The marble Fauna

the Fauna of marble (1860) is the last of the four large novels of Nathaniel Hawthorne. After Valjoie (The Blithedale Lovesong) in 1852, with the approach of around fifty, Hawthorne is diverted literature and is made appoint consul with Liverpool thanks to the support of his/her friend Franklin Pierce, then president of the the United States. It will remain in station of 1853 to 1857. Accompanied by his wife Sophia Peabody, Hawthorne leaves the England for the Italy in 1858 and visits the country during nearly two years. He writes to the marble Fauna after having discovered the fauna (or satyr) of Praxitèle during an exposure of Roman sculptures.

the Fauna of marble is undoubtedly the strangest novel of Hawthorne, perhaps even one of most curious about the American literature. Composed whereas the American Civil War is imminent, the intrigue is however placed in imaginary Italy. As often at Hawthorne, the true hero is the feeling of guilt, which corrodes the personalities and destroys the hearts.

Characters

The main characters of the novel are four, Miriam, Donatello, Kenyon and Hilda. Besides these four first names constitute the title of the first chapter of the novel. As of the first sentence of the text, the four characters are indeed joined together in the gallery of the sculptures of the Capitole to Rome: Furnace individuals, in whose fortunes we should Be glad to interest the reader, happened to Be standing in one off the saloons off the sculpture gallery in the Capitol At Rome.

Miriam

Of a great beauty - Hawthorne compares it in particular with Eve or with Cléopâtre, painter, coed in arts, Miriam are liked of Donatello and will be the cause of the murder made by this one.

Donatello

Count de Monte Blessed, semi-man, semi-fauna, image of the statue of Praxitèle, it kills for the love of Miriam and will carry this culpability all the remainder of its life, reaching by this suffering the statute of man whole share and losing the innocence of the animality. Hawthorne also compares it with Adam.

Kenyon

Sculptor, man simple and good, image of rational humanism, Kenyon is the narrator of the account and in love with Hilda.

Hilda

Painter like Miriam, Hilda is the image of the Virgin Mary, very of softness and involuntary pilot purity but of the murder, which will upset its life.

Context

(to be followed)

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