Some People's Nightmares

Poor Hepzibah! For thirty years she has locked herself within a dismal, rotting, ancestral home fortified only with absolute, unconditional love for her brother, Clifford and resolute hatred for her cousin, Judge Jaffrey. During Clifford’s absence, Hepzibah maintained a secluded existence free from the blazing, forced smile of her grave enemy. But, now that Clifford has returned home she endures that overbearing smile more often than she would like.

I almost wish Hawthorne had left the poor old girl alone. Sure, her existence was meaningless and the future was nothing but bleak, but at least she was merely a shadow skirting a nightmare. Though penny-less, she had provision. Though alone for so long, Clifford and Phoebe brought friendship. Though surrounded by ghosts and tradition, she retained some sanity. Now, all her worst dreams have come true.

Poor Hepzibah! Her beloved brother—whom she gives sacrificially for—cannot stand the sight of her! But no matter, she will love and serve him anyway, after all, that’s what she has been waiting to do since his unfortunate departure.

Poor Hepzibah! Since Clifford’s return to the house of seven gables, Hepzibah has had to gird herself with courage—trembling courage—in order to defy Judge Jaffrey’s demanding orders. But with each interview she has become more resolute. Surely she will never give in.

Until the Judge reveals his dastardly plot: now, either way Hepzibah chooses results in the depravation and destruction of the one she loves most. Truly her life has slipped from skirting a nightmare to being plunged deep within it without a breath of air.

With trembling steps and a wandering mind, Hepzibah sets off to get Clifford and lead him, as it were, to the gallows. Poor Hepzibah! If only she could get help! If only the community knew the darkness behind the sunshine of the Judge’s smile!

(Now, I don’t want to give away too much, after all, dear friend, I highly recommend you read this book for yourself, but I do want to entice you to read on.)

In a rush of words and action (that has been hitherto absent from Hawthorne’s novel) Hawthorne shows us Hepzibah as we have not seen her before. A Hepzibah drowning in her worst nightmare—confused, scared, and childlike. A woman to be pitied.

As the two owls flee into the night and Clifford discovers the youth he once knew, Hepzibah is thrust into a living nightmare and can only hope that she will soon awake.

(414)