This thesis looks at the short story cycle 'Legends of the Province House' by Nathaniel Hawthorne and analyses it with view on the depiction of history. It was handed in in 2003 and reflects the state of research at that time.
History pervades Hawthorne's work, and very often his short stories are primarily historical tales. This particularly applies to these four short stories, which are illustrations and discussions of the pre-revolutionary era up to the American Revolution.
Table of Contents
I. Introduction and Preliminaries
II. Historical Background
II.1 Thomas Hutchinson – Epitome of British Rule?
II.2 The Province House – From Centre of Power to Oblivion
III. “Legends of the Province House”
III.1 The frame story
III.2 “Howe’s Masquerade”
III.3 “Edward Randolph’s Portrait”
III.4 “Lady Eleanor’s Mantle”
III.5 “Old Esther Dudley”
IV. Conclusion – “Moral History” or “Divided Loyalties”?
Research Objective and Core Themes
This work examines Nathaniel Hawthorne’s collection “Legends of the Province House” by analyzing its relationship with historical documents and contemporary accounts. The primary research goal is to demonstrate how Hawthorne integrates real historical events and figures into his fictional narratives to explore the complexities of colonial American history, divided loyalties, and the tension between royal authority and revolutionary change.
- The historical role of Governor Thomas Hutchinson as a polarizing figure in colonial politics.
- The use of the “Province House” as both a physical setting and a metaphor for decaying British power.
- The structural function of the frame story in navigating the reader through different historical layers.
- The allegorical interpretation of the stories in relation to colonial American identity.
- The portrayal of the American Revolution not as a simple moral binary, but as a complex transition involving shifting allegiances.
Book Excerpt
II.1 Thomas Hutchinson – Epitome of British Rule?
Few of the royal governors have been associated with the evils of British rule in such a ferocious way as Governor Thomas Hutchinson. Who was this man, and why was he followed by such hate? How did Nathaniel Hawthorne portray him in The Whole History of Grandfather’s Chair?
Many biographies of Hutchinson and more than one analysis of his governmental style have been written. One of the latest accounts is A. S. Walmsley’s Thomas Hutchinson & the Origins of the American Revolution. Walmsley is following up exactly the question put above: Why was Hutchinson made the epitome of the hated British rule?
Thomas Hutchinson (1711–1781) came from a trader’s family that had been living in Massachusetts for several generations. Anne Hutchinson (subject of another one of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short stories) was expelled from the town of Boston for religious distortion. Her children came back to the town and founded one of the most trusted and valued families of Boston. Thomas set up in business when he was rather young, but at the same time developed a keen interest in politics. After his two sons were old enough to enter in the business he had more time to invest into his political ambitions. By then he was already Chief Justice of the Province of Massachusetts Bay and held some other minor posts. This collection of political posts was the main point of objection to many of his opponents.
Summary of Chapters
I. Introduction and Preliminaries: The introduction outlines the neglect of the “Legends” in academic research and sets the stage for a comparative study between Hawthorne’s texts and historical records.
II. Historical Background: This chapter contextualizes the political career of Thomas Hutchinson and traces the history of the Province House as the seat of royal authority.
III. “Legends of the Province House”: The central part of the work provides a detailed analysis of the frame story and the four individual tales, linking each to the historical trajectory of Massachusetts Bay.
IV. Conclusion – “Moral History” or “Divided Loyalties”?: The final chapter synthesizes the findings, arguing that Hawthorne’s work represents a “moral history” that seeks to balance loyalist and revolutionary perspectives.
Keywords
Nathaniel Hawthorne, Legends of the Province House, Thomas Hutchinson, American Revolution, Colonial History, British Rule, Province House, Historical Fiction, Allegory, Loyalism, Patriotism, Massachusetts Bay, Puritanism, Political Identity, Literary Analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this academic work?
The work provides a comprehensive literary and historical analysis of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “Legends of the Province House,” examining how the stories reflect the political atmosphere of pre-revolutionary Massachusetts.
What are the primary thematic fields covered?
The study focuses on the intersection of fiction and history, the portrayal of colonial governance, the conflict of loyalties during the American Revolution, and the usage of historical buildings as literary settings.
What is the central research question?
The author explores how Hawthorne uses historical figures and settings to create a narrative that complicates the traditional “black and white” interpretation of the American Revolution.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The work utilizes a comparative method, contrasting Hawthorne’s literary portrayals with primary historical accounts, specifically Thomas Hutchinson’s own writings and contemporary research.
What content is addressed in the main body of the work?
The main body examines the historical background of Thomas Hutchinson and the Province House, followed by a critical, story-by-story analysis of the “Legends” and their frame narrative.
Which keywords best characterize this research?
Key terms include American Revolution, Thomas Hutchinson, colonial governance, moral history, literary allegory, and political identity.
How does the author characterize the portrayal of Governor Hutchinson?
The work argues that Hawthorne’s portrayal of Hutchinson is remarkably ambiguous, presenting him as a man driven by conviction and duty rather than mere malice, despite his role as a representative of the Crown.
What significance does the “frame story” hold within the collection?
The frame story is identified as vital for the narrative structure, as it allows the narrator to mediate between the present day and the distant past, establishing the thematic context for the subsequent tales.
- Quote paper
- Dr. phil. Michael Heinze (Author), 2003, Nathaniel Hawthorne’s ‘Legends of the Province House’ in relation to historical documents, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/85253
