Nathaniel Hawthorne
• “My Kinsman, Major Molineaux”- P. 607
o Purpose of Robin’s trip?
• His uncle , Milineaux, had offered him opportunity in his town (Job, financial, etc.)
o Why is it that when robin arrives in town that they don’t offer any information about Molineaux when Robin asks?
• Bottom of 610. **will need to make a point and back it up with book evidence. For exam.
• Because he was a wanted man.
• They did not like him because he was part of the upper class and who they were going against. His uncle was a public enemy
Molineaux known as a public enemy in the town (loyalist during the Amer. Revolution; sided with British); Physical and Symbolic representation of the British Crown.
• Loyalists often represented as villains in lit. of this time period.
Hawthorne’s is inverting this image in this story by making the Americans out to be the villains. (one interpretation)
• Other interpretation: Both sides represented fairly? No villains or heroes.
Not balanced because they chose someone to pick on. The other colonists are revolutionary?
i. Question: Are there actually no heroes or villains in this story? Just people portrayed fairly as they were…
a. Instead of being black and white, it was all shades of grey. Had bad moments but not real “villain” moments.
• The Story is an Allegory
o Story, poem or picture that has a hidden meaning, typically a political one.
o Pg.607 Intro, Portion of story is a blue print of allegroy that is to come)
• “The annals of MA bay will inform us… were favored with few and brief intervals of peaceful sway” (1st paragraph)
Section provides clues about symbolic people who will show up throughout the story (6 people)
• Old man w. grey wig- (p.608)
Threatens Robin with the stocks
symbolic representation of 1st two governors
• 2nd man with lantern (p. 612)
Threatens robin with the stocks too
2nd representation of the 1st two governors
• 3rd man bulky stranger in cloak (p.613)
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