Characters in My Kinsman, Major Molineux.
Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Early Short Story
Understanding the characters and what the represent in is critical in understanding the author's intent in a short story. In My Kinsman, Major Molineux, Nathaniel Hawthorne presents the reader with four major characters.
Robin
Robin is the main character in My Kinsman, Major Molineux. He is a young man of approximately 18 years who has traveled to the city to make his fortune. He has come because he is the second son of a country farmer. His brother will inherit the farm. Major Molineux had visited the family a couple of years prior to the story and felt that Robin was a likely young man and shrewd enough to make his way in the city and so it had been agreed at that time that Robin would go to him at the right time.
This is Robin’s first trip away from the family farm and every detail of his dress and manner reveal that he is a stranger to the world he is about to enter. However, Robin is confident that his benefactor’s name will open doors and win him friends. However, he soon discovers that every time he asks for his kinsman he is harshly treated and rebuked.
Despite his reputation as shrewd, Robin repeatedly misunderstands the angry responses that he receives and blames it on the ignorance, rudeness, or low status of the person in question. He seems blind to the obvious dislike everyone in the community has for Molineux.
Major Molineux
Molineux is the wealthy, childless cousin of Robin’s father. During a visit to Robin’s family, he expresses an interest in improving the situation of one of his cousin’s sons. Because Robin is the second son (and, therefore will not inherit the family farm) and because Robin seems to have a degree of shrewdness, he is chosen to come to the city to benefit from the wealth and position of Major Molineux.
Robin remembers little about his kinsman and is unsure as to whether he will even recognize him when he does finally meet him. However, the reader soon realizes that Major Molineux is the subject dislike or even hatred by people in town.
Robin finally finds his cousin tarred and feathered and strapped to the back of a cart being pulled through the streets by a mob. We never discover what crimes Major Molineux is accused of. In fact, it seems that Molineux is innocent of any crime and has received this punishment because he represents British rule. We are left with the image of him as a mighty and worthy figure despite his abasement by the mob.
The Gentleman
While there are many characters that Robin meets during his nightmarish sojourn in the city that night, the only one who is kind to him is a gentleman he greets after hearing his footsteps. The man is “‘open, cheerful, and altogether prepossessing.” He is also interested in seeing what will become of Robin. As a result, he sits with Robin until Robin sees his kinsman.
After seeing his kinsman, Robin decides he should return to the country. However, the gentleman invites him to stay in the town saying “Some few days hence, if you continue to wish it, I will speed you on your journey. Or, if you prefer to remain with us, perhaps, as you are a shrewd youth, you may rise in the world without the help of your kinsman, Major Molineux.
Read more about Nathaniel Hawthorne at Suite101.
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