Seven of Gabes
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In the excerpt from the House of the Seven Gables, Nathaniel Hawthorne illustrates a man who is highly concerned with his image and the publics opinion. Judge Pyncheon, attempts to make an image of himself as a man of “judicial character” and “unimpeachable integrity.” Through the use of specialized details and foreshadowing syntax, Nathaniel tries to reveal the true character of Judge Pyncheon. Judge Pyncheon is presented as a man with impeccable morality but as the passage advances, Hawthorne introduces a clear aspect of sarcasm and the dishonesty of the Judge becomes obvious. Judge Pyncheon is a man of “purity”, “faithfulness” and “devotedness”. He is an active part of the society but Hawthorne makes it noticeable that Pyncheons purpose for achieving good “deeds ” is not because he is concern but because of arrogance and self-admiration.
The beginning of the passage starts with a list of all the “movements” Judges Pyncheon is engaged in and his accomplishment which Hawthorne presents by stating “There was enough of splendid rubbish in his life to cover up and paralyze a more active arid subtle conscience that the judge was ever troubled with”. The use of those words “splendid rubbish” heightens questioning concerning the honesty of the list that came next and set up the idea that the highly viewed traits of the judge were in fact repulsive and unworthy. The second half of the sentence seems to make an allusion to Judge Pyncheons lack of conscience.
Hawthorne excessively builds the character of Judge Pyncheon so that the reader could determine his true characteristics. In line 20 the shift in tone commences; Hawthorne brings up a piece of information rather alarming regarding the Judges son. He was treated with “severity” and “cast off”, and he was “delayed forgiveness until his dying hour”. Judge Pyncheon is a deceitful man. Hawthorne defends this idea through the” handsomeness of his coat” and the “fineness” of his possessions. His private life belies his public statements as we see in his work with the temperance cause which is cancelled out by the” five diurnal glasses of old Sherry wine”. Toward the end of the first paragraph, the author clarifies that the traits reflects the opinion of the community not his own. He asks the rhetorical question “what room could possibly be found for darker traits, in a portrait made up of lineaments lie these”. He tells the reader he doesnt think of Judge Pyncheon as an admirable man. Hawthorne, in the second paragraph explains that the Judge had made a mistake but he was forgiven. He emphasizes that the people fail to notice the flaws of the Judge, they are blinds somewhat blinds . Hawthorne also implied that only “loss of property and reputation” can cause the Judge to look himself