Curse Condemns Clan to Calamity

I live merely three miles away from the House of the Seven Gables. Unlike the tourists who are curious about "which room did Clark sleep in?", I have always been aware that this dark and old dwelling, located by the side of the harbor down a very narrow street, is connected to a novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Indeed, we heard about this in grade school, although we didn't read the book at that time. In fact, I only read the book recently, even though I read "The Scarlet Letter" several years ago. I would say that the latter is a much better novel.

Growing up so close to Salem, perhaps we were led to believe that Hawthorne, our local hero, was one of the giants of American literature. Now, however, I'm not so certain. Hawthorne's sister lived in this house, which had a giant tree standing outside. This tree was only cut down in the last ten years. Hawthorne would sit inside on dark nights and imagine a stern, wealthy burgher of the 17th century seizing the land by accusing the actual owner of witchcraft. When the unfortunate victim was sent to the scaffold, he cursed the usurper and his subsequent generations. As a result, the house proved to be unlucky and haunted by ghosts. The curse took effect. A priceless deed to a large tract of land in Maine disappeared.

If you read this novel, you will discover what happened next. But hold on, impetuous reader! If you embark on this literary journey, you are going to encounter a significant amount of excessive verbiage. The story itself is rather thin, compensated for by Hawthorne's soliloquies on various topics and by extremely overwritten passages that are supposed to be declaimed by different characters. The ending could have been written by a Hollywood scriptwriter. Perhaps those who are deeply impressed by "classical" literature will pen erudite psychological analyses of "The House of the Seven Gables", but for me, it fell far short of my expectations.

On a visit to Salem, I was truly fortunate. I had the opportunity to visit the original House of the Seven Gables that served as the inspiration for this book.

It was an absolutely amazing experience. In fact, it was the sole reason I decided to read this book in the first place. And as I delved into its pages, I completely fell in love with it. I guess you could say it was destiny that brought me to this book.

The beautiful narrative, the fascinating stories, and the memorable characters all combine to make this book such a great experience. Granted, it might take some time to get used to Hawthorne's poetic and overly descriptive narrative. But it is totally worth it. For this unique writing style is one of the greatest beauties of the novel. It adds a layer of depth and richness that makes the reading experience truly unforgettable.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good story, beautifully told. It is a classic that will continue to charm readers for generations to come.

I was approximately halfway through this book when I finally bothered to look up what a gable is. I had initially imagined it to be something really cool, perhaps like a parapet or a widow's walk. However, to my disappointment, it's not. It's just this ordinary thing that houses have. That's how the novel goes.

Hey, did you know that Hawthorne is not a Puritan conservative? In fact, he insistently indicts Puritan culture. He once said, "Let us thank God for having given us such [Puritan] ancestors; and let each successive generation thank Him, not less fervently, for being one step further from them in the march of ages." He was truly troubled by our history, mainly because his great-great-grandfather was a Salem judge who was personally responsible for burning a large number of "witches." If you had the same impression as I did, thinking that he was a staid old humorless curmudgeon, you were wrong.

And here's the thing, he is kind of funny! Well, not really funny like Dickens or Wilkie Collins. He's more amusing. He has a certain pleasantness about his writing. At his best, he is a towering writer. I can't show you because it's too long, but you'll just have to take my word for it: Chapter 18 of House of Seven Gables is an achievement.

Unfortunately, the other twenty chapters are not so great. They're boring. He repeats himself constantly. Try to find a mention of Phoebe where he doesn't specify that she's sunny, or an appearance by Hepzibah without a description of her unpleasant scowl. His metaphors are famously clunky. His characters lack an internal life; they're simply a collection of good or bad characteristics. And he's not very good at plotting either. The mysteries he tries to build up often fizzle out suddenly, and the end of the book feels like a kid who couldn't be bothered to tie his shoes properly and just skip-shuffles away down the sidewalk towards an inevitable bloody nose. As Jane Smiley puts it while comparing him to Walter Scott's Bride of Lammermoor: Whereas Scott is careful to make the psychology of the characters and their interactions mesh with the omens and predictions, so that by acting within character the characters seem to work out their destinies as predicted, Hawthorne is less of a psychologist and more of a moralist. His few characters are not so much agents of the plot as objects of the narrator's observations and victims of circumstances. I went into this book with high hopes. I remember kind of liking Scarlet Letter, and I knew this was supposed to be Gothic-ish, which sounded fun. I really wanted to like it. But it wasn't that I failed to like it. Hawthorne just failed to be likable.

