From Naivety to Maturity: A study of Protagonist’s Transformation in Nathaniel Hawthorn’s My kinsman Major Molineux
Keywords:
Transformation, the hero, the maturity, my relative, Major Molineux, the country communityAbstract
Nathanial Hauthaurn' s novella "My Kinsman, Major Molineux," is one of the important literary works in which he focuses on how outside circumstances can shape the personal development of characters. This paper sheds light on the development of the protagonist's growth which is symbolised by his journey from the country to the city in search of his kinsman (cousin), and Within this framework of the journey, the novelist presented other related themes such as the city versus the countryside, which ultimately contributes to the central theme of the protagonist’s personal development, which he initially presented as idealistic. The crucial stage which influenced the protagonist’s development happened when society transitions from being naive to wise during the pre-modern to the modern era, from being immature to mature, as the youthful protagonist's character demonstrates. The protagonist typically travels through a place where people experience pain and humiliation which contribute to his internal transformation.
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