The Quest for Surrogate Father:“My Kinsman, Molineux”와 “Roger Malvin’s Burial”을 중심으로

Abstract

The Quest for Surrogate Father:“My Kinsman, Major Molineux” and “Roger Malvin’s Burial”Lee, EunsookDuring his early stage as a writer, Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote “My Kinsman, Major Molineux” in 1832 and “Roger Malvin’s Burial” in 1835. These two stories are similar in several ways. For example, Robin from “My Kinsman, Major Molineux” and Reuben from “Roger Malvin’s Burial” are both young men scarcely getting out of boyhood. They do not have actual fathers: Robin's father was poor so he decided to send his son to a wealthy and successful relative; Reuben’s father had already died. The whole stories, therefore, are their journeys to find their surrogate fathers.After all night journey through the city, Robin denied his relationship with Molineux, after finding out the major was thrown out of his post. He was such a ‘shrewd’ youth that he hurriedly severed his future relationship with Molineux. However, he did not realize that his giving up of his surrogate father meant he could be left fatherless. That is, he had no father who can give him his identity and acknowledge him as a son and man. Reuben left Malvin, who had been almost father to him, in the forest and did not go back for the funeral that he promised to perform. This became a kind of guilt for Reuben and afflicted him since. He finally brought his wife and beloved son, Cyrus, to the forest where Malvin had died unburied. He shot Cyrus and shed his blood over Malvin’s grave. This is a symbolic funeral for Malvin, and Reuben completed his last duty as a son.Through the quest for Robin’s and Reuben’s surrogate fathers, Hawthorne shows that we are never freed from our relationships with fathers. Robin’s and Reuben’s agony is similar to Hawthorne’s struggle to be freed from his past and his forefathers.