Colin Conner
Dr. Adam Johns
Seminar in Composition
9 September 2008
Immutable Permutations
“Change is the process by which the future invades our lives, and it is important to look at it closely, not merely from the grand perspective of history, but also from the vantage point of the living, breathing individuals who experience it,” (Toffler). This quote from Alvin Toffler’s Future Shock [Introduction] relates directly to the true change that is occurring in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s House of the Seven Gables. The youth (future) of Phoebe and Holgrave are bringing out change in the Pyncheon House and its inhabitants. Both have brought a beam of light and a new outlook on life that before could not be found on the premises of the gloomy, decrepit house. What these two individuals bring to the table is really found in the Pyncheon Garden, which until their arrival has been filled with decay, where change is being brought about and new life is found.
Phoebe’s sunshine brought change to the family of chickens that live in the garden. This family of chickens in a large way represents the Pyncheon family. It was said, “…while in their prime to have attained almost the size of turkeys, and, on the score of delicate flesh, to be fit for a prince’s table” (Hawthorne 61). This relates to the way that the Pycheon family started out as great aristocrats, but also just as the Pyncheon family fell from the throne, so did the chickens; “…the hens were now scarcely larger than pigeons, and had a queer, rusty, withered aspect, and a gouty kind of movement and a sleepy and melancholy tone throughout all the variations of their clucking and cackling” (Hawthorne 61). Once Phoebe appears in the garden, the chickens start to eat and rejuvenate their race, even laying eggs. Even the baby chicken has come of age, “…it looked small enough to still be in the egg, and, at the same time, sufficiently old, withered wizened, and experienced, to have been the founder of the antiquated race” (Hawthorne 104). Also when Clifford arrives home, he decrees that he wants the chickens to be able to roam the garden. This shows the chickens change, growth and freedom, just like Clifford’s.
In the same way Holgrave has brought new and exciting life to a garden where, “The black, rich soil had fed itself with the decay of a long period of time; such as fallen leaves, the petals of flowers, and the stalks and seed vessels of vagrant and lawless plants, more useful after their death than ever while flaunting in the sun” (Hawthorne 59). Holgrave was able to revive the beauty and grace of the many flowers and greenery in the garden. One of the significant flowers that was re-born in the garden was the scarlet blossoming bean vine. This plant really symbolized new life and change since the seeds were found in a drawer left by a Pyncheon many years ago, yet they still had a living germ. They also begin to blossom when Clifford returns the House of the Seven Gables, “And it was a wonderful coincidence, the good lady thought, that the artist should have planted these scarlet-flowering beans - which the hummingbirds sought far and wide, and which had not grown in the Pyncheon garden before for forty years - on the very summer of Clifford’s return” (Hawthorne 102). Clifford’s grim demeanor is changed to childlike happiness when he spends time in the garden smelling the sweet flowers and watching the beautiful humming bees zoom around the garden.
Some may argue that true change is not possible in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The House of the Seven Gables and that no character changes for the better. Phoebe may be an example of a character that started out bright and cheery, but as the novel continues is slowly drained of her light. This is brought up when Phoebe is quoted saying, “I shall never be so merry as before I knew Cousin Hebzibah and poor Cousin Clifford I have grown a great deal older, in this little time. Older, and, I hope, wiser, and – not exactly sadder, but, certainly, with not half so much lightness in my spirits! I have given them my sunshine, and have been glad to give it; but, of course, I cannot both give and keep it” (Hawthorne 149). At first glance everyone would say that Phoebe has become just a dismal as the rest of her relatives, and that they have tainted a vibrant flower. But when I read that quote I feel that Phoebe has most definitely changed for the better; she has learned how to share her positive view on life and help out her relative who needed save from their doom and gloom. I feel that there is never anything more rewarding than helping others and seeing how you have changed their lives for the better.
It is important that we know that characters like Phoebe, Holgrave, and Clifford go through a positive change during the tale. This allows us to understand that sins of the past that cause the downfall and gloom for a family can be turned around and turned into growth. Since this was one of Hawthorne’s main themes, knowing that change can happen gives us hope for the future. It also allows the characters to develop so that we can feel like we are in the story with them. The real question is will this change last?
3 comments:
Colin
The way I've decided to revise your paper is paragraph by paragraph because that way I won't miss anything and we can both obtain a good grade on this.
