My Kinsman Major Molineux

by Nathaniel Hawthorne

THIS 34 PAGE ARTICLE WAS EXTRACTED FROM THE BOOK: The Garden of Romance, by Nathaniel Hawthorne. To purchase the entire book, please order ISBN 0766148335.

Genres: Short Stories, Classics, Fiction, School, American, Read For School, Historical Fiction

48 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1831

About the author

Nathaniel Hawthorne was a 19th century American novelist and short story writer. He is seen as a key figure in the development of American literature for his tales of the nation's colonial history.

Shortly after graduating from Bowdoin College, Hathorne changed his name to Hawthorne. Hawthorne anonymously published his first work, a novel titled Fanshawe, in 1828. In 1837, he published Twice-Told Tales and became engaged to painter and illustrator Sophia Peabody the next year. He worked at a Custom House and joined a Transcendentalist Utopian community, before marrying Peabody in 1842. The couple moved to The Old Manse in Concord, Massachusetts, later moving to Salem, the Berkshires, then to The Wayside in Concord. The Scarlet Letter was published in 1850, followed by a succession of other novels. A political appointment took Hawthorne and family to Europe before returning to The Wayside in 1860. Hawthorne died on May 19, 1864, leaving behind his wife and their three children.

Much of Hawthorne's writing centers around New England and many feature moral allegories with a Puritan inspiration. His work is considered part of the Romantic movement and includes novels, short stories, and a biography of his friend, the United States President Franklin Pierce.

Reviews

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s story, set in pre-revolutionary America, is one of a country lad, named Robin, who comes to town to seek his fortune by way of his connection with a distant kinsman, Major Molineux. In this clever tale, in which Robin seeks to locate the home of the Major, the lad is exposed to the vices and threats that a town represents to a naive country boy. Confronted by greed, prostitution, pride and unnamed evil, Robin finds himself unable to understand what is occurring about him and his inability to locate his kinsman.

Contrasting both innocence and worldliness, good and evil, knowledge and ignorance, and the value of independence over dependence, Hawthorne sets the stage for an ending that surprises both Robin and the reader. The story is highly symbolic and complex, with layers of meaning that encompass both the coming-of-age maturation of a single character in Robin and the maturation of a nation in the fledgling USA.

I remember studying this story when in high school and find it holds up marvelously after so many years.

[Bill Kerwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes genius gives a preview of itself; Hawthorne’s “My Kinsman Major Molineux” is a fine example of this. Published in The Token and Atlantic Souvenir (1832), when Hawthorne was twenty-eight, it possesses the symbolic resonance, the use of gothic imagery adapted to a vivid colonial atmosphere that characterizes the best of his short fiction to come. Moreover, it expresses a sharp sense of evil and a disillusionment with moral authority that Hawthorne would later bring to perfection—in his mid-forties—in his novel The Scarlet Letter. And yet it is a realistic coming-of age tale too, written by a man young still young enough to empathize with his naive hero and mourn his own loss of innocence, yet mature enough to control a plot and sustain a mood of ludicrous, almost comic menace throughout a narrative of more than seven thousand words, crowded with incident

The naive hero in question is a young man named Robin, who has just arrived by ferry in the city of Boston. He has come from the country to seek his fortune in the great city, and he knows where to start; he was promised employment by an important man: his kinsman, a Major Molineux. He asks those he meets about Molineux’s whereabouts, but is almost universally abused for his pains. A rich old man menaces him with a cane, a tavern-owner accuses him of being an escaped bondservant, and the night watchman threatens him with a night in the stocks for vagrancy. He encounters other people in his journey—including a pretty woman claiming to be Molineux’s housekeeper and a man with a fiery complexion and horn-like protuberances on his brow—but eventually he meets up with Major Molineux. And the laughter that results from this encounter echoes in the readers memory long after the story is done. Is this a rite of passage for Robin. Or a moral failure? Or both.

I’ll end this review with one of my favorite passages, showing young Hawthorne’s gothic impulse combined—as would often be the case—with spiritual meditation. Here Robin, while sitting on the steps of a church and waiting for the coming of Molineux, examines the house directly opposite, wondering if it could belong to the major:

[H]e took a minute survey of an edifice which stood on the opposite side of the street, directly in front of the church-door, where he was stationed. It was a large, square mansion, distinguished from its neighbors by a balcony, which rested on tall pillars, and by an elaborate Gothic window, communicating therewith.

Perhaps this is the very house I have been seeking,” thought Robin.

