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The House Of Seven Gables Analysis

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The House of Seven Gables was written by Nathaniel Hawthorne. This novel was published in March of 1851. “Much of Hawthorne’s work belongs in the sub-genre of Dark Romanticism; which is distinguished by an emphasis on human fallibility that gives rise to lapses in judgement that allow even good men and women to drift toward sin…” (Nathaniel Hawthorne, n.d.). Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote The House of Seven Gables to show “that the wrongdoing of one generation lives into the successive ones, and, divesting itself of every temporary advantage, becomes a pure and uncontrollable mischief” (Lenox, 1851, p. xviii). The House of Seven Gables shows how the powerful are greedy, and as a result, it may negatively affect future generations of their family. …show more content…

The actual story starts with our main protagonist, Hepzibah Pyncheon, and later introduces her brother Clifford, her cousin Phoebe, and the house lodger Holgrave. Our antagonist, Judge Jaffrey Pyncheon, resembles the ancestor that caused the Pyncheon family to be cursed. Though he has a great amount of wealth, Judge Pyncheon is a very greedy man, moreover wanting everything for himself. The House of Seven Gables explains to the reader that Judge Pyncheon had accused Clifford of murdering a member of their family, and thus Clifford was thrown in jail. Judge Pyncheon is back, and he wants the family’s inheritance. Believing Clifford knows the location of the inheritance, Judge Pyncheon threatens to throw Clifford in an insane asylum, stating “I have told you my determination. I am not apt to change. Clifford must give up his secret or take the consequences” (Hawthorne, 1851, p. 244). Foreshadowing is strong in this novel, as the Puritan ancestor died suddenly, seemingly from a curse. In the climax of the story, Judge Pyncheon, who looks exactly like his Puritan counterpart, suddenly drops dead! The protagonists flee the scene, fearing they will be accused of murder. Fortunately, Clifford is believed to be innocent, not only for the death of the judge, but also of the crime he was placed in jail for. News spread of Judge Pyncheon’s death, and soon it is also heard that his estranged son has died, which leaves Clifford all of the Pyncheon inheritance. The protagonists move into Judge Pyncheon’s country estate, consequently leaving the house of seven gables

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