Chippings with a Chisel

Name: Chippings with a Chisel
Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne

The narrative unfolds through the perspective of a narrator who spends a summer on Martha's Vineyard, where he encounters a tombstone carver named Wigglesworth. The carver, an elderly man from a Puritan lineage, has come to the island seeking work, as the local demand for gravestones is high due to the community's deep connection to their deceased. The narrator observes the unique characteristics of the gravestones in the local burial ground, noting the contrast between ornate, imported stones and the simpler, more personal markers created by grieving relatives. Wigglesworth's cheerful demeanor belies the somber nature of his work. He engages with various customers, each with their own stories and motivations for memorializing their loved ones. The interactions reveal a spectrum of human emotions surrounding death, from the profound sorrow of a woman mourning her first love lost at sea to the detached pragmatism of a man ordering stones for his deceased wives. The narrator reflects on the nature of grief and remembrance, noting that men tend to memorialize their wives more than women do their husbands, suggesting a deeper emotional connection in the former. The narrative also explores the absurdities and complexities of memorialization. A humorous incident occurs when a woman, believing her husband to be dead, orders a gravestone only for him to return alive, highlighting the sometimes arbitrary nature of death and remembrance. The narrator contemplates the significance of epitaphs, recognizing that while they may seem trite, they hold deep meaning for those in mourning. Wigglesworth's craftsmanship is juxtaposed with the emotional weight of his clients' requests. The narrator observes a young girl selecting a gravestone for herself, foreshadowing her imminent death, and reflects on the nature of mortality and the human desire for remembrance. He expresses skepticism about the value of gravestones, arguing that they may serve as burdens rather than symbols of love and memory. Ultimately, the work delves into themes of mortality, the human condition, and the complexities of love and loss. The narrator's philosophical musings challenge conventional views on death and memorialization, suggesting that true remembrance transcends physical markers. The relationship between the narrator and Wigglesworth serves as a vehicle for exploring these themes, as they navigate the intersection of art, memory, and the inevitability of death.

By Nathaniel Hawthorne · First published 1842 · Genre: Essay, Literary Nonfiction, Philosophical Literature · 4,533 words

First lines

Passing a summer, several years since, at Edgartown, on the island of Martha's Vineyard, I became acquainted with a certain carver of tombstones, who had travelled and voyaged thither from the interior of Massachusetts, in search of professional employment. The speculation had turned out so successful, that my friend expected to transmute slate and marble into silver and gold, to the amount of at least a thousand dollars, during the few months of his sojourn at Nantucket and the Vineyard. The secluded life, and the simple and primitive spirit which still characterizes the inhabitants of those islands, especially of Martha's Vineyard, insure their dead friends a longer and dearer remembrance than the daily novelty and revolving bustle of the world can elsewhere afford to beings of the past. Yet while every family is anxious to erect a memorial to its departed members, the untainted breath of ocean bestows such health and length of days upon the people of the isles, as would cause a melancholy dearth of business to a resident artist in that line. His own monument, recording his disease by starvation, would probably be an early specimen of his skill. Gravestones, therefore, have generally been an article of imported merchandise.

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Chippings with a Chisel is listed on Textopian as a short story by Nathaniel Hawthorne, dated 1842 CE.

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Work type: Short story
Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne
Date: 1842 CE
Language: English
Genres: Essay, Literary Nonfiction, Philosophical Literature, Satire, Character Study
Length: 4,533 words
Structure: 1 section, 34 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

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Genres

Essay — The work presents a reflective exploration of themes related to death, memory, and the human condition, characteristic of essayistic writing.
Literary Nonfiction — The narrative blends factual observations with personal reflections, providing insights into the nature of grief and memorialization.
Philosophical Literature — The text delves into philosophical inquiries about life, death, and the meaning of memorials, prompting readers to contemplate deeper existential questions.
Satire — Elements of satire are present in the critique of societal attitudes towards death and memorials, particularly through the character of Mr. Wigglesworth.