Phoebe and Holgrave's love

Kamal Bilal

Per. 3

Phoebe and Holgrave’s Love

            Hawthorne portrays many different themes and motifs throughout the story. There is the major ones such as “appearance vs. reality”, and “You are what your past generation was.” Also there are the less obvious ones, such as “decay” (such as the plump chickens and the aristocratic Pyncheons). I believe that Phoebe’s love for Holgrave shows two themes, “renewal” and how “opposites attract.”

            Phoebe is an inexperienced, and lived a very simple life. However, she has a lot of wisdom, and even though she has lived a very simple life her personality is unforeseen by both the reader and Holgrave. For example, at first Hepzibah anticipates Phoebe to be a burden, but she actually is a great maid, and shopkeeper. Most importantly, Phoebe is a Pyncheon. On the other hand, Holgrave is older which means he has more experience in the real world. Holgrave has also lived a very diverse life. Furthermore, even though both Holgrave and Phoebe have wisdom, Holgrave’s wisdom shows more. Moreover, Holgrave is a Maule. Despite these differences Phoebe and Holgrave declare their love for one another, hence the theme of opposites attract. The theme of renewal is also shown because of the Maule and Pycheon feud. Maules, and Pycheons, are known for not liking each other, primarily because of the dispute over the land, resulting in the Maule curse over Colonel Pycheon. So, the love between Phoebe and Holgrave renews the peace between the two families.