The Procession of Life
The work presents life as a grand procession, where individuals are categorized by various external and superficial criteria, often leading to misclassification. The narrator critiques societal norms that group people based on wealth, profession, or disease, arguing that these classifications obscure the deeper connections of humanity. Initially, the procession is organized by wealth and social status, highlighting the absurdity of such divisions. The narrator suggests a more meaningful classification based on shared afflictions, such as physical diseases, which ironically unite people across social strata. This leads to a reflection on how suffering can create bonds that transcend societal boundaries. As the procession continues, the narrator explores the idea of intellectual kinship, where individuals are grouped by their mental gifts rather than their social standing. This classification, while more genuine, is still questioned, as it may not hold true beyond the earthly realm. The theme of sorrow emerges as a unifying force, where grief levels distinctions between the rich and the poor. The narrator emphasizes that true mourning transcends social class, allowing individuals to connect through shared loss. However, the narrator also critiques those who claim sorrow without genuine experience, suggesting that not all grief is equal. The narrative then shifts to the darker aspects of humanity, calling forth those who have committed crimes. Here, the distinctions of morality blur, as individuals are linked by their transgressions, regardless of their societal status. This section highlights the hypocrisy of societal norms that often overlook the moral failings of the powerful. In contrast, the call for goodness and love reveals a struggle among individuals to recognize their shared virtues. The narrator notes the difficulty in uniting those who do good, as personal biases and sectarian divides often hinder genuine connections. Ultimately, the procession seeks a comprehensive classification that encompasses all humanity, including those who feel lost or misplaced in life. This leads to a gathering of individuals who have failed to find their rightful place, illustrating the complexities of human experience. As the procession nears its conclusion, the Chief Marshal, representing Death, arrives to guide the multitude. Death serves as the ultimate equalizer, reminding all that regardless of their earthly classifications, they are united in mortality. The work concludes with a somber yet hopeful reflection on the journey of life, suggesting that while the destination remains unknown, there is a divine purpose guiding humanity forward.
By Nathaniel Hawthorne · First published 1843 · Genre: Philosophical Fiction, Social Commentary, Allegory · 5,776 words
First lines
Life figures itself to me as a festal or funereal procession. All of us have our places, and are to move onward under the direction of the Chief Marshal. The grand difficulty results from the invariably mistaken principles on which the deputy marshals seek to arrange this immense concourse of people, so much more numerous than those that train their interminable length through streets and highways in times of political excitement. Their scheme is ancient, far beyond the memory of man or even the record of history, and has hitherto been very little modified by the innate sense of something wrong, and the dim perception of better methods, that have disquieted all the ages through which the procession has taken its march. Its members are classified by the merest external circumstances, and thus are more certain to be thrown out of their true positions than if no principle of arrangement were attempted. In one part of the procession we see men of landed estate or moneyed capital gravely keeping each other company, for the preposterous reason that they chance to have a similar standing in the tax-gatherer's book.
What this Textopian page supports
The Procession of Life is listed on Textopian as an essay by Nathaniel Hawthorne, dated 1843 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Essay
- Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne
- Date: 1843 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Philosophical Fiction, Social Commentary, Allegory, Essay, Literary Fiction
- Length: 5,776 words
- Structure: 1 section, 29 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
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- Work identity for The Procession of Life by Nathaniel Hawthorne
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Procession of Life?
- How does this essay by Nathaniel Hawthorne fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Philosophical Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Philosophical Fiction — The work explores deep themes of existence, classification of society, and the nature of life and death.
- Social Commentary — It critiques societal structures and the arbitrary classifications of people based on external circumstances.
- Allegory — The procession serves as an allegorical representation of human life and the various conditions of existence.
- Essay — The text presents a reflective and analytical discourse on life, society, and human relationships.
Tags
American Literature · Symbolism · Philosophy · Existentialism · Mortality · Life Cycle · Human Condition · Psychological Insight · Social Commentary · Morality · Ethics · Religion