Kim Sandy

Mrs. Cassler

AP English

September 24, 2010

Analysis of Judge Pyncheon from an Excerpt of

The House of Seven Gables

Politicians nowadays are seen as manipulative, greedy beings that only do what is

good in order to make a quick buck. That certainly alludes to this case with Nathaniel

Hawthorne's memorable character, Judge Pyncheon, seen in an excerpt of The House of

Seven Gables. The narrator's acknowledgement of Judge Pyncheon seem quite as severe

as the character himself. To the reader, the image of Judge Pyncheon is somewhat

clarified due to a mass of hidden meanings. This excerpt seemingly mocks the Judge

based on a numerous variety of notions. The reader senses that the tone and syntax of the

story reveal the narrator's sarcastic view of the splendidly rubbish, Judge Pyncheon.

From the very beginning of Hawthorne's passage, the narrator transmits the so-

called respectability of Judge Pyncheon: "The purity of his judicial character; the

faithfulness of his public service in subsequent capacities; his devotedness to his party."

The narrator reveals that Judge Pyncheon's so-called accomplishments are ones that are

faulty. Some sentences in the excerpt even contradict one another: "The cleanliness of his

moral development, for a great many years past; the severity with which he had frowned

upon, and finally cast off, an expensive and dissipated son, delaying forgiveness until the

final quarter of an hour of the young man's life." This almost shows that Judge

Pyncheon's moral development has subsided due to the fact that he didn't even forgive his

dying son until the "final quarter of an hour of the young man's life." The way the
narrator cynically describes the judge gives the reader a false sense of notion for

Pyncheon all together.

Additionally speaking, there is a great amount of significance seen when

describing the character of Judge Pyncheon. The narrator mentions the so-called good

that Judge Pyncheon has done within his lifetime, when in all actuality, Pyncheon is not

what he portrays himself to be. His "one wrong act" overshadows everything that he feels

he is. For instance, the text joyously mentions, "Let it overshadow the fair aspect of a

lifetime!" The narrator describes Judge Pyncheon as so; as a result, the reader senses the

highly overwhelming sense of sarcasm.

As seen in the modern times, politicians portray themselves as something they are

not. Judge Pyncheon, in the same sense, is covering up all of his faults by pointing out

insignificant facts to better himself. He is covering up his blunders, like one covers

themselves with a blanket. "A hard, cold man, thus unfortunately situated, seldom or

never looking inward, and resolutely taking his idea of himself from what purports to be

his image, as reflected in the mirror of public opinion, can scarcely arrive at true self-

knowledge, except through the loss of property and reputation." Judge Pyncheon tries to

repress his true self by disguising his mistakes with all of his "accomplishments." He is a

person who does not truly look inside himself and he fails to recognize the fact that he is

not as noteworthy as he wants to portray himself. Obviously, the narrator finds this

eminent fact as something appalling and notes it otherwise. He disputes it by saying that

Judge Pyncheon helps the poor, but wears nice clothes and his "handsome gold-headed

cane." Judge Pyncheon's morality is so high, yet he doesn't forgive his dying son until so

on.
 Through the use of syntax and a multitude of literary methods, Nathaniel

Hawthorne emphasizes the fact that this specific character happens to be fabricated. His

overly-worded account of himself makes Judge Pyncheon try to be something he is not. It

is highly crucial to recognize the fact that the narrator finds this certain character a sham.

Judge Pyncheon is unquestionably a fake to himself and society. Like that of a corrupt

politician or goverment official, an obvious facade is seen in Hawthorne's highly prided

character. It strikes an odd resemblence to what is going on in the real world and how

people promote themselves in society.