著者

藤吉 清次郎

出版者

活水女子大学

雑誌

活水論文集. 英語学科・英語科編 (ISSN:13472313)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.47, pp.17-31, 2004-03-31

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This article demonstrates that the happy ending of The House of the Seven Gables is appropriate, not ironical, nor catering to the readers' optimistic tastes of the times, by investigating the next three points : (1)the change of Holgrave's way of thinking which goes with his spiritual growth (2) the social background of nineteenth-century America which was infested with mesmerism and also with land struggle, and (3)the characterization of Phoebe as someone with strong 'poise' with which she can lead a wholesome life even in the age of the coming industrial capitalism. The key to Holgrave's spiritual growth lies in the acceptance of his own desire rather than in the control of it. This was because he had a prejudice that he was free from any desire. That acceptance makes him give up his position as a 'cold observer' and get into the 'magnetic chain of humanity' by owning a family and estate. The marriage between Holgrave with a 'democratic spirit, ' who has accepted his own desire and his sinfulness, and Phoebe with a 'knack' for living, indicates the possibility of renewal for American society, which was then thrown into confusion with the rapid expansion of industrial capitalism. Their union can be seen in larger terms as more than the reconciliation of the two families who hate each other.