Three inconsistencies in Hawthorne's unfinished romance : Septimius Felton

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Ivie Ann Washburn (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
Advisor
Robert Stephens

Abstract: When Nathaniel Hawthorne died in I864, his family discovered four unfinished romances among his manuscripts. One of these fragments, Septimius Felton, attracts interest because it is the length of a novel and has a conclusion. The question immediately arises as to why Hawthorne abandoned a romance as near completion as Septimius Felton. Perhaps his advanced age, poor health, and disappointment over the Civil War are secondary reasons for the romance's failure. I believe, however, a better explanation is apparent in the text itself. Since Septimius Felton contains inconsistencies in the development of the theme, in the presentation of the main character, and in the selection of a setting which corresponds to Hawthorne's literary theory and theme, the romance's failure may result from these factors.

Additional Information

Publication
Thesis
Language: English
Date: 1964
Subjects
Hawthorne, Nathaniel, $d 1804-1864 $x Criticism and interpretation
Hawthorne, Nathaniel, $d 1804-1864. $t Septimius Felton

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