The House of the Seven Gables Lesson Plan

What does the variety of Holgrave's careers tell us about his character, especially when contrasted with other characters, particularly the Pyncheons?

We learn that Holgrave, though only twenty-two, has held numerous careers. This puts him in direct contrast with the highly institutional Pyncheons. It also paints him as highly active and enterprising, another contrast to Hepzibah and Clifford, who are idle and childlike (with little indication that they were different when young). Even Jaffrey and Phoebe both represent more stability and conformist tendencies. Holgrave is a radical, by contrast.

What is the effect of the story-within-a-story about Alice Pyncheon? What is...