and boring for me!
其他的孩子都有父亲,我没有!我可不为这烦心。大多时候,我可以随意玩,做我爱做的事。大人们觉得我没教养,可在我看,他们太正经、太无聊啦。
Roger Chillingworth 罗杰·奇林沃思
When I was away, my wife had a baby with another man. But I did not blame her. She always told me that she did not love me. However, I do blame the father of the baby. I will find out who he is and punish him for his cowardly silence.
我不在的时候,我的妻子和另外一个男人有了孩子。我并不责怪她。她一向对我讲,她并不爱我。但是,我要责罚那个孩子的父亲。我要找出他是谁,惩治这个一声不吭的懦夫。
Pastor John Wilson & Governor Bellingham 约翰·威尔逊牧师与贝林厄姆总督
It is our duty to make sure our Puritan society lives according to the will of God. Hester Prynne must reveal to us who the father of her child is. Only then will she be forgiven by God.
我们的职责是保证我们的清教徒子民按照上帝的意愿行事。赫斯特·普林必须告诉我们她孩子的父亲是谁。只有这样她才能被上帝宽恕。