Abstract: The House of the Seven Gables is one of the master works of Nathaniel Hawthorne. He is acknowledged as a writer of American Gothic literature. By describing the story is telling a family’ ancestor commit sins so that his progeny are cursed, but they are redeemed at last. This paper aims to analyzes the evil of society and explore the life theme. This thesis illustrates the Gothic elements from the novel’s characters, plot, atmosphere, narration and its theme. Then give an in-depth understanding for the human nature, the moral sense and the dark side of the society. 

Key words: Gothicness; characters; plot arrangement; atmosphere; theme

Contents

Abstract

摘要

1. Introduction-1

1.1 About Nathaniel Hawthorne and The House of the Seven Gables-1

1.2 Literature Review-2

2. An Overview of Gothic Novels-3

2.1 The Origin of Gothic Novels-3

2.2 The Gothic Elements in American Gothic Novels-5

3. Gothicness in The House of the Seven Gables-7

3.1 Gothicness in Characters-7

3.2 Gothicness in Plot Arrangement-9

3.3 Gothicness in Atmosphere-11

3.4 Gothicness in Narration-13

3.5 Gothicness in Theme-15

4. Conclusion-17

References-19