My Kinsman, Major Molineux

by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Start Free Trial

Student Question

Using Emerson’s “Self-Reliance,” how can you analyze “My Kinsman, Major Molineaux”?

Quick answer:

In the story, "My Kinsman, Major Molineaux," by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the plot is about a young man named Robin who has just come to Salem. He is searching for his kinsmen, Major Molineux. The people he meets in the town all try to convince him that his kinsmen does not exist and that he should leave because he will not find what he is looking for. Once Robin encounters Mr. Molineux, we discover that Mr. Molineux was once a wealthy and respected man in the town but now lives in poverty and disgrace because of his drunkenness. I believe Emerson'

Expert Answers

An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

Before answering this question, you need to have an understanding of what Emerson actually stands for and what he's arguing in "Self-Reliance." Your task then becomes a project of applying those ideas to Hawthorne's short story and seeing how the two relate.

Ultimately, I would start by noting that "Self-Reliance" is an essay largely concerned with conformity, something which Emerson identifies as a very deep problem. People tend to be conformist, and society tends to encourage us in this. Emerson's vision, by contrast, is a fiercely individualistic one, which is itself grounded in his own particular reading of Christianity, championing individual agency, and one's ability to actually hold faith with one's own values and beliefs. To do anything less than this is, to Emerson, a betrayal, both of one's own humanity and of the divine spark which Christians hold is present in the creation of man.

So, with that in mind, how do we apply this philosophy to Hawthorne's text? (And do note, "Self-Reliance" is a long essay. There's a lot more covered within it than the short treatment I gave in the paragraph above. Be aware, there's a lot more to be mined from Emerson's work.) Well, I'd start by looking at the basic storyline of Hawthorne's text. It follows an eighteen-year-old man by the name of Robin as he comes to a colonial town seeking out his kinsman, Major Molineux. What follows are a series of encounters as Robin wanders through the colonial streets, trying to get information on just where he could find the man he's searching for.

So, taking the analysis given of Emerson above, do we see themes from "Self-Reliance" reflected in the text by Hawthorne? How are the townsfolk portrayed, both collectively and individualistically? Do we see a conformity as a major theme, and is this treated as a positive or negative? With this in mind, I'd suggest you look towards the various encounters Robin has with various people he meets, as well as the scene at the end of the story where we see Mr. Molineux himself (and pay attention to how Molineux himself is treated in this scene). Finally, think about the character of Robin himself. How has he grown and changed by the end of the story?

In thinking about these kind of questions as you apply them to Hawthorne's text, you should be able to better draw connections between the two works in question.

Get Ahead with eNotes

Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.

Get 48 Hours Free Access
Approved by eNotes Editorial