A bit theme heavy, aren't "we"

It seems that for the next few weeks, "we" will be doing a lot of observation into the life of Hepzibah, and possibly other Pyncheons, oh, and maybe a few Maules. And a really big decaying house in Salem (it is Salem, right?).

The first chapter of The House of Seven Gables could not possibly be more heavy. This is quite a dense piece of work. The unjustness of class distinction has already been raised. Another common theme is that of the rich man building his empire upon the blood of others. I do not doubt that Daniel Plainview took a note or two out of Colonel Pyncheon's book when he built his oil empire.

As far as the building of the Pyncheon mansion, one cannot help but thing of Stevenson's Kidnapped; one can almost hear a woman yelling through the streets of Salem, "Blood built it, blood stopped the building of it, and blood will bring it down." Certainly the curse upon the House of Shaws is similar to the curse of the House of Seven Gables, "God will give him blood to drink." Both houses were built upon blood. This seems to be a common theme in literature (and modern horror films). How many times have we seen a structure doomed by the ghosts of Indians, jilted lovers, or any other manifestation you can imagine. (Lesson 1: Never build your house upon an ancient Indian burial ground)

Houses and their histories. Quite fascinating really. Four walls are perfect for keeping secrets. True, a thin wall may allow a few more vocal accounts to be heard by the community, but most houses hide a lot of secrets. When thinking of the Pyncheons, one can't help but think of the Kane family or those Magnificent Ambersons. If walls could talk(or mirrors), a lot of remarkable tales would ring in our ears.

Whether it be Orson Welles, Robert Louis Stevenson, or Nathaniel Hawthorne, everybody likes to tell the tales of a great house and its great fall.

WC: 336