So, first paragraph-I think is a pretty good way to start out the paper, especially with the quote from Toffler. You make the reader, in this case me, want to keep reading on to see where this subject of change is going. In the next paragraph your starting sentence is a good way to start describing how phoebe brought change, but I think I'd be more intriqued if you told me what about phoebe makes her bring on this new found light to the chickens. I think it'd be more interesting to someone who doesn't know much about the book to hear why is Phoebe so great? You and I both know that she does have this enthusiasm/aroma of "good" around her but I think you need to be a little detailed about it. The quotes that you used were, however, a good way of getting the point across that there was evident change. The last line, "just like Cliffords" could also use a little more detail upon it. Although the chickens changing and clifford changing may be parallel, they're not exactly the same, so maybe try and incorporate or reiterate the change in Clifford. Also, very good comparison between change of Pyncheons and change of chickens. I liked it. I think the next paragraph does a good job of tying to your thesis about how the garden is bringing change and enlightenment to the Pyncheon family, even touching the hopeless Clifford in ways. However, like I said before with Phoebe, maybe try showing what Holgrave is doing, or what about her is making this garden so remarkable and elightening. Generality usually only hurts an argument, rather than helping it. But again, the quotes you selected from the text did a nice job of making the idea of a revitalized household clear to the reader. The second to last paragragh kind of contradicts your thesis at the beginning, however, I think it is necessary. This is because someone reading your paper with the mindset, true change is not better can see their argument and see how you reflect on it. In my opinion, this is better because rather than force feeding your opinion to someone, you explore the other possibilites and give your reasons against them. Saying this though means that you need to go full force into proving that your point is right. I would strengthen this paragraph by adding some more examples of why true change IS possible. You can't give the opposition any reason to believe that your argument isn't strong or valid enough. Maybe try tying in Cliffor and Hepzibah into this paragraph noting their change, even if very minute. Lastly, the final paragraph is a good way of wrapping up your point but I would try and reemphasize your points of emphasis rather than just saying change is possible. Give the opposing reader one more punch in the gut so that after reading this paper they really have to question their belief that true change isn't possible. Overall, I think this was a good paper though. You incorporated a lot of good quotes that helped the reader grasp a better understanding of what you were trying to get across but just make sure that your a little more detailed so that there is no question at the end that your point isn't valid. Feel free to comment me back if you have any questions. Im not an awesome paper writer so I don't know if what I'm saying is particulary worth noting, but this is just what I saw when I read through the paper a few times.
Colin Conner
Dr. Adam Johns
Seminar in Composition
10 September 2008
Immutable Permutations
“Change is the process by which the future invades our lives, and it is important to look at it closely, not merely from the grand perspective of history, but also from the vantage point of the living, breathing individuals who experience it,” (Toffler). This quote from Alvin Toffler’s Future Shock [Introduction] relates directly to the true change that is occurring in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s House of the Seven Gables. The youthfulness (future) of Phoebe and Holgrave are bringing about change in the Pyncheon House and its inhabitants. These young adults radiate a beam of light and a new outlook on life that previously could not be found on the premises of the gloomy, decrepit house. As Hawthorne writes, Phoebe is a “…young girl, so fresh, so unconventional, and yet so orderly and obedient to common rules, as you at once recognized her to be, was widely in contrast, at that moment, with everything about her” (Hawthorne 47), and Holgrave had not “… in his premature experience of life, wasted entirely that beautiful spirit of youth, which, gushing forth from one small heart and fancy, may diffuse itself over the universe, making it all as bright as on the first day of creation” (Hawthorne 124). What these two individuals contribute to the Pyncheon household is most readily apparent in the transformation of the Pyncheon Garden, which, until their arrival, had been filled with decay and desolation. It symbolizes the emotional state of the Pyncheon family where change is being brought about and new life is found.
Phoebe’s energy and sun shining disposition brought change (and food) to the family of chickens that live in the garden. This family of chickens in a large way represents the Pyncheon family. It was said, “…while in their prime to have attained almost the size of turkeys, and, on the score of delicate flesh, to be fit for a prince’s table” (Hawthorne 61). This relates to the way that the Pyncheon family started out as great aristocrats, but also just as the Pyncheon family fell from the throne, so did the chickens; “…the hens were now scarcely larger than pigeons, and had a queer, rusty, withered aspect, and a gouty kind of movement and a sleepy and melancholy tone throughout all the variations of their clucking and cackling” (Hawthorne 61). Once Phoebe appears in the garden, the chickens start to eat and rejuvenate their race, even laying eggs. Even the baby chicken has come of age, “…it looked small enough to still be in the egg, and, at the same time, sufficiently old, withered wizened, and experienced, to have been the founder of the antiquated race” (Hawthorne 104). Also when Clifford arrives home, following a thirty-year imprisonment, he decrees that he wants the chickens to be able to roam the garden. This demonstrates the chickens’ renewed health, growth and freedom, just as Clifford, despite his diminished faculties, begins to thrive under Phoebe’s care and her love of beauty. When Phoebe brought Clifford a flower at the breakfast table, his sorrow and disdain were replaced with cheer and joy as he said, “This has done me good. I remember how I used to prize this flower—long ago, I suppose, very long ago!—or was it only yesterday? It makes me feel young again! Am I young? Either this remembrance is singularly distinct, or this consciousness strangely dim! But how kind of the fair young girl! Thank you! Thank you!” (Hawthorne 75-76).
