The loss of the past is a recurrent theme in The
House of the Seven Gables, but nowhere is it more poignantly
expressed than in the comparisons between what Clifford once was
and what he has become. When Phoebe was shown his picture in past
chapters, she exclaimed that he was a handsome man, but we see no
evidence of that here. Hepzibah’s preparations also seem far too
great for such a man. But most telling of all is the description
of Clifford as a man who takes great pleasure in luxury and sensual
pleasure. His eyes consume the beautiful with a hunger as ravenous
as the hunger he brings to the dinner table, and it seems as if
he is taking in all such luxury for the first time in years—which
we will discover in later chapters to be the case. There is a sadness,
too, in the way that he cannot look directly at his sister, even
when she is standing next to him. For these reasons, although the
Judge darkly hints to Phoebe that there is reason to be afraid,
it is hard to attribute any menace to Clifford’s appearance. His
feebleness has already given him an air of innocence.
Judge Pyncheon here loses any remaining respectability
he had in our eyes, though Hawthorne’s decision to have the Judge
remain smiling does allow us to see how thoroughly he has disguised
himself. That Phoebe, who is so unquestionably good, is instinctively reluctant
to endure a kiss from the Judge tells us something is wrong that
is not apparent on his face or person. He suffers another comparison
with Colonel Pyncheon, but this one is even more unflattering—not
only does he have his ancestor’s cruelty, but he isn’t even endowed
with the Colonel’s strength. And the image of him with red fire
raging naturally invites comparison to the red fires of Hell and makes
him seem almost devilish. Nonetheless, even though the Judge’s true
nature is revealed to Phoebe and to us in this scene, he is able
to regain his composure; the fact that his smile returns so effortlessly
shows us how false this disguise is. It adds, too, to our perception
of the Judge’s evil. Once a character’s true nature is unveiled,
it is usually expected to stay that way; to see it cloaked again
makes it seem all the more devious.
