How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
The Judge, beyond all question, was a man of eminent respectability. The church acknowledged it; the state acknowledged it. It was denied by nobody. In all the very extensive sphere of those who knew him, whether in his public or private capacities, there was not an individual— except Hepzibah, and some lawless mystic, like the daguerreotypist, and, possibly, a few political opponents—who would have dreamed of seriously disputing his claim to a high and honorable place in the world's regard. Nor (we must do him the further justice to say) did Judge Pyncheon himself, probably, entertain many or very frequent doubts, that his enviable reputation accorded with his deserts. His conscience, therefore, usually considered the surest witness to a man's integrity, – his conscience, unless it might be for the little space of five minutes in the twenty-four hours, or, now and then, some black day in the whole year's circle, – his conscience bore an accordant testimony with the world's laudatory voice. (15.16)
Not only does everybody (with some minor exceptions) agree that Judge Pyncheon is a righteous man, but Judge Pyncheon himself thinks he's a good guy. He has a conscience, but it doesn't acknowledge anything wrong with his persecuting poor, defenseless Clifford. This aspect of Judge Pyncheon's characterization is interestingly at odds with a lot of sentimental fiction of the 19th century, which insists that if you do something bad, you have to feel guilty for it, that guilt is one of the natural consequences of evil behavior. Hawthorne does admit that somewhere deep down, "a daily guilt might have been acted by him" (15.16) without Judge Pyncheon being aware of it. This raises a question sort of along the lines of, "If a tree falls in the forest and there is nobody to hear it, does it make a sound?" If Judge Pyncheon experiences "daily guilt" without knowing or being aware of it, does that guilt even count? How can you feel guilty without feeling guilty?
Quote #8
But for these poor rogues, the bank-robbers, – who, after all, are about as honest as nine people in ten, except that they disregard certain formalities, and prefer to transact business at midnight rather than 'Change-hours, – and for these murderers, as you phrase it, who are often excusable in the motives of their deed, and deserve to be ranked among public benefactors, if we consider only its result, – for unfortunate individuals like these, I really cannot applaud the enlistment of an immaterial and miraculous power in the universal world-hunt at their heels! (17.42)
Clifford seems to feel that most murderers and bank robbers are good fellows at the heart – society just doesn't understand them! Of course Clifford – after his 30 years in prison and his joy at the death of his persecutor, Judge Pyncheon – would feel that way. All the same, what do you think of this idea that the cops shouldn't use the telegraph machine against robbers because it puts the criminals at too much of a disadvantage? Should the relationship between an individual and the law be one of fairness? Why or why not?
Quote #9
The artist hesitated. Notwithstanding what he had just said, and most sincerely, in regard to the self-balancing power with which Phoebe impressed him, it still seemed almost wicked to bring the awful secret of yesterday to her knowledge. It was like dragging a hideous shape of death into the cleanly and cheerful space before a household fire, where it would present all the uglier aspect, amid the decorousness of everything about it. Yet it could not be concealed from her; she must needs know it. (20.10)
Mr. Holgrave has to tell Phoebe what has happened, but he hesitates to share it with her. He drops all of these odd hints about Clifford and Hepzibah not being guilty of anything, which really freaks Phoebe out. And then, when Phoebe asks point blank, he still hesitates to tell her that Judge Pyncheon is dead. Instead of saying the words, Mr. Holgrave shows Phoebe before-and-after photographs of Judge Pyncheon alive and dead. This increases the drama of the moment for the reader, but it also seems pointlessly dramatic and almost cruel. What do you think of Holgrave's method of revelation? Why does he choose to draw out informing Phoebe of Judge Pyncheon's death? Why does he show her the photograph of Judge Pyncheon's corpse before telling her what has happened?