The House of the Seven Gables

Lauren Dodds
Dr. Adam Johns
Seminar in Composition
September 3, 2008

Adopting New Democratic Ideas

The first five chapters of The House of the Seven Gables hit on the themes of change, democracy and history. When Hepzibah, a descendant of the Pyncheon ancestry, finds herself in penury, she weighs her options and decides to open a cent shop. Her first customer, Mr. Holgrave, realizing she is ashamed to lose her status as a “lady”, encourages her by saying, “These names of gentleman and lady had a meaning, in the past history of the world, and conferred privileges, desirable or otherwise, on those entitled to bear them. In the present—and still more in the future condition of society—they imply not privilege, but restriction!”(Hawthorne 30) This quote shows Hepzibah’s struggle between the past aristocratic notions and the modern democratic ideas.

Colonel Pyncheon built the house of the seven gables so that he and his descendents could hold authority for generations to come. They were in quest of a certain tract of land that would give them even more eminence. In this way they followed a form of monarchism that differs greatly from the modern society in which Hepzibah refused to recognize until she opened her cent shop. The title that she held as a lady was not at all beneficial in the present day, if anything, it held her captive in a decaying house, isolated from the world. This is a new beginning for Hepzibah. Holgrave encourages her to forget about her gentility that was important in the past and to embrace the ideals of democracy. Hard work and manual labor should not be considered as lowly or degrading, but rather, honored for their part in the “united struggle of mankind” (Hawthorne 30). When she reaches out her palm for her first penny earned she was no longer a lady, but a simple shop keeper who had to work to earn her bread. Her ancestry was no longer important, nor the portraits on the wall, nor the maps of her Eastern territory. That very moment she felt a sudden change. She no longer felt burdened by the anxiety of her new project, but rather she was overcome with a “thrill of youthful enjoyment” (Hawthorne 34).

Hepzibah’s struggle to let go of her aristocracy is sharply contrasted with new life that Phoebe brings to the dark house. Phoebe is Hepzibah’s cousin, but since her mother is considered lower class, Phoebe is not a true “lady”. She is also unlike any of the Pyncheons in that she processes great skills in housekeeping and shop-keeping. She is not at all ashamed of her mother, nor is she ashamed to partake in hard work. Hepzibah was concerned that if she were to house her cousin, she couldn’t feed her, but Phoebe told her she intended to earn her bread. This was something Hepzibah was unfamiliar with, but Phoebe went right to work and Hepzibah was in awe of her abilities. She possessed capitalistic skills in the shop. She was brilliant at accommodating the customers and after selling much of the inventory, she had many suggestions about what Hepzibah should purchase to be sold. Phoebe is another character that demonstrates democratic ideas. She sees no shame in getting her hands dirty to earn a wage and she doesn’t see her father’s ancestral ties as an excuse to avoid work. It doesn’t seem to bother her that she cannot be considered a lady and she allows nothing to hold her back. This introduction of Phoebe to the house presents a positive change in the Hepzibah’s environment, helping her in her quest to leave behind her aristocratic past and conform to modern democratic notions.

In the present day, Paris Hilton is a celebrity who was born into wealth and later had to work to make a living. Granddaughter of hotel mogul Barron Hilton whose net worth is currently at 2.3 billion, Paris was born into the lap of luxury. She lived a lavish lifestyle and was accused by some of “being famous for being famous.” However, in December of 2007, Barron Hilton became fed up with Paris’ un-lady-like behavior after the sex tape and the imprisonment. The inheritance of Paris and the other grandchildren was greatly diminished when Barron announced that he was going to donate 97 percent of his wealth to the charity that his father founded. To ensure her lifestyle of luxury would continue, Paris could not simply rely on the inheritance of her ancestors’ fortune, but rather, she would need to earn her millions on her own.

Though Paris Hilton differs greatly from old maid Hepzibah, their situations are comparable. Hepzibah was born into the Pyncheon family, and like any celebrity child would, she used the family status to her benefit. When the wealth of the family dwindled, Hepzibah had to go out and earn her bread as any other common folk. However, unlike Hepzibah, Paris could still hold on to her fame and use it to her benefit while Hepzibah had to sacrifice her status as a lady.

Though I find it very hard to relate to Paris Hilton, my life is comparable to Hepzibah’s. In my eighteen years I have experienced a comfortable life. My parents weren’t well-known aristocrats like Hepzibah’s ancestors, but they provided me with food, shelter and clothing. I earned money weekly for simply breathing and for sixteen years I could survive off of twenty dollars a week without having to get my hands dirty with any form of labor. However, when gas prices skyrocketed I knew that a job was necessary to maintain my financial state. The day I earned my first paycheck I had adopted the democratic ideas that Hepzibah was trying the grasp. Instead of relying on my parents’ money to carry me through life, I made money on my own. By joining the work force and earning a wage, I was no longer solely dependent on the wealth of my parents. As I attend college I am preparing myself for a job that will allow me to make my own living, completely independent of that of my mother or father’s.

In the modern world, an individual cannot rely on his ancestry to carry him through life. It is a fundamental value to join workforce and become an active member of society in which individuals make a name for themselves. Hard work is no longer viewed as only for the lower class, but rather as a necessary task for most all of mankind. There is a certain dignity that goes along with labor.