The House of the Seven Gables Character Analysis

Hepzibah Pyncheon

Hepzibah is the member of the Pyncheon family who currently resides in the House of the Seven Gables, having lived as a near-recluse there for the past quarter-century. Hepzibah grew up thinking of herself as… read analysis of Hepzibah Pyncheon

Phoebe Pyncheon

Phoebe is Hepzibah and Clifford’s 17-year-old cousin. She grew up in the country, outside the Pyncheon family orbit, and she takes after her mother with her enterprising, capable ways. Around the same time that… read analysis of Phoebe Pyncheon

Clifford Pyncheon

Clifford is Hepzibah’s brother and one of the last surviving members of the Pyncheon family. However, he does not take after them; in fact, he is tender-hearted, delicate, and a lover of beauty. These… read analysis of Clifford Pyncheon

Judge Pyncheon (Cousin Jaffrey)

Judge Pyncheon is Hepzibah and Clifford’s cousin and a nephew of Uncle Jaffrey. (In fact, his first name is also Jaffrey, but he is generally referred to as “the Judge” so as not… read analysis of Judge Pyncheon (Cousin Jaffrey)

Holgrave

Holgrave is a mysterious young man in his early 20s who boards in one of the Pyncheon house’s seven gables. He is at once grave in his demeanor and vigorous in pursuit of his… read analysis of Holgrave

Colonel Pyncheon

Colonel Pyncheon is the Puritan ancestor of the present-day Pyncheons. He is a prominent, iron-willed man. Colonel Pyncheon desires Matthew Maule’s property and builds his mansion, the House of the Seven Gables, on it… read analysis of Colonel Pyncheon

Matthew Maule

Matthew Maule is an obscure cottager in 1600s Massachusetts, whose small plot of land Colonel Pyncheon covets. Maule is a stubborn, prideful man, and the dispute over the property goes unresolved until Maule ends up… read analysis of Matthew Maule

Uncle Jaffrey Pyncheon

Jaffrey is Clifford and Hepzibah’s eccentric, melancholy uncle. He has an interest in the Pyncheon family history, and his research leads him to determine that Matthew Maule’s property was wrongfully taken and that… read analysis of Uncle Jaffrey Pyncheon

Uncle Venner

Uncle Venner is Hepzibah’s neighbor, a fixture on Pyncheon Street. He’s an old, wrinkled, nearly toothless man, and he does odd jobs in the neighborhood to support himself, also collecting scraps for his pet… read analysis of Uncle Venner

Alice Pyncheon

Alice is a daughter of Gervayse Pyncheon and a descendant of the Colonel. She spends part of her girlhood in Europe and loves to play the harpsichord. Matthew Maule (the carpenter) hypnotizes Alice when… read analysis of Alice Pyncheon

Minor Characters

Gervayse Pyncheon

Gervayse Pyncheon is Colonel Pyncheon’s grandson and Alice’s father. According to Holgrave’s short story, Gervayse allows Matthew Maule (the carpenter) to hypnotize Alice in a quest to locate the family deed in hopes of increasing his wealth.

Matthew Maule (the carpenter)

This Matthew Maule is the grandson of the executed “wizard” Matthew Maule and is the son of Thomas Maule. He is bitter and prideful. When Gervayse Pyncheon asks for his help in locating the family deed, Matthew vengefully hypnotizes and controls Alice Pyncheon, leading to her death.

Thomas Maule

Thomas is the son of Matthew Maule. He is the architect and head carpenter for the House of the Seven Gables. At the end of the book, it’s revealed that Thomas hid the Pyncheon deed in a secret recess behind Colonel Pyncheon’s portrait.

Ned Higgins

Ned Higgins is a red-cheeked, frizzy-haired schoolboy who is among Hepzibah’s first and most frequent customers in her shop. Ned buys Hepzibah’s gingerbread cookies every chance he gets.

The Rev. Mr. Higginson

Rev. Higginson prays at Colonel Pyncheon’s housewarming festival and gives a gushing sermon at Colonel Pyncheon’s funeral.

Dixey

Dixey is a laborer who appears several times in the novel, gossiping and speculating with a friend about the Pyncheon family.

Scipio

Scipio is Gervayse Pyncheon’s slave.