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The House of the Seven Gables · Theme

Isolation and Community

How The House of the Seven Gables develops Isolation and Community.

The reclusive lives of Hepzibah and Clifford in the gloomy house are gradually transformed by Phoebe's warmth and the connections formed with neighbors like Uncle Venner and Holgrave, suggesting the healing power of human relationships.

Where it surfaces

  • May and November

    Hepzibah's long solitude is broken by Phoebe's arrival and the stream of customers, bringing the house back into contact with the neighborhood.

  • The Guest

    Clifford's long estrangement and his tentative re-entry into family life underscore themes of isolation and the fragile bonds of community.

  • IX: Clifford and Phoebe

    Clifford's isolation is alleviated only by Phoebe's presence, showing the power of human connection to pierce through loneliness and despair.

  • The Pyncheon Garden

    The garden becomes a secluded haven where a small community forms around Clifford, Hepzibah, Phoebe, Holgrave, and Uncle Venner, offering a brief respite from isolation.

  • XI: The Arched Window

    Clifford and Hepzibah feel isolated from the community, unable to join the churchgoers, and Clifford yearns to reconnect with humanity but is held back by fear.

  • XII: The Daguerreotypist

    Phoebe's need to escape the house's oppressive atmosphere highlights the isolating effects of the Pyncheon legacy; her friendship with Holgrave offers a counterbalance.

  • XIV: Phoebe’s Goodbye

    Hepzibah and Clifford are depicted as isolated and dead to society, while Phoebe brings life and connection to the house.

  • XV: The Scowl and Smile

    The storm isolates the house's inhabitants, and Hepzibah's shop suffers due to her scowling demeanor, reflecting her alienation.

  • XVI: Clifford's Chamber

    Despite being surrounded by a city, Hepzibah feels utterly alone and unable to summon help, highlighting the family's self-imposed seclusion.

  • XVII: The Flight of Two Owls

    Hepzibah and Clifford, long isolated in the House of the Seven Gables, are thrust into the communal space of the train, yet Hepzibah feels more apart from humanity than ever, while Clifford revels in the throng.