The sole reason I delved into this novel was in anticipation of a trip to Salem, MA. There, the house that purportedly served as the inspiration for Hawthorne to pen this book stands. It was once owned by his cousin and had belonged to ancestors who were involved in the witch trials.

However, in the end, Salem was quite a disappointment as far as day-trips are concerned. I didn't manage to visit the house (you couldn't even catch a proper glimpse of it from the street), and I didn't have much of a liking for the novel either.

"The House of Seven Gables" chronicles a New England family and their ancestral abode, in a narrative filled with numerous allusions to the supernatural. In and of itself, it's really not a terrible story. It features murder, alleged witchcraft and a curse, a potentially haunted house, a spinster, and a fair maiden. It could have made for an excellent short story. But that's precisely where the problem lies: it dragged on for far too long.

There's not a great deal more to say. The writing is unmistakably old-fashioned, and at times, I found it a bit excessive. Hawthorne is rather liberal in his use of exclamation points. Additionally, I never wish to read again about an elderly man describing a teenage girl's lips and her developing breasts in such a manner: "All her little womanly ways, budding out of her like blossoms on a young fruit tree, had their effect on him, and sometimes cause his very heart to tingle with the keenest thrills of pleasure." Oh, and did I mention he's related to her?

Overall, it's a book that I will undoubtedly forget within a few months. I was recounting it to friends on the day I finished it, and already I couldn't recall how it ended, such was the extent to which I zoned out during the interminable, rambling descriptions. I'll have to eventually reread "The Scarlet Letter" to determine if it still holds up and is as good as I remember it being from my high school days.

4.5 Stars.

In 1978, during my senior year of high school, our English class read “The Scarlet Letter”. I was instantly smitten and on my own, I picked up “The House of Seven Gables”. Over the past 42 years, I’ve reread “The Scarlet Letter” three or four times and delved into several of Hawthorne’s other novels and numerous short stories. Recently, coming across a copy of “Gables” in Half-Price Books, I was curious to see how my perception of it would have changed with the passage of decades, my late middle-aged perspective, and my increased familiarity with the author.

Of course, “Gables” is excellent, though not quite on par with “Scarlet”, Hawthorne’s first novel. There are indeed many parallels between the two. Both books involve a complex psycho-emotional interplay among a few characters, each with their own struggles, secrets, weaknesses, and strengths. Both deal with past dark events that impact the characters in the present. And both reflect on the burdensome, restrictive, and far-reaching Puritan origins of the United States.

“Gables”, while telling an engaging story filled with many of Hawthorne’s trademark powerful and often wry metaphors and insights into life and human nature, doesn’t quite have the same forward momentum as “Scarlet”. The first three-quarters of “Gables” in some ways feel like just a setup for the final quarter, where things heat up and become more tense and intense. (SPOILER AHEAD). The last section, however, packs a punch. At its peak is the chapter where Hawthorne spends eleven pages (in my version) examining a corpse and reflecting on human existence and how an outwardly successful and well-lived life might actually turn out to be a sham when seen under the harsh light of death. This remarkable scene reminded me of the passages in “Of Mice and Men” when time seems to stand still after the murder of Curley’s Wife, as well as of a scene in one of Woody Allen’s movies (“Manhattan Murder Mystery” perhaps?) where Allen’s character enters a room with a dead body and the camera lingers for an unusually long time, forcing the audience to confront something they might usually avoid thinking about.

On the other hand, a weak moment in the closing section is that one of the big mysteries of “Gables” - What happened to poor Clifford? - is clumsily and anticlimactically explained by the narrator instead of having the explanation emerge naturally from the flow of the story. This chapter also jarringly throws in some important incidents that were never previously mentioned in the book.

Overall, while I truly enjoyed the story and Hawthorne’s authorial style and vision, I unfortunately can’t give this book the same rating as its superior counterpart, “The Scarlet Letter”. So, I must lower my original five-star rating (based on my 18-year-old reactions) by half a star. Sorry, Nate. Can I call you Nate?

3.5 Stars


Despite the many recommendations and good reviews I had read, when I started this book, I was going in a bit blindly. I didn't know if it was a realistic novel, a gothic one, or a horror story. I also wasn't familiar with Hawthorne's writing style, so I was afraid it might be too difficult for me to digest.


In my opinion, the novel combines a bit of all these elements. It doesn't really give a true sense of fear or be a proper ghost story (fortunately for me), but there is this strange and suffocating aura, that mystery behind the story of the house and the family that inhabits it, which manages to make you feel uneasy in a very subtle but no less powerful way.


