Nathaniel Hawthorne may be best known for his first novel, "The Scarlett Letter", which is also considered to be the author’s masterpiece. Hawthorne’s second novel, in contrast, has often raised heated debates among critics. Unlike its literary forerunner, "The House of the Seven Gables" provides the reader with a rather cheerful ending. Soon after its first publication, most readers responded positively to the novel’s closure, since they were “already accustomed to the conventions of the domestic novel” (Gallagher 1989: 10). Sophia Hawthorne clearly favoured her husband’s second novel and praised the tale’s ending for its deep-seated “home-loveliness”. Some years later, however, the reviews became less enthusiastic. Many critics began to complain about its rather optimistic and conservative closure. It was often argued that the novel’s cheerful ending “[…] fails to offer a resolution to the social problems” (Goddu 1991:119), which the author so anxiously denounces beforehand. Some modern reviews also accuse Hawthorne of re-establishing hereditary rights in his novel’s ending – and thereby affirming the power of the wealthy.
The following paper will examine the social and domestic values offered in the "The House of the Seven Gables", in order to re-evaluate Hawthorne’s narrative in the context of its time. Since the novel’s historical dimension cannot be ignored, this work will also review the importance of the house in antebellum America with regard to its public and private function.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Necessity of Domestic Comfort and Privacy
2.1. Architectural Requirements
2.2. Emotional Requirements
3. The Necessity of Social Stability
4. The Necessity of Human Interaction
4.1. Family Bliss versus Isolation
4.2. Democratic Exchange versus Aristocratic Seclusion
5. Conclusion
Literature
Objectives and Research Focus
This paper examines the social and domestic values presented in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The House of the Seven Gables. It explores how the novel engages with the 19th-century "cult of domesticity" and addresses the significance of the home as a site for public and private functions in antebellum America, ultimately questioning whether the narrative offers a truly optimistic resolution to social and familial conflicts.
- The relationship between architectural design and domestic comfort.
- The role of the "true woman" and the emotional necessity of a cheerful home.
- The transition from isolation to social stability and human interaction.
- The conflict between aristocratic heritage and democratic models of exchange.
Excerpt from the Book
2.2. Emotional Requirements
Right from the start, the narrator personifies the mansion by referring to its “human countenance” (5). He even compares the house to the “human heart [itself], with a life of its own, and full of rich and somber reminiscences.” (22). This is all the more interesting, as the house and its current inhabitant, Miss Hepzibah Pyncheon, have many things in common. The “black and heavy-browed visage” (60) of the “weather-beaten edifice” (5) reminds the reader of old Hepzibah’s fierce and stern scowl. Both the house and Hepzibah scare off a number of people – at least at first sight. Certainly, the old lady’s plan to open up a little cent-shop at such a melancholy place appears to be a risky venture. Neither the dusky mansion, nor the old lady, who usually wears “a gown of rusty black silk” (37), seem to be able to attract any customers: “The house might just as well be buried in an eternal fog, while all other houses had the sunshine on them; for not a foot would ever cross the threshold, nor a hand so much as try the door!” (37)
In addition to some external similarities, the old maiden and the once so venerable mansion do indeed also share some inner deficiencies. Much of the house’s furniture appears to be old-fashioned, uncomfortable, and inhospitable. The “large chimney-piece” (25), which was once built to create a warm and cozy atmosphere, “was now closed by an iron fireboard, through which ran the funnel of a modern stove” (ibid.). The narrator also notes that one of the apartments in the house “resembled nothing so much as the old maid’s heart; for there was neither sunshine nor household-fire in one or the other, and, save for ghosts, and ghostly reminiscences, not a guest, for many years gone-by, had entered the heart of the chamber” (53). Here, the narrator explicitly draws a connection between the old mansion and Miss Hepzibah’s “desolate old heart” (70).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter outlines the critical reception of the novel and establishes the paper's goal of re-evaluating the narrative within its historical and social context.
2. The Necessity of Domestic Comfort and Privacy: This section analyzes how the house functions as a physical and symbolic space, contrasting the idealized "good house" with the decaying reality of the Pyncheon mansion.
2.1. Architectural Requirements: This sub-chapter examines the structural design of the mansion, connecting it to the Gothic Revival movement and Andrew Jackson Downing’s theories on architecture.
2.2. Emotional Requirements: This sub-chapter explores the personification of the house and its connection to Hepzibah’s internal emotional state and her failure to create a welcoming, domestic atmosphere.
3. The Necessity of Social Stability: This chapter discusses the fireplace as a central symbol of family hearth, love, and the essential need for social stability in the Pyncheon household.
4. The Necessity of Human Interaction: This chapter focuses on the danger of isolation and the importance of community, viewing the family unit as an anchor against the hardships of life.
4.1. Family Bliss versus Isolation: This sub-chapter explores how the characters move away from their solitary existences toward a collective, supportive "patchwork family."
4.2. Democratic Exchange versus Aristocratic Seclusion: This sub-chapter analyzes the tension between traditional aristocratic pride and the emerging democratic model of social interaction.
5. Conclusion: The final chapter synthesizes the findings, concluding that Hawthorne advocates for an alliance between the past and the present through the mediating power of love and human connection.
Keywords
The House of the Seven Gables, Nathaniel Hawthorne, domesticity, antebellum America, social stability, privacy, architecture, family, human interaction, class consciousness, Gothic Revival, Andrew Jackson Downing, Hepzibah Pyncheon, Phoebe Pyncheon, democratic exchange.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this academic paper?
The paper focuses on the social and domestic values portrayed in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel, specifically examining how the domestic space influences the characters and their relationships.
What are the primary themes discussed?
Key themes include the importance of domestic comfort and privacy, the necessity of social stability, the role of human interaction, and the ideological conflict between aristocratic seclusion and democratic exchange.
What is the author's primary research goal?
The goal is to re-evaluate Hawthorne's narrative within the context of his time, specifically looking at how the novel reflects the antebellum American perception of the home and social structure.
Which scientific or theoretical methods are applied?
The analysis incorporates literary criticism and historical context, frequently citing contemporary sources like Andrew Jackson Downing’s architectural theories and Catharine E. Beecher’s writings on domestic economy.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body breaks down the symbolic and structural importance of the seven-gabled house, the characterization of the Pyncheons, and the eventual movement toward a "patchwork family" that bridges class divisions.
Which keywords best describe the essence of the work?
The essential keywords include domesticity, social stability, family, isolation, human interaction, class consciousness, and the architectural symbolism of the Pyncheon house.
How does the house itself function as a character?
The narrator personifies the mansion, drawing direct parallels between its decaying, "weather-beaten" state and the stagnant, melancholy emotional lives of the Pyncheon family members who inhabit it.
Why does the author contrast Hepzibah and Phoebe?
Hepzibah serves as a "mock-heroine" representing static, isolated aristocratic pride, whereas Phoebe embodies the "true woman" ideal, capable of bringing warmth, efficiency, and social connectivity to the household.
What is the significance of the "democratic model of exchange"?
It represents an ideal championed by Holgrave, prioritizing the free circulation of goods and social interaction over the insular, restrictive, and often doomed "family pride" that keeps the Pyncheons in isolation.
Does the novel offer a clear resolution to the conflicts presented?
The conclusion suggests that the resolution is complex; while the characters find a new "surrogate" family life, Hawthorne leaves the future of this family somewhat suspended, inviting the reader to continue reflecting on moral and social standards.
- Quote paper
- Sonja Tauber (Author), 2008, Home, Sweet Home: Hawthorne's Reflections on Social and Domestic Values in "The House of the Seven Gables", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/280418
