My Kinsman, Major Molineux by Hawthorne - Essay Example

My Kinsman, Major Molineux Introduction Hawthorne’s My Kinsman, Major Molineux comes across as a story about growing up and becoming more mature. From the research done regarding the story, it is evident that not only the protagonist matures as a person but also the country and the town that surrounds him changes in a less noticeable way. The entire tale can be seen as an allegory to cultural changes which were coming up rapidly during the times the story was written. Robin has to accept his loss of innocence much like the culture of the time had to accept the changes which were being thrust on it by political and cultural changes as well as the changing place of religion in the hearts and minds of the people. The story itself is a part of a collection which was titled The Snow-Image, and Other Twice-Told Tales. The collection was first published in 1851 and became a major influence on other American short story writers for years to come. Although Hawthorne held several jobs throughout his life and was even a counsel for the young and fierce American President (Franklin Pierce) but it is for his four novels and his short stories he is remembered best. Insofar as these short stories are concerned, Broes (1964) pays homage to the tale of My Kinsman, Major Molineux by saying that it is, “the most widely analyzed of all Hawthorne’s short stories (Broes, 1964, Pg. 171).” Additionally, he also says that, “Critics have been unanimous in according the story a prominent place among his works (Broes, 1964, Pg. 171)”. Robin and the City The world in which My Kinsman, Major Molineux is set appears to be a very bright and shiny one since even the clothes of the people were made from, “Embroidered garments of showy colors, enormous periwigs, gold-laced hats, and silver-hilted swords (Hawthorne, 1851, Pg. 1213).” Robin was quick to spot the differences between him and others on the street of the town since Hawthorne says that Robin saw, “Traveled youths, imitators of the European fine gentlemen of the period, trod jauntily along, half dancing to the fashionable tunes which they hummed, and making poor Robin ashamed of his quiet and natural gait (Hawthorne, 1851, Pg. 1213)”. Pearce (2001) is quick to latch on to this difference and describes that, “as we might expect in the case of a boy from the village wandering into Hogarths London, he is obliged to resist the entreaties of a lady of the evening (Pearce, 2001, Pg. 19).” Bermer takes the situation one step further and altogether closer to the real meaning when he explains that the problems being faced by Robin are not Robin’s alone since all of America was trying to come to terms in “dealing with urbanization and industrialization (Bermer, 1981, Pg. 49).” Clearly, Robin is fascinated but he is also in conflict since he is completely out of his element in the society he has come to. That is the central message of the story and events that unfold as the story continues suggest that the analysis made by Herbert (1991) combines the various elements and events of the story to suggest that, “My Kinsman, Major Molineux portrays the quandary of a young man who carries the social habits of deferential hierarchy into the era of their overthrow (Herbert, 1991, Pg. 23)”. The Conflicts Robin’s internal conflict is only deepened by the fact that he comes from “the household of a New England Clergyman (Hawthorne, 1851, Pg. 1215)”. Where such activities and interests (as they are presented to him by the city) may be difficult to think of much less perform or take part in. However, he is clearly not infatuated with the new city he has arrived in since his search for his kinsman with the “unusual patronym (Bier, 1982, Pg. 28)” continues without a break until he falls into a homesick trance where he starts remembering how his father had established a “custom to perform domestic worship that the neighbors might come and join with him like brothers of the family (Hawthorne, 1851, Pg. 1218).” The quick switch from describing the modern (and the sinful) as well as the old and the pious certainly helps in making sure that the reader is aware of the juxtaposition between the two. Along with a change in morals, the country is also going through a change in the placement of religion in terms of the daily affairs of the people. It is not very clear how much important Robin himself placed on religion and the rites involved in religion but it is clear that he gave some importance to them. Perhaps it was more the idea of religion that appealed to him since nature and the “biblical references contained in the tale (Deusen, 1982, Pg. 11)” show that he was still his father’s son. The Major in All his Glory Clearly there is some change which is coming and some event is about to pass which will change not only Robin but also the innocence of America as a whole. That event for Robin was the sight of his kinsman in disgrace as he was paraded by the crown with tar and feathers. The man who Robin expected would help him find his way in life was being humiliated and punished by the townsfolk and that was something that changed him completely. Pearce (2001) describes the sight as, “The new America that empowers the mob and throws out the gentlemanly class, in the form of Major Molineux (Pearce, 2001, Pg. 22).” While the culture shock for being in the city Robin was already pretty strong, the shock of seeing all his values like showing respect to elders and being polite to people being destroyed also affected him greatly. Near the end of the story, Robin concludes his experience of the past few days with an air of disgust for the life he saw in the city when he says that, “I have at last met my kinsman, and he will scarce desire to see my face again. I begin to grow weary of a town life (Hawthorne, 1851, Pg. 1223).” The story ends on a positive note and does leave some hope for the future since despite the cruelty shown to the character of Major Molineux, we know that Robin himself does not give up on his initial aim of making something of his life. He shares the moment of his personal change with the crowd but only he knows what he has changed into and despite his own explanation of why he wishes to leave the city, it is clear that he can do a lot more for himself in being in the city to find his fortunes than being out of it and going back to the house of his father. Conclusion I feel that the story itself is unfinished and the reader is left hanging in suspense as to what became of Major Molineux and how Robin developed as a person. I think that a sequel or a continuation of the same story is necessary to give it some closure. Of course we have historical evidence to show that shrewd young men who came to the cities in those times had a good chance to find their fortunes and even become captains of industry in future America, but the story in its present form does not give any closure to the reader. Despite this, I have to agree that the story and the characters are beautifully created and one can certainly relate to the effect of change as it is experienced by an individual who does not wish things to change too drastically too fast. Works Cited Deusen, M. “Sex and religion in Hawthorne’s My Kinsman Major Molineux” American Notes & Queries 21.2(1982): 11-13. Herbert, T. “Doing cultural work: `My Kinsman Major Molineux and the construction of the self-made man” Studies in the Novel 23.1(1991):20-28. Bremer, S. “ Exploring the myth of Rural America and Urban Europe” Studies in Short Fiction 18.1(1981): 49-58. Pearce, C. “Hawthornes My Kinsman, Major Molineux” Explicator 60.1(2001): 19-23. Bier, J. “Hawthornes My Kinsman, Major Molineux” Explicator 41.1(1982): 28-31. Broes, A. “Journey Into Moral Darkness: “My Kinsman, Major Molineux” as Allegory” Nineteenth-Century Fiction 19.2 (1964): 171-184. Hawthorne, N. “My Kinsman, Major Molineux” University of Virginia Library. 1851. 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