It has almost become a daily slogan, in light of current events, that behind everything that seems so perfect lies some horrible mistake, or some terrible sin waiting to return and lift his bad situation Head. Nathaniel Hawthorne could not have provided a better example of this than the Honorable Justice Jaffrey Pyncheon from his novel The House of Seven Gables. Hawthorne illustrates that even behind the most important religious and social icon, there is always that repentant mistake that causes everything in a person's life to collapse. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay At the beginning of his essay, Hawthorne addresses all of Judge Pyncheon's notable achievements and attributes, from his generosity to widows and orphans to his office as president of the Bible Society. Hawthorne describes the judge as the epitome of faithfulness, justice, and compassion. The author flaunts Judge Pyncheon's friendly behavior through his various charities towards society. Hawthorne tells of Judge's contribution to horticulture through the development of two highly regarded variations of the pear. Judge Pyncheon turns out to be a charismatic public figure, always ready to greet anyone he meets on the streets; the author even goes so far as to say that his prominent smile "meant to cheer up the world." He was never afraid to express his faith; Judge Pyncheon made it a habit to pray at least twice a day and to say grace before each meal. His outward appearance shaped him as the ideal Christian, who seemed to be as righteous as any saint that could be found on this earth. Through Hawthorne's portrayal of the faithful Judge Pyncheon, it seems that even at first glance one can realize the splendor and nobility that seemed to radiate from the eminent judge. His dress was as distinctive as his character; Hawthorne makes every effort to focus on detail when describing her elaborate dress, going so far as to state, "the snow-whiteness of her linen, the shine of her boots, her gold-headed cane, the square and spacious shape of his coat and the fineness of his material." This statement further illustrates the prestigious lifestyle the judge was trying to live. It is even said that when he looked in the mirror he could even think to himself, "There's Judge Pyncheon, there." This statement shows the reader that the judge does not lack his pride. This act of selfish, almost haughty pride is almost foreshadowing his inevitable fall, which validates the scripture that states, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (PROV. 6:18). Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay After the reader has Hawthorne's positive examination of Judge Jaffrey Pyncheon, he is finally shown the dark side of this once righteous man. The reader now understands that this secret dark side of the Judge is not that difficult to understand after discovering the many oppressive actions of his relatives and ancestors. Hawthorne describes Judge Pyncheon as a noble, honest, faithful, spiritual, generous, and illustrious gentleman, but then in the metaphorical blink of an eye, Hawthorne subtly, but noticeably, changes his tone towards the judge. It now appears to the reader that the judge is a deceitful, almost criminal human being, who without his noteworthy public actions, was ultimately nothing more than the typical Pyncheon. This immediate change in tone leaves the reader perplexed and.