A Door to Maturity or Simply a Threshold?
“You are a young woman yet. Why, I hardly thought myself younger than I am now, it seems so little while ago since I used to see you playing about the door of the old house, quite a small child! Oftener, though, you used to be sitting at the threshold, and looking gravely into the street; for you had always a grave kind of way with you..."
We have formerly discussed that windows, doors, and portals are found throughout this novel. In reading chapter four, I found this passage that I couldn't get out of my mind. Uncle Venner makes a point to discuss the fact that Hepzibah, as a child, was always playing in front of the door. More importantly is the statement he makes about her "sitting at the threshold, and looking gravely into the street...", which he seems to make the most importance out of. Though he discusses how "grave" she seemed, he is really discussing how old she seemed as she peered out on the street, even as a young child. So what does that say about the importance of doors? Do they not only let people and spirits in and out but are also a passage to maturity and contemplation? I'm not sure what Hawthorn's point is in this passage and he doesn't dwell on it long, but it seems important. To note how a small child can seem "grave" and "grown-up" while playing in front of a door and sitting on the threshold is interesting. Why is it she seemed so "grave" to him? Why was her countenance so intriguing to him? The most simple explanation is that she can see many things from this position. Not only can she see what is going on outside and on the porch, but she can see what happens inside as well. And maybe she was internalizing events and feelings that she sensed while sitting in this position. In any case, it was an important enough fact for Uncle Venner to focus on and discuss years later with Hepzibah.