The House of the Seven Gables Lesson Plan

Compare and contrast the narrator's descriptions of Hepzibah, Clifford, and Jaffrey, and what we know of each of their public personas. What does this suggest about the author's beliefs about people?

Hepzibah and Clifford are both described as good people. Hepzibah is kind and selfless towards her brother, and Clifford is gentle and childlike. They both, however, have fearsome public reputations. Clifford is a convicted murderer and Hepzibah is seen as a cross old maid. Judge Pyncheon is highly respected in the community, and even seen as largely benevolent, even trying to make Hepzibah believe that this is true about him. However, the narrator informs us that he is much...