Seven Gables Themes

Many stories usually contain a theme/question that is addressed as the book goes on. The House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne is no exception to this. Although there are many “micro themes” in the story, the focus in given to the main question of whether or not the past determines the present. Some may say that this is not the case, and that people actually have the ability to choose their own paths. However, the House of the Seven Gables uses the occurrences of the Pyncheon family to disprove their claim. The past does determine the present because one ancestor passes on fates, appearance/personality, and abilities/talents to future generations.

In the history of the Pyncheon family, there appeared to be a pattern in the way that

Once again, the Colonel sets the stage. He was “...bold, imperious, relentless, and crafty.” (page 85). The Judge shared some traits very similar to the ones aforementioned. He was, as Mr. Holgrave described, “...sly, subtle, hard, imperious, and, withal, cold as ice!) (page 63). The Judge exhibited the Colonel’s personality when he pursued Clifford for the location of Jaffrey I’s documents regarding his estate, with as much vindication as the Colonel had accused Matthew Maule I of witchcraft and stole his land. Also, it was stated on more than one occasion that the Judge physically resembled the Colonel. For example, when Mr. Holgrave showed Phoebe Pyncheon a daguerreotype of the Judge, she believed without a doubt that it was the Colonel.Upon seeing the miniature, Phoebe said, “It is my Puritan ancestor, who hangs yonder in the parlor.” (page 63). Additionally, Hepzibah recalled the similarity between the appearances of the two men at hand. She said, “This is the very man!” (page 40) as she was looking at the Colonel’s portrait after seeing the Judge in the street. Based off of the peculiar resemblance of the Judge and the Colonel, it can be said that both physical characteristics and personality aspects are passed down from generation to