Holgrave and Phoebe’s Relationship
A Summary Chapters 12-14 in The House of Seven Gables
Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel, The House of Seven Gables, weaves the past with the present. The following is a summary of the relationship between Holgrave and Phoebe.
The Superficial Details of Holgrave’s Life
During this time, the only social outlet that Phoebe has is her shopping in the evening or the time she spends with Holgrave in the garden. She learns much about Holgrave’s varied life and he shares with her his views about progress and his disdain for the past. He believes that regular renewal is important and that homes and public buildings should be destroyed every generation so that the new generation can make a fresh start. However, despite their regular visits, Phoebe doesn’t feel that she knows Holgrave very well.
Holgrave Tells the Story of Matthew Maule and Alice Pyncheon
Holgrave mentions to Phoebe that he has written a story about the Pyncheons that he hopes to have published. She agrees to listen to it. In his story, he shares an imagined ‘incident between Gervayse Pyncheon, Alice Pyncheon, and Matthew Maule (the younger). In the story, Matthew Maule, a descendent of the original Maule and a carpenter by trade, 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 as his reward. 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.
Holgrave Respects Phoebe’s Purity
In the process of telling the story, Holgrave inadvertently hypnotizes the sensitive Phoebe. However, unlike Matthew Maule he does not take advantage of Phoebe. (This incident gains greater significance later in the novel when Holgrave's true identity is revealed.) After the story, Phoebe tells Holgrave that she needs to return to her home for several days to take care of business but that she will return. Holgrave tells her what a benefit she has been to the two siblings. Two days later as Phoebe leaves, Uncle Venner seconds Holgrave's assessment that she has been very beneficial to the two old people.
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
