Cover of Time's Portraiture

Time's Portraiture

(From: "The Doliver Romance and Other Pieces: Tales and Sketches")

by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Read

"Time's Portraiture" by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a prose piece that serves as the Carrier's Address to the patrons of "The Salem Gazette" for January 1, 1838. Written during the early to mid-19th century, this work reflects a blend of social commentary and poetic musings, centering on the theme of time and its impact on human life. The piece uses witty and humorous language to critique societal perceptions of time as well as its personification. In this address, the narrator—portraying a newspaper carrier—reflects on the character of Father Time, illustrating a more vibrant and socially engaged figure than traditional depictions suggest. Hawthorne's time is clad in fashionable attire, mingling with the people of Salem, and engaging in daily life while overshadowing their experiences with the relentless passage of time. The Carrier examines misconceptions about Time, highlighting his forgetfulness, shrewdness, and dual nature of comfort and misery that he brings to humanity. The piece culminates in a plea to the patrons for generosity to the carrier, simultaneously capturing the essence of human experience and the inevitability of time's march.

Summary written by Project Gutenberg, by machine.

Language
English
On Project Gutenberg since
1 November 2005
Read in the last 30 days
461 times at Project Gutenberg

More by Nathaniel Hawthorne

See all

Subjects and shelves