Then he strove to speed away the time, by listening to a murmur which swept continually along the street, yet was scarcely audible, except to an unaccustomed ear like his; it was a low, dull, dreamy sound, compounded of many noises, each of which was at too great a distance to be separately heard. Robin marvelled at this snore of a sleeping town, and marvelled more whenever its continuity was broken by now and then a distant shout, apparently loud where it originated. But altogether it was a sleep-inspiring sound, and, to shake off its drowsy influence, Robin arose, and climbed a window-frame, that he might view the interior of the church. There the moonbeams came trembling in, and fell down upon the deserted pews, and extended along the quiet aisles. A fainter yet more awful radiance was hovering around the pulpit, and one solitary ray had dared to rest upon the open page of the great Bible. Had nature, in that deep hour, become a worshipper in the house which man had builded? Or was that heavenly light the visible sanctity of the place, — visible because no earthly and impure feet were within the walls? The scene made Robin’s heart shiver with a sensation of loneliness stronger than he had ever felt in the remotest depths of his native woods; so he turned away and sat down again before the door. There were graves around the church, and now an uneasy thought obtruded into Robin’s breast. What if the object of his search, which had been so often and so strangely thwarted, were all the time mouldering in his shroud? What if his kinsman should glide through yonder gate, and nod and smile to him in dimly passing by?

“Oh that any breathing thing were here with me!” said Robin.

[Connie G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eighteen-year-old Robin has left his family's farm to travel to Boston where his kinsman, Major Molineux, has promised to help him since he has important connections. Major Molineux is the colonial governor (or another important representative) for the Massachusetts Bay colony, appointed by the King of England. When Robin asks directions to the Major's home, it's obvious that the people do not think highly of the Major. The story that follows has political themes as the colonists reject England's representative. It also shows Robin learning that he'll have to independently find his way in the world as he reaches adulthood. Robin is young and promising, just like the American colony.

[Britt Halliburton · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel terrible giving this a two star rating, however, I must maintain that, to me, literature should not *only* exist to be interpreted, but should be a fine narrative independent of analysis. This particular outing is only interesting when the allegory is understood along with the text.

Without the literary analysis, young man goes to Boston to find his uncle and everyone is mean to him. He wanders around, has a brief dream sequence and then, the high point in terms of narrative, a crowd arrives with his uncle tarred and feathered. Not wanting to join in uncle in disgrace, Robin laughs and cheers with them until they pass. The crux of the tale only comes about after pages of the character wandering aimlessly and being constantly sneered at by a variety of characters and is not an interesting read by itself. Only with the analysis and meaning of each character introduction, of the moral ambiguity, the religious interpretations and study of history does everything become fascinating. Something you research afterwards and go, "aaaaaah! I see it now!".

The analysis is, indeed, very interesting. The uncle representing Great Britain, portrayed not in a negative light, who is abused by the two-faced revolutionaries, both good and evil, and the mob mentality and insanity of the Bostonians. At the very end, a gentleman suggests that Robin (America) could choose how to grow independently of his uncle (Great Britain). It truly is excellent to study. Just not an excellent read, unlike other Hawthorne works, which are enjoyable both with and without additional context.

[John Yelverton · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a decent short story about a man who thinks a lot more of his kinsman than he should. It's worth reading just for the literary prowess of Nathaniel Hawthorne.

[Bella Dufresne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Uh I don’t really know what happened but pop off I guess. Time to go to sparknotes

[Lori Keeton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s My Kinsman Major Molineux is my first exploration into short stories and it did not disappoint. Set in the pre American Revolutionary period, we are introduced to a young, naive country boy named Robin who arrives in the city of Boston in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The boy has come seeking his wealthy kinsman who he believes will help him make his way in the strange new place. As he searches for the Major’s residence he meets various seedy and crude characters along the way who don’t really help him out. Robin’s expectations are that because of his relative’s political position, the townspeople will surely welcome him warmly and respectfully. Unfortunately Robin roams the streets confused and hungry seeing first hand much immorality and depravity.

This complex short story takes on themes of innocence and corruption, morality and individual freedom. I really enjoyed the imagery in the descriptions of the characters which evoked an eerie feeling perfect for October.

[Juliana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for American Literature

[armin · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a short story by Hawthorne, published not bearing the author's name for some time... It's a villager's first impression of the urban life, in Boston some 50 years before the American revolution, over a night while he's looking for a kinsman of his. The story has a dreamlike progress and except for Robin and a man whose acquaintance he lastly makes, the other characters are not very detailed; it is a short story after all! The boy's observations are astute and although the way he claims to be shrewd is a demonstration of his naiveté but he eventually does act wisely. Hawthorne also depicts the people who, instead of expressing their hatred for the English colonists, drive it towards minor -although named Major in the story- elements of the colonial apparatus and sympathizes with Major Monlineux and those who were his own predecessors in the Customs office of Boston (That's where Hawthorne worked under the administration of President Polk.)

[Oma · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the imagery to the melodrama I really enjoyed this. :>

[channel alli · Rating 3 out of 5]

they tarring on my major til i molineux 😹

[Jessica Loos · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[katerina]

right

[Natalee · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am not fond of Nathaniel Hawthorne's writing style. I like words, just not his words. He's too wordy, or else the words are pretentiously "big" words. Stop Nathaniel, you have nothing to prove to me. And that's not just a facet of the time period; other writers of the time wrote in much clearer language.

