A Summary of Pyncheon History
A Synopsis of the First Chapters of The House of Seven Gables
Jan 14, 2008
Prelude
Like his previous novel, The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne opens The House of Seven Gables with an introduction. The preface for Seven Gables allows Hawthorne to introduce his idea of the difference between a romance and a novel and to tell the reader that this is a romance. In a romance, the author is not required adhere with ‘minute fidelity’ to reality like a novelist must. He is free to manipulate the atmosphere of the book and to mingle the past with the present as long as he is true to the human heart.
Hawthorne also declares the moral of his romance: “the truth, namely, that the wrong-doing of one generation lives into the successive ones...[becoming] a pure and uncontrollable mischief.”
History of the Pyncheons and Maules
Hawthorne begins his novel with a summary of the history of the two families, the Pyncheons and the Maules. He reveals that the House of Seven Gables stands on what was once the home of Matthew Maule. Colonel Pyncheon, a powerful Puritan leader, coveted Maule’s land as a place to build his estate. Maule refuses to sell so Pyncheon joins a witch-hunt that declares Maule guilty of witchcraft. Before his death, Maule curses Pyncheon saying “God will give him blood to drink.” When the Colonel has a party at his new family estate, he is discovered in his private quarters, dead with blood at his mouth.
Before his death, Colonel Pyncheon was rumored to be in the process of acquiring the deed to a vast tract of land that would increase the Pyncheon’s wealth dramatically. Succeeding generations attempt to discover this property but none are able to.
Thirty years before the story in the novel, Uncle Jaffrey Pyncheon decides to make restitution to the Maule family. However, he dies before he has the opportunity and his nephew Clifford is sentenced to life in prison for his murder. Clifford’s cousin Judge Jaffrey Pyncheon inherits the family fortune. However, there is a clause in the will that allows Clifford’s sister Hepzibah to remain at Seven Gables for the rest of her life.
Hawthorn gives a detailed description of the appearance of Hepzibah a recluse whose whose near-sighted squint causes her, a tenderhearted woman, to appear scowling and cross. Over the years, Hepzibah has become so poor that she finds it necessary to open a shop to support herself. She is depressed about opening the shop, which she feels is demeaning to her, a lady, who should not need to work like a common person.
Hepzibah's Customers
The first customer to Hepzibah’s little shop is her boarder Mr. Holgrave. Holgrave congratulates her on her entrepreneurship and believes that she will find a new sense of purpose in it. He attempts to buy a biscuit from her but she gives it to him free. The second customer is a ravenous young scamp named Ned Higgins. Hepzibah gives him his first purchase (a gingerbread cookie) free but when he requests a second, she accepts his payment.
Several notable customers visit on Hepzibah during her first day of business. Her cousin, Judge Jaffrey Pyncheon stops outside the shop. He seems to have mixed feelings about the shop and both frowns and smiles at it. When Hepzibah sees him, her perpetual scowl deepens to a real frown. She doesn’t like him and thinks he looks like the portrait of the Colonel that hangs in the house.
Another customer is Uncle Venner, an elderly resident of Pyncheon Street. He praises Hepzibah for her efforts. When he leaves, he asks when Clifford will be home. For the rest of the day, Hepzibah is upset and makes many mistakes. In the evening, an unexpected guest arrives in the form of her country cousin, Phoebe. Hepzibah is afraid that Phoebe’s presence will upset Clifford and plans to send her away.
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