An Analysis of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Excerpt from The House of Seven Gables

1. An Analysis of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Excerpt from The House of Seven Gables “All men should striveto learn before they diewhat they are running from, and to, and why.”~James Thurber

2. “What” Statement • The narrator reveals the character of Judge Pyncheon by contrasting his outward extravagance and internal ironies to suggest that the Judge cannot fully be the person he wants to be.

3. “How” Devices • Tone and Tonal Shifts • Syntax • Diction • Selection on Detail • Point of View • Repetition

4. Tone and tonal shifts reveal the narrator’s judgments of Judge Pyncheon. • Sarcastic lines like, “what room could possibly be found for darker traits, in a portrait made up of lineaments like these!” (lines 34-36). • Contrasted with…. • More declarative statements like, “A hard, cold man, thus unfortunately situated, seldom or never looking inward,” (lines 54-56).

5. Syntax and changes in syntax have the reader consider which style gives believable descriptions of the judge. • Mega-sentence (lines 6-36) with structures like • “The purity of his judicial character, while on the bench; the faithfulness of his public service in subsequent capacities; his devotedness to his party…” (lines 6-9) • Juxtaposed next to sentences like, “Sickness will not always help him to it; not always the death hour!” (lines 61-62).

6. Diction is used to create suspicions within the reader. Questionable Descriptions: “splendid rubbish” “studied propriety” “the cleanliness of his moral deportment” “His confining himself, since his last attack of the gout, to five diurnal glasses of old Sherry wine,” lines 23-25. Relationship with his son Unimpeachable Descriptions: “A hard, cold man” “can scarcely arrive at true self-knowledge” “resolutely taking his idea of himself from what purports to be his self-image” *Note where lines come from in passage.

7. Selection of detail reveals to the reader the irony of the judge’s public persona and self perception. • In the mega-sentence (6-36), no detail of the judge’s life is spared. • Specific details such as “his benefits of horticulture, by producing two much-esteemed varieties of the pear”(15) • After the mega-sentence, a lack of details shows a lack of self awareness. • Only one detail is given that might show self-knowledge: “taking his idea of himself from what purports to be his image, as reflected in the mirror of public opinion…”(56).

8. The point of view used in the passage represents the judge’s inability to self-reflect. • This passage is written from a third person point of view (“his early and reckless youth”). • The only thought seen of the judge is from the narrator’s perception of the judge’s thoughts.

9. Repetitious phrases used by the narrator suggest that the judge is bothered by something from his past, but refuses to acknowledge it. • Lines 34-36: “What room could possibly be found for darker traits, in a portrait made up of lineaments like these!” • Lines 44-47: “the inevitable force of circumstances should occasionally make him do one questionable deed, among a thousand praiseworthy, or, at least, blameless ones” • Lines 47-50: “would you characterize that Judge by that one necessary deed, and that half-forgotten act, and let it overshadow the fair aspect of a lifetime!” • All the good things he’s done and doing don’t count?

10. Connection • In another novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne (The Scarlet Letter), the character of Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale finds himself in a similar situation to Judge Pyncheon. Both are in a position of power in their respective communities, yet both have done something wrong. • The difference between the two characters is the way they handle themselves after the fact. Dimmesdale feels guilty and punishes himself for his wrongdoings, but Judge Pyncheon ignores his past actions. • What can the reader conclude about each character? • Good guy vs. “good guy”

11. The End