The plot itself was not bad. I wish it had been a little shorter though; repetition is only good in small doses otherwise it becomes redundant.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short story of a young man's coming-of-age (over the course of one night), set right before the American Revolution. Hawthorne had a way of making any topic haunting with his wonderful use of imagery.

[shu ✭ · Rating 2 out of 5]

american lit 2022

[ran · Rating 5 out of 5]

lowkey loved??? the prose???? the first line was really wonderful. "it was near nine o'clock of a moonlight evening, when a boat crossed the ferry with a single passenger, who has obtained his conveyance, at the unusual hour, by the promise of an extra fee." hawthrone is not afraid of clauses or long sentences. the boatman takes a survey of the boy's figure which i thought was a really marvelous way to show how young the boy is. onmi third pov? it won me over. his name being robin won me over. that's such a young, adventurous boy name. hawthrone read extensively in colonial histories before writing this story and it bleeds through - i wonder if the worldbuilding invoked nostalgia for the readers. more prose: "you will be wiser in time." "and the noon had found him, and left him, dinnerless." "had nature, in that deep hour, become worshipper in the house, which man had builded?" i was so delighted. the tavern was a great scene. am not sure how i feel about the major's dame, her seductive and foxy to scared persona did not really do it for me. and when he was scared: "oh, that any breathing thing were here with me." in class we talked about how writing is not just writing, it is saying something everyone knows but hasn't said, and i felt that here. "i have laughed very little since leaving home, and should be very sorry to lose an opportunity." i thought the man that found him on the church would be the major. and ending was perfect. the solemn but still vaguely hopeful coming of age note from the gentleman was wonderful.

[Mbuye · Rating 4 out of 5]

This 1832 short story is a shocking recollection of the bleak time before the American Revolution. British authority figures faced the wrath of the colonists, who had no other way to address their grievances other than by humiliating, defying, and in many cases, attacking them with violence.

‘My kinsman, Major Molyneux’ is remarkable more for the atmosphere, the disorientation that the eighteen-year old Robin has one evening, when one evening he lands at Massachusetts to look for his relative, and seek his help in starting a career. This proves to be impossible, as the mere mention of the cousin’s name provokes anger or jeers or mockery. When he finally sees Major Molineux, he joins in the laughter and jeering – and his kinsman recognises him.

In one night, a raw youth from the country becomes overnight a man, overwhelmed by mob hysteria of the most brutish kind. At the same time, the realisation dawns on him that he might navigate life and career without the support of nepotism and privilege.

A dark story, profoundly moving, but told with extraordinarily delicate good humour to all parties.

[Elza · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as bad as Bartleby considering the fact that Hawthorne does have a nice writing style compared to Melville. However, nothing much happens.
Basically, it’s just the story of a guy looking for another guy. There are a few creepy encounters along the story but tbh nothing that actually affected me, I just didn't feel any emotion reading it.
The plot is rather tedious and overall, can we just all agree on using a map next time? That would really be awesome.

Update: I eventually realized there was an allegory + historical context to the story, my bad. That makes it a bit less worse

[Cassandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable read that encapsulates everything I appreciate about Hawthorne's work. The story on the face of it could be called boring or pointless, but it's in the symbolism that I find wonderful. Every color, event, flower, name etc has some deeper meaning or interpretation. Fantastic for better understanding the mindset of the day and American mythology.

[April Helms · Rating 5 out of 5]

A young man named Robin travels to Boston, to look for his prestigious relative Major Molineux in hopes of getting a head start on life. However, his is puzzled and dismayed when many of the townspeople give him the cold shoulder at his queries about where Molineux lives. An excellent short story that keeps you guessing until the end, even with hints throughout.

[Bud Russell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Allegory. The themes of coming of age, independence, and a quest for identity are doubly present in the story, often considered a parable for America’s coming of age, or quest for independence from the British. Didn't care for it.

[Katrina Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. The ending baffled me, until I looked up the analogy. Then things made a lot more sense, and I could appreciate the story more. And the writing style is SUBLIME.

But still, not my fave.

[Jsaa · Rating 2 out of 5]

My Kinsman Major Molineux, not the most riveting read. But a reflective one in this perverted world. Here is a link to short story if you're interested:

http://www.hawthorneinsalem.org/mirro...

[Brittney · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had to read this for college. Idk if im just tired or if this made me more exhausted. Considering the theory of it being a dream, maybe. I listened to it on YouTube and read along. All together, not my fave from Hawthorne

[Nisrine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked reading it since it revealed the truth of humanity also it's quite a nice journey

[Mia Signorita · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

I read for my America Literature course.

[Lidik · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite of Hawthorne's works, a 4.5 star

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plot is interesting. The writing style is professional but at the same time it's quite hard for me to understand by reading it just once. Almost every context in the story need to be interpreted.

[Finnley Vndrs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don Quixote vibes; the whole adventure/quest theme and the naiveté of the main character.