The House of the Seven Gables에 시사된 구원 = Redemption Implied in The House of the Seven Gables

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Nathaniel Hawthorne is one of the writers who were aware of evil inclinations lurking in human heart. While living in this world, man is often tempted to yield to the evil inclinations in his own heart. If a person yields to the temptation, he becomes a sinner. His soul cannot be redeemed without sincere contrition. If a person does not yield to the temptation, chances of his redemption are greater.
In The House of the Seven Gables, Hawthorne describes two groups of people. One group presents those who yield to the evil temptations and thus become sinners. There is no light of redemption for these sinners. The other group shows people who do not yield to the temptations and move toward redemption.
There are four sinners. Colonel Pyncheon is the first sinner. He covets Matthew Maule’s land. But Matthew Maule refuses to part with the land, frustrating Colonel Pyncheon’s ambition. So Colonel Pyncheon actively participates in condemning and executing Matthew Maule as a wizard He yields to the temptation of greed. Matthew Maule, the victim, is the second sinner. He curses Colonel Pyncheon when he is executed, leaving legacy of malice and revenge to his descendants, blighting their chances of happiness. Young Matthew Maule, the carpenter is the third sinner. He manipulates beautiful Alice Pyncheon by means of mesmerism, instead of loving her with sincerity, and drives her to death. He yields to the temptation of revenge and black magic. Judge Jaffrey Pyncheon is another sinner who yields to the temptation of greed He succeeds in leading people to believe that Clifford is responsible for their uncle’s death, although he knows that Clifford is innocent. As a result, Clifford is imprisoned for 30 years as a criminal, and Judge Pyncheon inherits their uncle’s wealth which Clifford should have inherited.
There are four people who move toward redemption. Hepzibah Pyncheon overcomes the sin of pride and isolation due to her love for her brother Clifford. To support Clifford she opens a cent-shop, thus getting in contact with the world, and receives Phoebe as a helper into her family and Holgrave as a lodger. Clifford Pyncheon overcomes the temptation of hatred and revenge. Though he is an innocent victim, he never curses Judge Pyncheon and he never attempts revenge, showing a good contrast to young Matthew Maule the carpenter. With faithful Hepzibah’s help, and due to his affection for Phoebe, he overcomes his terror of the world and Judge Pyncheon. He returns to his house with Hepzibah after his night flight, entering a new phase of a peaceful life after Judge Pyncheon’s death. Phoebe Pyncheon overcomes the sin of pride, the hereditary sin of the Pyncheons. As a girl bred in the country, she is not proud or affected as other Pyncheons are. Simple, affectionate, and practical, Phoebe is sympathetic toward Hepzibah and Clifford and she responds to Holgrave’s affection with sincererity, exerting healthy influence on other members in the Pyncheon House. Holgrave overcomes the temptation of black magic. He finds out that he can mesmerize Phoebe. However, unlike his ancestor Matthew Maule the carpenter, he does not resort to mesmerism to win Phoebe’s heart. He genuinely loves Phoebe and respects her feelings, and finally he succeeds in winning her love.
In The House of the Seven Gables，Hawthorne implies that a human being can move toward redemption and happiness if he or she overcomes various temptations often hidden in his or her own heart.