In the same way, Holgrave has brought new and exciting life to a garden where, “The black, rich soil had fed itself with the decay of a long period of time; such as fallen leaves, the petals of flowers, and the stalks and seed vessels of vagrant and lawless plants, more useful after their death than ever while flaunting in the sun” (Hawthorne 59). Holgrave was able to revive the beauty and grace of the many flowers and greenery in the garden by putting his caring personality and “forget the past” attitude right into the soil. One of the significant flowers that was re-born in the garden was the scarlet blossoming bean vine. This plant really symbolized new life and change since Holgrave found the seeds in a drawer left by a Pyncheon many years ago, yet they still had a living germ. They also begin to blossom when Clifford returns to the House of the Seven Gables, “And it was a wonderful coincidence, the good lady thought, that the artist should have planted these scarlet-flowering beans - which the hummingbirds sought far and wide, and which had not grown in the Pyncheon garden before for forty years - on the very summer of Clifford’s return” (Hawthorne 102). Clifford’s grim demeanor is changed to childlike happiness when he spends time in the garden smelling the sweet flowers and watching the beautiful humming bees zoom around the garden.
Some may argue that true change is not possible in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The House of the Seven Gables and that no character changes for the better. Phoebe may be an example of a character that started out bright and cheery, but as the novel continues is slowly drained of her light. This is brought up when Phoebe is quoted saying, “I shall never be so merry as before I knew Cousin Hebzibah and poor Cousin Clifford I have grown a great deal older, in this little time. Older, and, I hope, wiser, and – not exactly sadder, but, certainly, with not half so much lightness in my spirits! I have given them my sunshine, and have been glad to give it; but, of course, I cannot both give and keep it” (Hawthorne 149). At first glance everyone would say that Phoebe has become just a dismal as the rest of her relatives, and that they have tainted a vibrant flower. But upon reading that quote, I feel that Phoebe has most definitely changed for the better; she has learned how to share her positive outlook on life, her innocence and her purity to help out her relatives who needed to be rescued from their doom and gloom. Clifford is really brought back to life when Phoebe “gives” some of her youth to him and he is able to enjoy some of the beauties that he loved before he was in prison. I feel that there is never anything more rewarding than helping others while using your given talents and witnessing how you may have changed their lives for the better.
It is important that we know that characters like Phoebe, Holgrave, and Clifford undergo a positive change during the tale. This allows us to understand that sins of the past that cause the downfall and gloom for a family can be reversed and can result in growth and enlightenment. We see Phoebe as the new Alice Pyncheon, but she has lived to share her youthful exuberance and sunlight with her relative to improve their life. We see that Holgrave has become a better Matthew Maule (the younger) since he did not continue with his hypnotic control on Phoebe and has a more forward way of thinking to bring the future to the present. And finally we see that Clifford is a revitalized Matthew Maule (the elder) and after being framed for murder has come back to reclaimed the land and wealth that was rightfully his. Since this was one of Hawthorne’s main themes, knowing that change can happen gives us hope for the future:
“Shall we never, never get rid of this Past?” cried he, keeping up the earnest tone of his preceding conversation. “It lies upon the Present like a giant’s dead body In fact, the case is just as if a young giant were compelled to waste all his strength in carrying about the corpse of the old giant, his grandfather, who died a long while ago, and only needs to be decently buried. Just think a moment, and it will startle you to see what slaves we are to bygone times—to Death, if we give the matter the right word!” (Hawthorne 126-127).
The real question the reader needs to ask himself is can this change last?
Chris - your feedback is detailed and good, but might have been structured differently, such that you could have spent more time analyzing the argument as a whole, and a little less on details. I'm not saying you didn't do a fine job - I'm just saying keep the big picture in mind.
Colin - Nice title and opening quote. I like your initial analysis of Phoebe and Holgrave, although you should be wary, in a book as heavy with irony as this, of taking everything at face value - that's the danger with this approach (Holgrave and even Phoebe are often mocked, if only subtly).
Through most of the rest of your paper, you provide some good reasons why we might take Hawthorne at face value. Your analysis of the chickens and the garden is good. The one thing that is missing - and very important! - is some sort of work on the end of the book, which after all features them leaving the house and garden and taking the chickens with them. That really should have been included in your argument.
Your ending sentence is clever.
You might have done more to incorporate a serious counterargument here. You *do* recognize that some might say that nothing changes - what you ignore is the specific relevant claims - for instance, that Holgrave and Phoebe don't really change (which is where Hawthorne's sarcasm about them could come in).
There's quite a bit of good material here; the biggest problem is that you ignore both the end of the book and the obvious counterargument rooted in Hawthorne's wit.
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