The Mask of the Red Death - Graham's Magazine, May 1842 — reading text

and in some measure repressed, by fastidiousness of taste, he has not fashioned his thoughts to accommodate his inci- ee eee aP by constitutional melancholy and by indolence. dents; but having conceived, with deliberate care, a cer-  em Meats 0 REVIEW OF NEW BOOKS. 299 tain unique or single effect to be wrought out, he then in- we have been most agreeably mistaken. We know of few vents such incidents—he then combines such events as may compositions which the critic can more honestly commend best aid him in establishing this preconceived effect. If his then these “Twice-Told Tales.” As Americans, we very initial sentence tend not to the outbringing of this feel proud of the book. effect, then he has failed in his first step. In the whole Mr. Hawthorne’s distinctive trait is invention, creation, composition there should be no word written, of whieh the imagination, originality—a trait which, in the literature of tendency, direct or indirect, is not to the one pre-established fiction, is positively worth all the rest. But the nature of design. And by such means, with such care and skill, a originality, so far as regards its manifestation in letters, is picture is at length painted which leaves in the mind of but imperfectly understood. The inventive or original him who contemplates it with a kindred art, a sense of the mind as frequently displays itself in novelty of tone as in fullest satisfaction. The idea of the tale has been presen- novelty of matter. Mr. Hawthorne is original at al/ péints, ted unblemished, because undisturbed; and this is an end It would be a matter of some difficulty to designate the unattainable by the novel. Undue brevity is just as best of these tales; we repeat that, without exception, exceptionable here as in the poem; but undue length is yet they are beautiful. ‘‘ Wakefield’’ is remarkable for the more to be avoided. skill with which an old idea—a well-known incident—is We have said that the tale has a point of superiority worked up or discussed. A man of whims conceives the SRA TE even over the poem. In fact, while the rhythm of this purpose of quitting his wife and residing incognito, for latter is an essential aid in the development of the poem’s twenty years, in her immediate neighborhood. Something highest idea—the idea of the Beautiful—the artificialities of of this kind actually happened in London. The force of this rhythm are an inseparable bar to the development of Mr. Hawthorne’s tale lies in the analysis of the motives all points of thought or expression which have their basis which must or might have impelled the husband to such in Truth. But Truth is often, and in very great degree, folly, in the first instance, with the possible causes of his the aim of the tale. Some of the finest tales are tales of perseverance. Upon this thesis a sketch of singular power ratiocination. Thus the field of this species of composition, has been constructed. ET OI TION SOT if not in so elevated a region on the mountain of Mind, is a ‘¢The Wedding Knell” is full of the boldest imagination ft i table-land of far vaster extent than the domain of the mere —an imagination fully controlled by taste. The most cap- : poem. Its products are never so rich, but infinitely more tious critic could find no flaw in this production. i§ j numerous, and more appreciable by the mass of mankind. ‘The Minister’s Black Veil’’ is a masterly composition The writer of the prose tale,in short, may bring to his theme of which the sole defect is that to the rabble its exquisite a vast variety of modes or inflections of thought and ex- skill will be caviare. The obvious meaning of this article pression—(the ratiocinative, for example, the sarcastic or will be found to smother its insinuated one. The moral put the humorous) which are not only antagonistical to the into the mouth of the dying minister will be supposed to nature of the poem, but absolutely forbidden by one of its convey the true import of the narrative; and that a crime most peculiar and indispensable adjuncts; we allude of of dark dye, (having reference to the “‘ young lady’) has course, torhythm. It may be added, here, par parenthése, been committed, is a point which only minds congenial that the author who aims at the purely beautiful in a prose with that of the author will perceive. tale is laboring at great disadvantage. For Beauty can be ‘¢Mr. Higginbotham’s Catastrophe’’ is vividly original better treated in the poem. Not so with terror, or passion, and managed most dexterously. or horror, or a multitude of such other points. And here it “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment’’ is exceedingly well will be seen how full of prejudice are the usual animadver- imagined, and executed with surpassing ability. The sions against those tales of effect many fine examples of artist breathes in every line of it. TR RTL VE BED which were found in the earlier numbers of Blackwood. ‘The White Old Maid” is objectionable, even more than The impressions produced were wrought in a legitimate the ‘‘ Minister’s Black Veil,’’ on the score of its mysticism. sphere of action, and constituted a legitimate although Even with the thoughtful and analytic, there will be much sometimes an exaggerated interest. They were relished trouble in penetrating its entire import. by every man of genius: although there were found many ‘The Hollow of the Three Hills”? we would quote in men of genius who condemned them without just ground. full, had we space ;—not as evincing higher talent than any The true critic will but demand that the design intended be of the other pieces, but as affording an excellent example accomplished, to the fullest extent, by the means most ad- of the author’s peculiar ability. The subject is common- vantageously applicable. place. A witch subjects the Distant and the Past to the We have very few American tales of real merit—we view of a mourner. It has been the fashion to describe, in may say, indeed, none, with the exception of ‘‘ The Tales such cases, a mirror in which the images of the absent ap- of a Traveller’? of Washington Irving, and these ‘‘ Twice- pear; or a cloud of smoke is made to arise, and thence the Told Tales’? of Mr. Hawthorne. Some of the pieces of figures are gradually unfolded. Mr. Hawthorne has won- Mr. John Neal abound in vigor and originality ; but in gen- derfully heightened his effect by making the ear, in eral, his compositions of this class are excessively diffuse, place of the eye, the medium by which the fantasy is con- extravagant, and indicative of an imperfect sentiment of veyed. The head of the mourner is enveloped in the cloak Art. Articles at random are, now and then, met with in of the witch, and within its magic folds there arise sounds our periodicals which might be advantageously compared which have an all-sufficient intelligence. Throughout this article also, the artist is conspicuous—not more in positive with the best effusions of the British Magazines ; but, upon the whole, we are far behind our progenitors in this de- than in negative merits. Not only is all done that should partment of literature. ; be done, but (what perhaps is an end with more difficulty TRE AL SIEETR IO CRM Of Mr. Hawthorne’s Tales we would say, emphatically, attained) there is nothing done which should not be. that they belong to the highest region of Art—an Art sub- Every word tells, and there is not a word which does servient to genius of a very lofty order. We had supposed, not tell. with good reason for so supposing, that he had been thrust In ‘“‘ Howe’s Masquerade” we observe something which into his present position by one of the impudent cliques resembles a plagiarism—but which may be a very flatter- ing coincidence of thought. We quote the passage in