The characters may seem a bit blurry and give us the impression that their personalities aren't explored deeply enough, but of course, we have to keep in mind that the main protagonist of this novel is the house with the seven gables itself. The story unfolds through it, is born from it, and the characters interact with each other because of their relationship with it. In that sense, I have little to add because I think it's something obvious and that is developed perfectly.


So why 3.5 stars then? Well, because the story didn't completely hook me as it should have. There were many moments when I completely lost interest in the narration and it was very hard for me to get back into it. It's true that towards the end it picks up and there it did keep me glued to its pages, but unfortunately, that happened too late for my taste.


Still, I have to admit that Hawthorne's writing has surprised me and I'm very happy to have finally gotten to know it. I'm sure I'll read more of his works sooner or later.

I have an intense adoration for this book.

I vividly recall that first encounter with it during my twenties. I randomly picked it up, and to my great amazement, I was immediately struck by how lively and picturesque the writing was. It was so截然不同 from the dreary "Scarlet Letter" that I remembered from high school.

The story begins with the decline of the Pyncheon family after the curse of old man Maule. He was a fiercely independent man who had staked a claim on land and a particular well that the progenitor of the Pyncheon clan, the old Puritan, desired for himself. Eventually, the old Puritan had Maule hung for being a witch, just so he could come into possession of that acreage and build a fine house for his own family. However, this act came with a curse from the dead man.

This curse played out through the generations of Pyncheons, leading to its final decline with old spinster Hepzibah, a mysterious relative, and a young girl who arrives from the country. They are the final generation of Pyncheons to share the House of the Seven Gables.

What makes this book especially interesting, aside from the fine writing and the wonderful characterizations, is the framework of the novel. Destiny is written out over the grave of some indelible wrong, touching everyone who came after - in this case, literally on the same plot of land. Hawthorne, the grandson of one of the judges at the Salem Witch Trials, had a heavy legacy hanging over him, much like the legacy of slavery over the writers of the Southern Gothic tradition. He even gave his name an "e" to distance himself from his ancestor. As Faulkner said, the past is not really over. It's not even past. I love the spookiness and the charm of this book, which Hawthorne called a Romance rather than a tragedy, for its themes of the resilience of the weak and the primacy of the living. It is a lovely book whose delights have been unjustly ignored for far too long.

A creepy and disturbing house, owner of a deadly testamentary secret.

This house stands there, looking rather阴森. Its exterior is weathered and破旧, as if it has witnessed countless mysteries over the years. The windows are boarded up, adding to the sense of mystery and unease.

Inside, the atmosphere is even more oppressive. The floors creak with every step, as if warning intruders to stay away. The walls are damp and moldy, giving off a musty smell.

But the real secret lies within the testamentary documents hidden somewhere in this house. A secret that could change the lives of many. Who knows what dark secrets and hidden agendas are concealed within those papers?

As you explore this house, you can't help but feel a sense of dread creeping up on you. Will you be able to uncover the truth behind the deadly testamentary secret before it's too late?

The illustrious Pyncheon family had a rather useful reign. However, that was long ago. Its founder, Col. Pyncheon, a stout and merciless Puritan as well as an able soldier, played a significant role in wiping out the scourge, the evil threat of the abominable witches, during the honorable Salem trials of 1692. For his just reward, by pure accident, he happened to take over the property of old Matthew Maule. It was still a splendid and beautiful area, the perfect place to build his magnificent Seven Gables, the Colonel's new mansion in recognition of his noble efforts.

