Society presents itself as a force of discernment and is propelled by the beliefs and ideas of the middle class. This idea is substantiated by the characterization of society in The House of Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Hawthorne depicts society as a judging force, which weaves itself through the lives of the Pyncheon family. Hawthorne’s analysis reveals a prominent aspect of society: its ability to be deluded by outward appearances. Hawthorne’s characterization of Judge Pyncheon, Hepzibah, and the Pyncheon House presents the dichotomy between outward and inward miens in order to disclose the influence of spurious appearances on society’s judgement. The Judge’s dedication to his community and his demeanor functions to portray Hawthorne’s …show more content…
Hyatt H. Waggoner enumerates society’s perception of Judge Pyncheon, “people respect [Judge Pyncheon]...for his public charity... for his unfailing good humor and his automatic smile” (228). Waggoner advocates that society’s perception is based upon the outward actions of the Judge. However, society recognizes material wealth as a form of reverence and happiness, therefore the Judge’s acquisitiveness attracts society’s veneration. Although society views avariciousness in a positive light, Hawthorne highlights the negativity of materialism through the Judge’s cupidity. Hawthorne compare Judge Pyncheon’s character to that of a stately edifice. “[The stately edifice’s] splendid halls...floored with mosaic work of costly marbles... [and] ceilings gorgeously painted” (Hawthorne 162). Hawthorne’s description of the “stately edifice” enriches his analysis of society’s delusion by external qualities, “[society smelled]...the rich odors which the [Judge] sedulously …show more content…
The Pyncheon estate, adorned with seven gables and “conceived in the grotesqueness of a Gothic fancy” surrounded by “grass [that] had not begun to grow” manifests an impression of uncanniness (Hawthorne 5). The external characteristics of the house is the embodiment of social alienation. In context of the novel, during the early 19th century, society’s transition from aristocracy to democracy produced a distinct middle class. The middle class’s houses, which is symbolic of democracy, appears hospitable compared to the cold Pyncheon house, which symbolized the decaying aristocracy. Dillingham extends upon the idea of social isolation by claiming that “Hepzibah is isolated through pride…and Judge Pyncheon through greed” both factors serve to accentuate the isolation of the Pyncheon house as well as it’s many fallacies, greed and pride, which are represented by Hepzibah and Judge Pyncheon (63). The similarities between the Pyncheon house and the characteristics of Judge Pyncheon and Hepzibah illuminate the fact that the Pyncheon house is representative of the Pyncheon family. However, like Hepzibah and Judge Pyncheon, the Pyncheon house should not be judged by its external features, but rather a deeper analysis is necessary in order to reveal its true nature. Leo B. Levy argues that the Pyncheon mansion is “endow[ed]...with the palpable anguished feelings that its