“All men should strive
to learn before they die
what they are running from, and to, and why.”
~James Thurber
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The
narrator reveals the
character of Judge Pyncheon by
contrasting his outward
extravagance and internal
ironies to suggest that the Judge
cannot fully be the person he
wants to be.
Tone
and Tonal Shifts
Syntax
Diction
Selection on Detail
Point of View
Repetition
Sarcastic
lines like, “what room could
possibly be found for darker traits, in a
portrait made up of lineaments like
these!” (lines 34-36).
Contrasted with….
More declarative statements like, “A
hard, cold man, thus unfortunately
situated, seldom or never looking
inward,” (lines 54-56).
 Mega-sentence
(lines 6-36) with structures
like
 “The purity of his judicial character, while on
the bench; the faithfulness of his public
service in subsequent capacities; his
devotedness to his party…” (lines 6-9)
 Juxtaposed next to sentences like, “Sickness
will not always help him to it; not always the
death hour!” (lines 61-62).
Questionable Descriptions:
“splendid rubbish”
“studied propriety”
“the cleanliness of his
moral deportment”
“His confining himself, since
his last attack of the gout,
to five diurnal glasses of
old Sherry wine,” lines 2325.
Relationship with his son
Unimpeachable Descriptions:
“A hard, cold man”
“can scarcely arrive at true selfknowledge”
“resolutely taking his idea of
himself from what purports to
be his self-image”
*Note where lines come from in passage.
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In the mega-sentence (6-36), no detail of the judge’s life is
spared.
Specific details such as “his benefits of horticulture, by
producing two much-esteemed varieties of the pear”(15)
After the mega-sentence, a lack of details shows a lack of
self awareness.
Only one detail is given that might show self-knowledge:
“taking his idea of himself from what purports to be his
image, as reflected in the mirror of public opinion…”(56).
This
passage is written from a
third person point of view (“his
early and reckless youth”).
The only thought seen of the
judge is from the narrator’s
perception of the judge’s
thoughts.
Lines 34-36: “What room could possibly be found for
darker traits, in a portrait made up of lineaments like
these!”
 Lines 44-47: “the inevitable force of circumstances
should occasionally make him do one questionable
deed, among a thousand praiseworthy, or, at least,
blameless ones”
 Lines 47-50: “would you characterize that Judge by that
one necessary deed, and that half-forgotten act, and
let it overshadow the fair aspect of a lifetime!”
 All the good things he’s done and doing don’t count?
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In another novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne (The Scarlet
Letter), the character of Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale finds
himself in a similar situation to Judge Pyncheon. Both are
in a position of power in their respective communities, yet
both have done something wrong.
The difference between the two characters is the way they
handle themselves after the fact. Dimmesdale feels guilty
and punishes himself for his wrongdoings, but Judge
Pyncheon ignores his past actions.
What can the reader conclude about each character?
Good guy vs. “good guy”
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