Nathaniel Hawthorne, the author of The House of the Seven Gables, was born on July 4, 1804, in the town of Salem, Massachusetts. He was a proud son and grandson of New England seamen. His father died leaving his mother a widow. Hawthorne and his family consist of his mother and two sisters. After finishing college, he returned to Salem determined to become a writer. He fought for twelve years to perfect his literary skills. Then, in 1851, he wrote The House of Seven Gables. On May 19, 1864, Nathaniel Hawthorne died. Hawthorne describes his work, The House of Seven Gables, as a love story: "where this tale falls under the romantic definition is in its attempt to connect a time past with the present that is flying away from us." . (pg. 7, Hawthorne) A love story seeks to relate to readers by creating a mixture of historical events and fictional events. It appeals to human consciences by causing readers to reflect on their past actions "usually through a process much more subtle than apparent." (p. 8, Hawthorne) Judge Jaffrey Pyncheon and Clifford Pyncheon are two of the main characters in the book The House of Seven Gables; allows readers to reevaluate the nature of human character. Judge Jaffrey Pyncheon is the main antagonist of The House of Seven Gables. An antagonist is one or more characters who oppose the protagonist who usually creates the problem. He was known by most of the population as a man of noble character. However his relatives, Clifford, Hepizbah and Phoebe Pncheon know him as a brutal, selfish and greedy man. His “extremely pleasant appearance” (p.86, Hawthorne) does not deceive them, but rather fills them with fear. They knew that their Uncle Judge... middle of paper... nature. One moral the reader can draw from Judge's death is that all poor or rich will face death. While Clifford Pyncheon is an example of how suffering or events affect people. Clifford learned to overcome life's difficulties and find happiness. The main characters of the House of the Seven Gables offered readers a moment of reflection. Work cited "Clifford Pyncheon in The House of the Seven Gables". Shmoop: Homework Help, Teacher Resources, Test Prep. Network. August 18, 2011. .Clifford, Threatening. "Judge Jaffrey Pyncheon in The House of the Seven Gables." Shmoop: Homework Help, Teacher Resources, Test Prep. Network. August 18, 2011. .Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The house of the seven gables: a love story. New York, NY: Avenel, 1986. Print.