Alice Doane's Appeal

Name: Alice Doane's Appeal
Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne

The narrative unfolds on a June afternoon as the narrator accompanies two young women on a walk to Gallows Hill, a site steeped in the dark history of witch trials. The hill, covered in a deceptive green weed, symbolizes the remnants of a tragic past where innocent lives were lost to superstition and hysteria. The narrator reflects on the lack of public interest in this history, contrasting the vibrant present with the somber legacy of the past. As they explore the hill, the narrator prepares to share a tale, having brought a manuscript that recounts a murder that occurred a century prior. The story begins with the discovery of a young man's body, concealed beneath ice and snow, evoking horror and intrigue. The narrative introduces three key characters: Leonard Doane, a troubled young man; his virtuous sister Alice; and a malevolent wizard. Leonard's jealousy over Alice's affection for another man, Walter Brome, drives him to madness, culminating in a violent confrontation that leads to Brome's death. The tale delves into Leonard's internal struggle, revealing his complex emotions towards Alice and Brome, whom he perceives as a rival. The wizard, embodying evil, manipulates events, exacerbating Leonard's turmoil. The climax occurs as Leonard grapples with guilt and the consequences of his actions, leading to a supernatural encounter with the spirits of the dead. In a haunting scene, the dead rise from their graves, embodying the sins and regrets of their lives. The atmosphere is charged with tension as the spirits, twisted by their pasts, confront the living. The narrative culminates in Alice's appeal to Brome's spirit, seeking absolution and clarity amidst the chaos. The story concludes with the narrator reflecting on the power of memory and the need for acknowledgment of past wrongs. The hill, devoid of memorials, stands as a reminder of the human capacity for error and the importance of recognizing history to prevent its repetition. The tale serves as a poignant exploration of guilt, redemption, and the haunting legacy of a community's darkest moments.

By Nathaniel Hawthorne · First published 1868 · Genre: Gothic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romanticism · 5,534 words

First lines

On a pleasant afternoon of June, it was my good fortune to be the companion of two young ladies in a walk. The direction of our course being left to me, I led them neither to Legge's Hill, nor to the Cold Spring, nor to the rude shores and old batteries of the Neck, nor yet to Paradise; though if the latter place were rightly named, my fair friends would have been at home there. We reached the outskirts of the town, and turning aside from a street of tanners and curriers, began to ascend a hill, which at a distance, by its dark slope and the even line of its summit, resembled a green rampart along the road. It was less steep than its aspect threatened. The eminence formed part of an extensive tract of pasture land, and was traversed by cow paths in various directions; but, strange to tell, though the whole slope and summit were of a peculiar deep green, scarce a blade of grass was visible from the base upward. This deceitful verdure was occasioned by a plentiful crop of "wood-wax," which wears the same dark and glossy green throughout the summer, except at one short period, when it puts forth a profusion of yellow blossoms. At that season, to a distant spectator, the hill appears absolutely overlaid with gold, or covered with a glory of sunshine, even beneath a clouded sky. But the curious wanderer on the hill will perceive that all the grass, and everything that should nourish man or beast, has been destroyed by this vile and ineradicable weed: its tufted roots make the soil their own, and permit nothing else to vegetate among them; so that a physical curse may be said to have blasted the spot, where guilt and frenzy consummated the most execrable scene that our history blushes to record. For this was the field where superstition won her darkest triumph; the high place where our fathers set up their shame, to the mournful gaze of generations far remote. The dust of martyrs was beneath our feet. We stood on Gallows Hill.

What this Textopian page supports

Alice Doane's Appeal is listed on Textopian as a short story by Nathaniel Hawthorne, dated 1868 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Short story
Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne
Date: 1868 CE
Language: English
Genres: Gothic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romanticism, Mystery, Tragedy
Length: 5,534 words
Structure: 1 section, 23 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for Alice Doane's Appeal by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
Readability and classroom-planning context
Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph

Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering Alice Doane's Appeal?
How does this short story by Nathaniel Hawthorne fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Gothic Fiction first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Gothic Fiction — The story features dark themes, supernatural elements, and a focus on psychological horror, typical of Gothic literature.
Historical Fiction — The narrative is set against the backdrop of historical events, specifically the witch trials, and explores their impact on characters.
Romanticism — The work emphasizes emotion, individualism, and the beauty of nature, reflecting the Romantic literary movement.
Mystery — The plot revolves around a murder and the unraveling of its circumstances, creating a sense of intrigue and suspense.