Nathaniel Hawthorne uses symbols, characters and metaphors to illustrate the struggle between democratic ideals and aristocratic in his novel The House of the Seven Gables. The novel shows how democratic ideas triumph over aristocratic greediness, injustice, pride. Hawthorne began his novel by describing Colonel Pyncheon, who acquired the house via power and greed. The novel takes place in the lives Jaffery Pyncheon & Hepzibah Pyncheon. These are the descendants and leaders of the original Colonel. The Judge ultimately falls, taking with him all the bad aspects of aristocracy and allowing the other characters to live freely and democratically.
Hawthorne illustrates what it means to be a fool by comparing Judge, an unassuming member of society, and the rotten roses in her garden. Phoebe is able to see a rosebush with “luxuriant” growth that is “covered in a rare and beautiful species of whiterose” when she looks out the window. However, she finds out that many of the roses ]… suffered from mildew or blight (50). The rose bush appears “as though it was brought from Eden that very Summer”, but closer inspection reveals its decayed core. (59) The novel’s main theme is falsity and disguise. This is especially true of the Judge and Colonel, two aristocratic characters. While they both seem to be important figures in society, their hearts are corrupted by greed and arrogance. The Judge is described in the novel as having more Pyncheon characteristics than any of his races since the time the original Puritan (17). The Colonel’s Judge looks a lot like the Judge, both in appearance and personality. Both men are aristocratic in that they are “exceedingly respected” in society but deceitful in many other ways. (17). The Judge is a rose-colored fool who deceives all those who admire him for his “purity of his judicial character; extraordinary zeal in his presidency of the Bible society; and his clean moral demeanour” (196). He pretends to a religious Puritan and an honest judge, but he ends up being deceitful. Hepzibah is able to escape his fate by letting go her pride in her family. By opening a cent-shop, she overcomes the greed and ego of Judge and Colonel. Hepzibah believes she is a lady of high social standing despite society’s “very negative” view of her. (43) She declares that she was born a woman and has always lived as one. (36). Hepzibah was raised up to respect rules, manners, pride and to live by them. While her wealth decreases rapidly, she continues to hold on to the aristocratic values of her family. Hepzibah finally opens the Cent-Shop and is able to make a living from her own hard work. Hawthorne calls Hepzibah “simply Hepzibah Phyncheon…keeper for a penny shop”. This is how Hepzibah gains independence by resisting her greedy ancestors. Hepzibah opens her cent shop and frees herself of the constraints of her ancestral pride. She is now able to live a more democratic life.
Hawthorne, who is demonstrating the decline of the aristocracy via the chickens, shows that such democracy in novels increases. These “hens of an aristocratic family” (76), include “Chanticleer, two of his wives and one chicken” (74). These chickens are pure breeds from a particular race of chickens that, in their prime, were large and prestigious. But as time passed, they became smaller and more “queer rusty and withered” (74). The chickens suffered from the “consequences of too strict an eye to keep it pure” (74) when they were bred within the same group for many years. These chickens signify the gradual decline of the Pyncheon families over the centuries. Once considered “so admirable of fowls”, the Pyncheon family became “lugubrious” because of their greedy and arrogant ways. (74)
However, the garden behind the house serves as a symbol of democracy in the novel. Hawthorne describes the garden in great detail. He calls it a “sheltered, sunny” refuge for Pheobe and Clifford. (72) The garden provides a refreshing escape from the darkness of the house. Phoebe walks into the garden for the first time and sees a pair (73) of robins. This quote shows that the nest of the robins is symbolic of a creation and their happiness and freedom represent democratic traits. Phoebe also sees “blossoms from the garden” that appear “as intelligent and sentimental as if they were” (125). The garden’s happiness and rebirth are all democratic, which contrasts with the house that is “never lets in sunlight”. (61) The house has become unsuitable for living. The house’s aristocratic values, which it represents, are no longer valued and accepted by society. Instead, democracy wins with its attitude toward freedom and happiness.
Holgrave also represents the democratic views of the novel. Hepzibah’s day one in the cent shop is when she starts to cry. She cries so hard to Holgrave that she wishes she was dead. (35) Then, she insists she is a dignified old lady and cannot take part in this world. Holgrave doesn’t like to dwell on the past. He comforts Hepzibah by critiquing the archaic titles “gentleman” and “lady”, saying that they “imply neither privilege nor restriction!” (36-37). These quotes are a reflection of Holgrave’s belief that society evolves over time. Holgrave believes that society must keep up with its development. Those who don’t comply will live in the past, like Hepzibah.
Holgrave asks Earnest to “get over the past”, and Phoebe responds to him by saying to her, “[the Past] lies upon The Present like a giant’s dead body!” (155). These diseases could represent Hepzibah’s ancestral disputes. Hepzibah will be healthier and more independent if she is free from the colonel’s errors. Holgrave is less radical in his views on democracy, as he learns the hard way. After once stating that public edifices must “be demolished to ruin once in twenty-years” in order for citizens to have the opportunity to “examine” them and “reform” the buildings to current times, Holgrave now shares his views and recommends that houses be built in stone rather than wood. This would allow each generation to make their own choices about what they want to do with the house. (269)
The novel’s characters and symbols represent democracy, which triumphs over those that represent aristocracy. Holgrave is left to live in peace and freedom while Hepzibah and the Judge die from their own greed. The democratic life that the characters above have worked so hard to achieve is not affected by family pride or false appearances. Through the union of Phoebe to Holgrave, the two families are united and heal the generations-old wounds left by Matthew Maule and colonel Pyncheon. Holgrave and Hepzibah, Phoebe and Clifford are now free from aristocratic dishonesty and injustice. They can live happily without any interference.
