The House of the Seven Gables

By
Bernadette Skodje

English 10 October 6, 2014

Part A

Nathanial Hawthorne’s book, The House of the Seven Gables, tells a story about a Hephzibah Pyncheon, who was from a long line of cursed relatives, living in a large house trying to make ends meet. She was on the brink of starvation and had to open a cent shop even though she was very ashamed of her poverty. Things brightened up in Hephzibah’s life when her brother came home from jail and her distant cousin came to live with them. Through her trials, Hephzibah’s character traits of charity, humility, and courage developed throughout the story. Hephzibah was charitable. She took good care of her brother, Clifford, when he got home from prison. She had waited thirty years for him to come home so that she could look after him. One time, she was reading him a story and realized that Phoebe, their cousin, would make Clifford much happier, so she handed the book over to her. Her charity shone when she let Phoebe stay and never regretted her decision. Hephzibah loved Phoebe’s warm touch she added to the house and just could not think of living without her. Hephzibah was charitable. In the beginning Hephzibah was proud, however she developed the virtue of humility. She was ashamed and embarrassed to open the cent shop but she did anyway to prevent her from starving to death. Hephzibah showed she was humble by waiting for her brother to return from prison so she could serve him. Although proud in the beginning Hephzibah showed the virtue of humility. Hephzibah lacked courage in the opening of the novel, but was able to change that and have courage when she needed it. She finally was able to speak to Judge Pyncheon and defend her brother. She even left the house with Clifford for a spontaneous train ride, after many years of staying divided from the outside world. Her courage was exposed toward the end. This romantic novel showed the virtues of Hephzibah and how they grew. Her charity grew with the acceptance of Phoebe living with her and Clifford. Her humility grew by opening the cent shop and looking after her brother. Hephzibah’s courage grew when she was able to speak up for Clifford and leave the house. This book, The House of the Seven Gables, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, reveals the virtues of Hephzibah and how she grew in them.

Part B
The House of the Seven Gables, a romantic novel, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, presents the theme that love can overcome curses and revenge within families. Two families, the Pyncheons and the Mauls, were in trial with each other over a piece of land. Mathew Maul cursed the house and property spoken about in The House of the Seven Gables just before he was