Hawthorne

The story begins with a bit of a preface, much like all of the other stories we’ve read. The “preface” describes the appointment of colonial governors by the kings of Great Britain and goes on to describe how the people of the American colonies did not particularly care for the governors as they controlled rather harshly.

                We are introduced to the main character, a young man named Robin, on a ferry as he is traveling to find his wealthy and prestigious uncle, Major Molineux. We are taken on Robin’s journey as he enters the town and asks where his kinsman is, a question to which no one seems to have the answer. The first peculiar even that occurs when Robin asks about Molineux’s whereabouts is when Robin asks the man in front of the barbershop if he will lead him to Molineux and the barbers stop mid-haircut/shave to overhear his conversation. His question must have sparked quite the controversy to make a barber stop mid-haircut. The next time Robin asks to be led to Molineux is in the tavern. At first, I found it odd Robin “felt a sort of brotherhood with these strangers,” but later realized he felt this way because the “strangers” isolated themselves in a corner, something Robin could relate to. While in the tavern, the innkeeper questions Robin and his tattered clothes, believing he is a runaway servant. This reminded me of Sot-Weed and Ben Franklin’s Autobiography.

                One portion of the story I didn’t understand was the significance of the woman. She seemed to be a bit of a harlot as she tried to seduce Robin. Was she a prostitute? Also, after Robin talks to the two-faced man, what does it mean when he refers to him as “genus homo?” Another thing I found peculiar is the fact Hawthorne puts Robin’s thoughts in single lines/separate paragraphs like a monologue.

                In the end, Robin finally sees Major Molineux. I’m not sure what is happing to Molineux, however. I believe the townspeople are humiliating him as he is described as being in “tar-and-feather dignity.” Is he literally tarred and then feathered to look like a chicken? I think Molineux must have been one of the colonial governors and the citizens disliked him for that reason. This would explain why everyone was so rude to Robin when he asked about Molineux. I wonder if Robin was sent by his father to really meet Molineux, or to make him a man and have him start his own life. Perhaps, his father wanted to show Robin the life Molineux led was not all Robin was expecting. Finally, I found myself wondering how this story really connected with Romanticism.