# Phoebe Pyncheon — The House of the Seven Gables character guide > Phoebe Pyncheon in The House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Phoebe, Little Phoebe, Cousin Phoebe, Phoebe Pyncheon, Miss Phoebe **First appearance:** 0003-ii-the-little-shopwindow ## Snapshot A sunny country cousin whose practical warmth and instinct for order begin to thaw the frozen gloom of the Pyncheon house. ## Who they are Phoebe arrives at the House of the Seven Gables as a poor relation, expecting a brief visit and finding instead a household of shadows, a proud aunt, and a hidden invalid. Her cheerful industry—baking, tending the garden, lighting the parlor—draws Hepzibah and Clifford back toward ordinary human life, and her unforced goodness becomes a quiet counterforce to the family's inherited misery. She also catches the attention of the young daguerreotypist Holgrave, whose radical ideas and secret history will test her loyalty to the old house and its people. ## Relationships ### [Holgrave](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/characters/holgrave) _romantic_ Holgrave and Phoebe develop a romantic relationship, with his mysterious past and her sunny nature creating a deep bond. ### [Hepzibah Pyncheon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/characters/hepzibah_pyncheon) _family_ Hepzibah is Phoebe's elderly cousin, and Phoebe brings warmth and practical help to Hepzibah's lonely life. ### [Clifford Pyncheon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/characters/clifford_pyncheon) _family_ Clifford is Phoebe's elderly cousin, and her gentle, cheerful presence soothes his traumatized mind. ### [Judge Jaffrey Pyncheon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/characters/judge_jaffrey_pyncheon) _family_ Judge Jaffrey is Phoebe's wealthy, manipulative uncle who tries to use her to gain control over Clifford and the family secrets. ### [Uncle Venner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/characters/uncle_venner) _friendship_ Phoebe shares a warm, friendly bond with Uncle Venner, who appreciates her kindness and domestic cheer. ### [Colonel Pyncheon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/characters/colonel_pyncheon) _family_ Colonel Pyncheon is Phoebe's ancestor, and his ruthless ambition and curse continue to affect her family's present. ### [Holgrave](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/characters/holgrave) _romantic_ Holgrave and Phoebe develop a romantic relationship, with his mysterious past and her sunny nature creating a deep bond. ### [Hepzibah Pyncheon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/characters/hepzibah_pyncheon) _family_ Hepzibah is Phoebe's elderly cousin, and Phoebe brings warmth and practical help to Hepzibah's lonely life. ### [Hepzibah Pyncheon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/characters/hepzibah_pyncheon) _family_ Hepzibah is Phoebe's elderly cousin, and Phoebe brings warmth and practical help to Hepzibah's lonely life. ### [Holgrave](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/characters/holgrave) _romantic_ Holgrave and Phoebe develop a romantic relationship, with his mysterious past and her sunny nature creating a deep bond. ### [Clifford Pyncheon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/characters/clifford_pyncheon) _family_ Clifford is Phoebe's elderly cousin, and her gentle, cheerful presence soothes his traumatized mind. ### [Judge Jaffrey Pyncheon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/characters/judge_jaffrey_pyncheon) _family_ Judge Jaffrey is Phoebe's wealthy, manipulative uncle who tries to use her to gain control over Clifford and the family secrets. ## In the story ### [May and November](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/chapters/v-may-and-november) Awakens in the old house, tidies her chamber, gathers roses from the garden, and takes over the cent-shop, attracting many customers with her cheerful and efficient manner. ### [Maule's Well](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/chapters/vi-maule-s-well) Engages with Holgrave in the garden, tends flowers, and later senses an unseen presence in the parlor. ### [The Guest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/chapters/vii-the-guest) Bright and sympathetic, she offers Clifford a rose and tries to understand the family's emotional turmoil, bringing sunshine into the gloomy parlor. ### [VIII: The Pyncheon of Today](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/chapters/viii-the-pyncheon-of-today) Phoebe is startled by a noise in Judge Pyncheon's throat, recalling the Maule curse, and later serves Ned Higgins in the shop, learning of the town's interest in Clifford's return. ### [IX: Clifford and Phoebe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/chapters/ix-clifford-and-phoebe) Her cheerful, singing nature and gentle companionship bring comfort to Clifford; she becomes his primary caregiver and source of light in the house. ### [The Pyncheon Garden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/chapters/x-the-pyncheon-garden) Phoebe reads to Clifford, tends the garden, and organizes Sunday gatherings, bringing cheer and vitality to the household. ### [XI: The Arched Window](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/chapters/xi-the-arched-window) Leaves for church, waving to Clifford and Hepzibah. Later, she is with them at the window and bursts into tears when Clifford nearly jumps. ### [XII: The Daguerreotypist](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/chapters/xii-the-daguerreotypist) Grows less girlish and more womanly; seeks outside activities to avoid the house's decay; interacts frequently with Holgrave. ### [XIV: Phoebe’s Goodbye](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/chapters/xiv-phoebe-s-goodbye) Falls into a trance during Holgrave's tale, then expresses concern for Hepzibah and Clifford, and prepares to leave for the country. ### [XV: The Scowl and Smile](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/chapters/xv-the-scowl-and-smile) Absent from the house, her departure contributes to the gloom. ### [XVI: Clifford's Chamber](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/chapters/xvi-clifford-s-chamber) Thought of by Hepzibah as someone who would lighten the scene with her vivacity, though she is absent. ### [Governor Pyncheon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/chapters/xviii-governor-pyncheon) Mentioned as a potential heir to the Pyncheon property. ### [XIX: Alice’s Posies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/chapters/xix-alice-s-posies) Returns to the house, finds the garden overgrown and the doors locked, and is admitted by Hepzibah through the garden door. ### [XX: The Flower of Eden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/chapters/xx-the-flower-of-eden) Returns to the house and learns of Judge Pyncheon's death and the flight of Hepzibah and Clifford. She shows strength and composure, and ultimately accepts Holgrave's love. ### [The Departure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/chapters/xxi-the-departure) Inherits wealth; surprised by Holgrave's changed, conservative views; part of the departure. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/characters/phoebe_pyncheon - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_seven_gables_se/characters