Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864) “My Kinsman, Major Molineux” Cecilia H. C. Liu American Literature I 11/1/2004

Nathaniel Hawthorne the Man The events of 1692 in Salem haunted him, especially as his great-grandfather was a judge in the witchcraft trials. The Hawthorne family lived in Concord after they married, but returned to Salem late in 1845, and took the position of Surveyor of the Port at the Salem Custom House in 1846. After both losing his job and his mother’s death not long after 1849, Hawthorne announced his wish to leave Salem, which he called "that abominable city," without any reason to remain. The Hawthornes left Salem in 1850, but never returned there to live. Yet, Salem continued to permeate Hawthorne's life, remaining as the setting for many of his literary works.

Nathaniel Hawthorne Was… Brooded in solitude upon the gloomier aspects of Puritan New England Exploited his antiquarian enthusiasms and his understanding of the colonial history of New England Absorbed by the enigmas of evil and of moral responsibility, interwoven with man’s destiny in nature and in eternity

“My Kinsman, Major Molineux” To transmute an historical phenomenon into an elemental condition of existence History as moral adventure Setting: New England, 1730s Robin, a shrewd youth, 18 year old Symbolic encounters on his journey to find his kinsman Symbolic rebellion against the father figure; subsequent hostility to authority

Six Encounters 1st attempt: an old gentleman in front of a barber shop 2nd attempt: the innkeeper 3rd attempt: a woman with scarlet petticoat 4th attempt: a watchman 5th attempt: a man with 2 color (black/red) face 6th attempt: a kindly gentleman

Symbols Cudgel: brutal force/youthful confidence --An emblem of the life Robin has left behind him in the quietly uncomplicated rustic town in which he has been reared Scarlet petticoat: passion/seduction Dream (fancy)/reality—ambiguity Robin’s recognition: Pity/terror Disturbing outburst of laughter

Disturbing Outburst of Laughter Robin watches the cruel tarring and feathering of his once-respected relative: --unconscious joy in being released from parental authority --laugh at his own ignorance --laugh at the ridiculous situation

Symbolic Meaning The function of “preface” in the beginning of the story Streets/roads Red/black: blood and death in war Freedom dependence independence subjugation to authority Repressed hostility outburst of laughter adulthood with independence

Literary Works of Hawthorne Faith and Religion “The Minister's Black Veil” “Young Goodman Brown“ Quakers and Accused Witches "Main-Street“ Women in Hawthorne “Rappaccini's Daughter“ The House of the Seven Gables The Scarlet Letter

Hawthorne’s Interest in Puritanism It is not necessary to doubt that Nathaniel Hawthorne is interested in Puritanism and the mistreatment they got from the Quakers as well as the later persecution in Salem in 1692. Hawthorne's ancestor, William Hathorne was instrumental in the scourging of Quakers during the 1650's and William's son, John, was among those who sat in judgment of those accused of witchcraft almost forty years later. Shy and almost reclusive, Hawthorne could have have felt a special kind of empathy for those so publicly and unjustly tormented and may have felt a peculiar and disagreeable connection to those early members of his family who were partly responsible for that torment.

Works Cited Hawthorne in Salem. http://www.hawthorneinsalem.org Nathaniel Hawthorne, (1804-1864) http://guweb2.gonzaga.edu/faculty/campbell/enl311/hawthor.htm