The wicked Wizard Maule met his proper end at Gallows Hill. Unfortunately, things do not stay the same. The family and the House of the Seven Gables have seen better days. In fact, truthfully, at one time, few would argue against it being ranked among the best edifices in colonial Massachusetts. That was more than 150 years ago. This building, we must reiterate, is now a little run down, a dump in reality.
Hepzibah Pyncheon, an "old maid" with a wonderful name, is now all alone, with the only exception being a young boarder, Mr. Holgrave, a daguerreotypist. As a resident, the poor Hepzibah has to open a cent store to make a living. What a humiliating situation for an upper-class woman from a formerly prominent family. Also visiting is a relative, Phoebe Pyncheon, a penniless country cousin. The girl has no idea why the brother of Miss Pyncheon, Clifford, returns home after 30 years. Was it for some crime? Nobody is talking, and the 17-year-old girl doesn't ask too many questions as she is a guest and very grateful.
Judge Jaffrey Pyncheon, a rich and distinguished man who was once a member of Congress, and his son, traveling around Europe somewhere, are the last male Pyncheons, not counting the unfortunate and sick Clifford, whom nobody really counts. People stay away from the strange house. Rumors about ghosts and unexplained deaths are a constant source of gossip for the dull town. The bored Clifford likes to blow soap bubbles from the second story of the mansion, and one hits his haughty cousin, the distinguished gentleman, on the nose. The prosperous relative now has an excuse to visit, wanting to talk to Clifford about a vague proposition. However, the nervous ex-inmate blames the aloof magistrate for his troubles and refuses.
A dark, strange, and thick atmosphere engulfs the premises of the ancient crumbling House of the Seven Gables. Will some sunshine ever brighten it? This is a classic novel, not as exciting as when it was first published, yet still worth reading. Over a century and a half after being first written, many events have shocked the world, making this rather mild in comparison. Did Hawthorne's (the author of The Scarlet Letter, a monumental work) evil ancestors' involvement in the notorious Salem kangaroo trials, where gullible adults were fooled by emotional, delusional, and bad children with no conscience... Did these killings of innocent people haunt the great author?

The first chapter of this book holds great promise, and I find myself completely hooked.

However, unfortunately, starting from the second chapter, it turns out to be an enormous waste of time.

The story is set in a house where a plethora of exciting events have occurred in the past. After briefly skimming over the excitement in a summary form in the first chapter, we then settle in to focus on what might be the least interesting inhabitants in the house's history.

There is a fussy old maid who spends the majority of her time fretting over the perceived change in social status that comes with opening a shop. There is also a brainless bimbo who simply makes the house look nice. Additionally, there is an 'artistic' photographer who enjoys hoeing the vegetable garden and a recently-released murder convict, an aesthete who has been reduced to a gibbering, drooling wretch by incarceration.

None of these characters actually engage in any real action. Instead, they just sit around while the narrator bombards us with laborious and repetitive details about how their physical appearances match their respective personalities, draws tedious parallels between their characters and that of the house itself, and insists on telling us what to think of these people, as if we weren't capable of forming our own opinions about such a dreary bunch.

The writing is overdone to an emetic extreme, as if it has been vomited onto the page, never content with using just one adjective when seven would suffice. How this can be considered a 'classic' is completely beyond my comprehension. I could only manage to read half of it. Thankfully, I noticed a second-hand book exchange around the corner from this café.

I'm almost certain that I have read this before, yet I remembered absolutely nothing about it. Written in 1850, it is a truly strange book. The language is dense and flowery, compelling you to read it at a slow pace.

You find yourself rattling around in a large, decaying mansion along with the gloomy old spinster Hepzibah Pynchon and her brother Clifford, who has just come back after spending 40 years in prison for a murder he didn't commit.

Into this melancholy household arrives Phoebe, a distant cousin in need of a place to live. The young and cheerful girl soon becomes indispensable to Clifford and Hepzibah, bringing a glimmer of joy to their otherwise dreary lives. The other main characters include Judge Pynchon, another cousin, who is rich and powerful and harbors a dark secret about Clifford; and Holford, who rents one of the many unused portions of the House of the Seven Gables.

There are elements of ghosts, romance, interesting observations about human nature, and even some laughs - the chickens were practically my favorite characters. I think this is not a book that everyone will appreciate, but I truly liked it and I'm glad I picked it up for the second (or perhaps the first) time.

It offers a unique and captivating reading experience that takes you into a world of mystery, drama, and the complex relationships of its characters.

This was not an easy read, and there is little action. Instead, there is LOTS of description. I suppose it is full of symbolism.

For reading alone, I would have given it only 2 stars. I have to admit that after I finished, I looked the novel up on Sparks notes.

With the added insights and analysis of experts, I realized how much one needed to read into the descriptions to gain a fuller understanding of Hawthorne's thrust of the story.

This made it much more interesting. With that in mind, I could up the stars to 3!

The detailed descriptions in the novel might seem overwhelming at first, but they hold hidden meanings and symbols that are crucial to understanding the story.

By referring to Sparks notes, I was able to uncover these hidden layers and appreciate the novel on a deeper level.

It goes to show that sometimes, a second look and some additional guidance can enhance our reading experience and help us discover the true beauty and complexity of a literary work.

Overall, while the novel may not have been a page-turner with its lack of action, it compensated with its rich and symbolic descriptions that rewarded those who took the time to explore and analyze them.