The House of Seven Gables is a novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne that has characters who are not part of the main plot. Here is a breakdown of those characters.

The House of Seven Gables

The house, for which Hawthorne’s book is named, is a character in its own right. It is the first character that is fully described in The House of Seven Gables. The house’s companion is a massive tree known as the Pyncheon elm. The narrator of the story finds these two entities very compelling.

He comments that the aspect of the mansion “has always affected me like human countenance”’ The face of the mansion shows the world not only the external results of the weathering it has taken in life but also reveals “the long lapse of mortal life, and the accompanying vicissitudes that have passed within.”

Matthew Maule (the Older)

Matthew Maule was the first person to build a house on Pyncheon Street, at that time it was known as Maule’s Lane. Maule built his shabby little cottage at this location because a spring of pure water was located on the spot.

When Colonel Pyncheon decided that he wanted the property for himself, it was not difficult to find a way to seize the property. Matthew Maule was reputed to be a wizard. Consequently, it was a simple thing for Colonel Pyncheon to join the frenzied search for witches and remove his opponent.

Before he was hung, Maule pointed his finger at the Colonel and cursed him saying “God will give him blood to drink.”

Colonel Pyncheon

Colonel Pyncheon built the House of Seven Gables where Maule’s home once stood. The narrator suggests that it was the judge’s lack of imagination and an over-abundance of common sense that caused him to build his home on cursed ground. He chose Thomas Maule, the son of the dead wizard, as the head carpenter for his manorial home.

On the day that Pyncheon welcomed guests into his new home, he was found dead in his study with blood on his beard and collar. His death caused people to believe in the power of the Maule’s curse. Before his death, Colonel Pyncheon was rumored to be in the process of acquiring a deed to a vast tract of land that would dramatically increase the Pyncheon’s wealth.

Thomas Maule

Thomas Maule was a carpenter and the son of Matthew Maule. Colonel Pyncheon chose him to be the head carpenter of the Pyncheon home. While building the home, he built a hidden compartment in which he placed the deed for the land that Colonel Pyncheon was attempting to acquire. The compartment was hidden behind the painting of a Colonel.

Gervayse Pyncheon

Gervayse Pyncheon is a descendent of the Colonel who despises the house and spends many years living overseas in Europe. When he returns, he decides to seek the deed to the mysterious tract of land. He calls a descendent of the wizard to assist him in his search.

Matthew Maule (the Younger)

A descendent of the original Matthew Maule and a carpenter by trade. He is invited to the Pyncheon home. When he arrives he is told that he must assist Gervayse in locating the missing deed. Maule agrees but only if he is given the House of Seven Gables. He insists that he must see Alice before revealing the deed.

He mesmerizes Alice and uses the situation to keep her permanently under his control thus humbling her and causing her great embarrassment. On Matthew’s wedding night, he summons Alice to attend to his wife. After the nuptials, he releases her. Alice catches a chill on her way home and dies. Matthew regrets her death as he intended only to humiliate her not to kill her.

Alice Pyncheon

Alice was the cultured, talented, and slightly snobbish daughter of Gervayse. The greed of her father and the pride of Matthew Maule led to her humiliation and ultimately, her death.

Jaffrey Pyncheon (the Older)

Jaffrey Pyncheon was the uncle of Clifford, Hepzibah, and Judge Pyncheon. Jaffrey Pyncheon was a wealthy bachelor with a conscious. It was rumored that he intended to give restitution to the Maule family for the crimes of the past. However, he was murdered before he was able to complete his plan.

More About The House of Seven Gables

Book Review of The House of Seven Gables

Summary of the Prelude and First Chapters

Phoebe's Affect on Clifford - Chapters 5-11

Holgrave and Phoebe's Relationship - Chapters 12-14

Conclusion of the Novel - Chapters 15-21