The historically uneasy relationship between Massachusetts Bay Colony and its appointed royal governors that Nathaniel Hawthorne sets forth in this story’s first paragraph allows the author to write a complex tale that deals simultaneously with the popular overthrow of a governor and with the coming to maturity of a boy. Neither of these themes is sacrificed to the other, for Robin discovers as a result of his long and frustrating inquiry his personal independence and his American identity. Though colonial Boston’s twisted roads lead him very close to the place from which he started his search, Robin’s “initiation” has changed him considerably. He had hoped in the tavern that his resemblance to Molineux would assure his fortune; by the story’s end, his laughter makes him one with the crowd, and his rejection of Molineux implies that the earlier rebuffs that he received as Molineux’s kinsman were correct. It is, then, significant in the story’s final scene that he exists as “Robin” rather than as Molineux’s kinsman. He has overcome temptation (the maiden in the red petticoat) and despondency (on the church steps), has rejected pleasant but unconstructive memories of his past (when he recalls his Huguenot background), and has determined to seek his own place in the world.

The initiation theme applies equally to the story’s sociological level. Just as a boy seeks his freedom and independence, so does a country. Robin can thus be seen as the slowly awakening American spirit that infuses and maintains the American Revolution. Correspondingly, Molineux can represent oppression that masquerades as family. He is Great Britain, but he is also whatever constrains the American spirit. The kind gentleman is, by extension, France, America’s first ally, but he also represents the respectful autonomy for which one should strive in any alliance.

Critics and readers generally agree that Hawthorne's main themes in "My Kinsman, Major Molineux" are both political and psychological. Politically, the story illustrates the American colonists' rejection of British authority. Major Molineux, a British government official, holds considerable power in his community. Unfortunately for his nephew Robin, he arrives in town just as the villagers are prepared to overthrow British rule by expelling this local representative. Initially, Robin supports colonialism through his uncle, but he eventually joins the mob to oust this symbol of oppressive government. Robin's rejection of his uncle signifies his embrace of republican ideals, even at the cost of family loyalty.

A deeper psychological analysis of the story is also compelling. Though he wrote long before Sigmund Freud, Hawthorne demonstrated an understanding of the underlying motivations behind adolescent behavior. Robin's narrative is a classic example of rejecting the father figure, symbolized by his uncle. As Robin encounters various townspeople, he gradually realizes that his uncle is not the hero he had imagined. By the time he faces Major Molineux directly, he is mentally prepared to side with the crowd in driving him out of the city. Robin's active role in his uncle's expulsion symbolizes his rejection of parental authority and his assertion of psychological independence.

Coming of Age
Many critics interpret ‘‘My Kinsman, Major Molineux’’ as a narrative about Robin's transition from youth to adulthood. Robin's journey adheres to a traditional pattern: he leaves his home for a distant place, encounters unfamiliar people, and embarks on thrilling adventures. Each experience makes him a bit wiser. By the conclusion of the story, he has gained enough knowledge to thrive independently, or, as the kind gentleman puts it, to ‘‘rise in the world without the help of [his] kinsman, Major Molineux.’’ Robin himself remains...