Authority, Sexual Maturity, Homosexuality, ‘Canes’, ‘Cudgels’, ‘Swords’ and ‘Staffs’ in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s «My Kinsman, Major Molineux»
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URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10835/1332
ISSN: 1578-3820
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.25115/odisea.v0i5.122
ISSN: 1578-3820
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.25115/odisea.v0i5.122
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Ruiz Más, JoséDate
2004Abstract
In this paper I endeavour to revise the psychological approach employed by many literary critics to analyse Nathaniel Hawthorne ’s short story “My Kinsman, Major Molineux ”. I pay special attention to the relevance of the symbolism of the names of the tools and weapons which the different characters of the story brandish to emphasise their sense of authority, sexual maturity and adulthood in public. The images of these weapons and tools appear to represent Freudian phallic symbols, a fact that contributes to reaffirming the validity of the psychological approach for this story. This present study concentrates on the relationship between the theme of authority and the theme of adulthood, as well as on the analysis of the psychological evolution that the protagonist, Robin, goes through in order to achieve what both Hawthorne and the very protagonist believe sexual maturity and adulthood consist of. I also speculate on the possibility that, consciously or unconsciously, Hawthorne could ...
Palabra/s clave
American literature
Nathaniel Hawthorne
“My Kinsman, Major Molineux”
homosexuality
sexual maturity
father figure
phallic symbols
masculinity
Literatura norteamericana
homosexualidad
madurez sexual
figura paterna
símbolos fálicos
masculinidad