My Kinsman, Major Molineux
By
Nathaniel Hawthorne
Nathaniel Hawthorne
(1804-1864)
Some classmates at Bowdoin College
supplied him with government employment
Later works show some Transcendentalist
influence. 
1. Belief in individual choice and consequence
2. Emphasis on symbolism
Summary
Introduction to the background of colonial governors.
(preface)
Robin, a 18 yr lad went to a city for his kinsman.
Experienced hostility from city people.
Hungry, poor and tired, he waited by the street.
A procession came by, with his kinsman in as a
criminal.
He woke up, wondering if it is a dream or real event,
at the corner. Thinking of going home.
The gentle man told him to stay “some few days
hence.”
Innocent (Childhood)
Robin: Bird of spring, New life, Innocence
At first : confident (think highly of his kinsman)
- dwelling (589)
- food & drink (590)
- reputation (591)
good in appearance (588)
Proud - civilized (589)
- usual shrewdness (591)
-> Maturity (Adulthood)
Entered the city: “Knew not the way” (589)
“Grabbing the old man’s coat” (589)
Experienced hostility: refused to answer him
Shame on himself: quiet & natural gait (592)
Loosing innocence: cunning smile (593)
aware of the unseen danger
(- dame, guardian (593))
-> Maturity (Adulthood)
Dream of past: seek for returning (596)
In the procession (599):
Procession (noisy, bright, full of laughter)
<-> Robin (quiet, dark, lonely, scared)
:Scared of such maturity, growth.
Robin laugh: recognizing his own folly. (600)
Robin <-> Gentleman: no going back to innocence. (600)
(time to learn independence)
Religion
– All man as sinners
River: Styx river
Leader of procession: devil-like, sinner
Crowd: sinners
When Robin laughed with the crowd, he also
became one of them, sinners.
Light on opened scripture: God’s presence.
Gentleman’s reply: no going back (undo sin)
Goodman vs. Robin
Character: naïve, has idealized (untrue) view.
complete change in one night.
loss of innocence. (faith)
Event happened: Blurred (symbolic) experience
Duality of human nature
Result: Robin: understand reality.
(Staying in the city and grow)
Brown: give up faith. (Died in frustration)
American Dream
Franklin: makes such dream looked easy.
1. Start in daytime. (bright and easy)
2. Friendly city men.
3. Time of gain. (A wife, job, wealthy, reputation,
independence, freedom)
Hawthorne: emphasize the harsh world.
1. Starts at night. (darkness of the harsh world)
2. Hostility
3. Time of loss. (innocence -> guilty adulthood)
Works Cited
“Goodman Vs Robin.” Free Essays, Research Papers for Students. 2002. 21
Oct. 2004 <http://www.essays.cc/free_essays/b1/vdj23.shtml>.
Lemmel. “Re: My Kinsman, Major Molineux.” Online posting. 8 Sep. 2003.
Sparknotes. 20 Oct. 2004 <http://mb.sparknotes.com/mb.
epl?b=53&m=685831&h=molineux,my,major,kinsman >.
“The American Dream. Or Nightmare?” Digital Termpapers. 2004. 20 Oct.
2004 <http://www.digitaltermpapers.com/view.php/d/
The_American_Dr.htm>.
Thekernel. “Re: My Kinsman, Major Molineux.” Online posting. 20 July 2003.
Sparknotes. 20 Oct. 2004 <http://mb.sparknotes.com/mb.
epl?b=53&m=659797&h=molineux,my,major,kinsman>.