Though a wealthy man

Though a wealthy man

Though a wealthy man, Judge Pyncheon cares dearly about his public appearance. He is regarded as a man of high status and cares much about his reputation. Nathaniel Harthorne’s novel, The House of the Seven Gables, depicts Judge Pyncheon as a wealthy character who struggles with his past misdeeds. Harthorne utilizes imagery and tone to characterize Judge Pyncheon.

Judge Pyncheon is descriptive using vivid imagery. He is shown as a wealthy man with a high status. His luxury of his attire is described as “snowy whiteness of his linen … the handsomeness of his gold-headed cane” (25-27). Harthorne’s specific choice of language and visualization of Pyncheons attire suggests that he purposefully and thoughtfully included imagery into his writing to illustrate Pyncheons wealth and status. Especially, a cane is regarded as a symbol of great power and wealth, to illustrate that Pyncheon is on another level as Harthorne suggests that he is holding a “golden” and more luxurious cane. He is also characterized as a man who cares deeply about his public perception. As he is in the street Pyncheon scrupulously “pays public notice [with] a bow, a lifting of a hat, a nod … rich or poor” (30-33). While a man of high-status Pyncheon is illustrated to care deeply about the public, more importantly the perception of the public of himself. Hawthorne also illustrates an image of Pyncheon tirelessly creating a public image of himself amongst wanderers with the use of specific vocabulary such as “scrupulousness” to show that he is analyzing even minute signs and evidence to better understand and raise his reputation. Hathorne’s specific choice of imagery helps the reader understand Pyncheons luxury lifestyle and his obsession with his reputation amongst others.

Having used imagery to depict his characterization of Pynceon, Hathorne continues to use a specific tone in order to continue developing his arguments. Hawthorne mentions that Pyncheon is a “hard, cold man … never looking inward” (54-55). Through the author’s use of tone it is evident that he is suggesting to the reader that Pyncheon should be pitied. He has become so grotesquely obsessed with his external appearance that he has forsaken his internal appearance. While Pyncheon may appear rich and highly-regarded, he is not rich in happiness. Hawthorne continues to reflect on Pyncheon’s grim fate, as he will never “arrive at true self-knowledge [without] the loss of property and reputation” (57-60). As he looks at himself through the opinions of others, he will never be able to know his true self. Hawthorne’s tone suggests the Patheon requires the ability of “self-knowledge” to truly be happy. However, Pyncehon will never truly understand and know his true self and be rewarded with internal richness without first experiencing tragedy and the loss of his reputation. Suggesting that since Pyncheon looks at himself through the opinions of others and is fixated on his reputation, he will never be willing to give up his reputation. So he will never achieve internal happiness without first experiencing tragedy.

Hawthorne’s use of imagery and tone work simultaneously to provide the reader with an in depth characterization of Judge Pyncheon. Though he is wealthy externally, his lust for reputation undermines his ability to be wealthy internally. Pyncheon lives a bleak and grim life as he depends on his public appearance to provide him with the false pretense of happiness. To truly experience a blissful life Pyncheon must first experience tragedy.

Though a wealthy man, Judge Pyncheon cares dearly about his public appearance. He is regarded as a man of high status and cares much about his reputation. Nathaniel Harthorne’s novel, The House of the Seven Gables, depicts Judge Pyncheon as a wealthy character who struggles with his past misdeeds. Harthorne utilizes imagery and tone to characterize Judge Pyncheon.

Judge Pyncheon is descriptive using vivid imagery. He is shown as a wealthy man with a high status. His luxury of his attire is described as “snowy whiteness of his linen … the handsomeness of his gold-headed cane” (25-27). Harthorne’s specific choice of language and visualization of Pyncheons attire suggests that he purposefully and thoughtfully included imagery into his writing to illustrate Pyncheons wealth and status. Especially, a cane is regarded as a symbol of great power and wealth, to illustrate that Pyncheon is on another level as Harthorne suggests that he is holding a “golden” and more luxurious cane. He is also characterized as a man who cares deeply about his public perception. As he is in the street Pyncheon scrupulously “pays public notice [with] a bow, a lifting of a hat, a nod … rich or poor” (30-33). While a man of high-status Pyncheon is illustrated to care deeply about the public, more importantly the perception of the public of himself. Hawthorne also illustrates an image of Pyncheon tirelessly creating a public image of himself amongst wanderers with the use of specific vocabulary such as “scrupulousness” to show that he is analyzing even minute signs and evidence to better understand and raise his reputation. Hathorne’s specific choice of imagery helps the reader understand Pyncheons luxury lifestyle and his obsession with his reputation amongst others.

Having used imagery to depict his characterization of Pynceon, Hathorne continues to use a specific tone in order to continue developing his arguments. Hawthorne mentions that Pyncheon is a “hard, cold man … never looking inward” (54-55). Through the author’s use of tone it is evident that he is suggesting to the reader that Pyncheon should be pitied. He has become so grotesquely obsessed with his external appearance that he has forsaken his internal appearance. While Pyncheon may appear rich and highly-regarded, he is not rich in happiness. Hawthorne continues to reflect on Pyncheon’s grim fate, as he will never “arrive at true self-knowledge [without] the loss of property and reputation” (57-60). As he looks at himself through the opinions of others, he will never be able to know his true self. Hawthorne’s tone suggests the Patheon requires the ability of “self-knowledge” to truly be happy. However, Pyncehon will never truly understand and know his true self and be rewarded with internal richness without first experiencing tragedy and the loss of his reputation. Suggesting that since Pyncheon looks at himself through the opinions of others and is fixated on his reputation, he will never be willing to give up his reputation. So he will never achieve internal happiness without first experiencing tragedy.

Hawthorne’s use of imagery and tone work simultaneously to provide the reader with an in depth characterization of Judge Pyncheon. Though he is wealthy externally, his lust for reputation undermines his ability to be wealthy internally. Pyncheon lives a bleak and grim life as he depends on his public appearance to provide him with the false pretense of happiness. To truly experience a blissful life Pyncheon must first experience tragedy.