The House of the Seven Gables · Question
How does The House of the Seven Gables develop the theme of The Past vs. the Present?
Answer
The House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne develops The Past vs. the Present across the chapters the companion marks for this theme.
Hawthorne contrasts the oppressive weight of history and tradition, symbolized by the house and its ancestral portrait, with the fresh, forward-looking spirit of characters like Phoebe and Holgrave, who represent renewal and change.
The chapter contrasts the ancient history of the house and family with the present day, emphasizing how past events shape current realities.
The old house and its traditions are juxtaposed with Phoebe's fresh, modern energy; the miniature of Clifford represents the haunting presence of the past.
The modern daguerreotype mirrors the old portrait, blurring the line between past and present Pyncheon traits.
Evidence in the book
- The Old Pyncheon Family
The chapter contrasts the ancient history of the house and family with the present day, emphasizing how past events shape current realities.
- May and November
The old house and its traditions are juxtaposed with Phoebe's fresh, modern energy; the miniature of Clifford represents the haunting presence of the past.
- Maule's Well
The modern daguerreotype mirrors the old portrait, blurring the line between past and present Pyncheon traits.
- The Guest
Clifford's fragmented memory and his attempt to reconcile his former self with his current decay highlight the tension between past glory and present ruin.
- IX: Clifford and Phoebe
Clifford's faded intellect and Hepzibah's outdated efforts contrast with Phoebe's fresh, living vitality, highlighting the tension between decay and renewal.
- The Pyncheon Garden
Clifford's revival in the garden contrasts with his past torpor and the family's dark history, while his visions in Maule's well evoke ancestral ghosts.
- XI: The Arched Window
Clifford is a conservative who loves antique fashions and struggles to comprehend modern novelties like cabs, omnibuses, and railroads, symbolizing the clash between past and present.
- XII: The Daguerreotypist
Holgrave's central speech condemns the dead hand of the Past, which he says lies on the Present like a giant's corpse, enslaving the living.
