Time's Portraiture / (From: "The Doliver Romance and Other Pieces: Tales and Sketches")

Name: Time's Portraiture / (From: "The Doliver Romance and Other Pieces: Tales and Sketches")
Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne

A humorous first-person address by a newspaper carrier who personifies Father Time and describes his contemporary manners, dress, and habits. Rejecting the almanac portrait, the speaker depicts Time as a fashionable, sociable figure who haunts city streets, converses with youths and merchants, and delights in gossip and new fashions. The essay traces how Time circulates rumors, embraces novelty, marks people with age and misfortune, and prefers the present over historic memory, using ironic observation to reflect on transience, social fads, and the deceptive charms of the moment.

By Nathaniel Hawthorne

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About the Author

Nathaniel Hawthorne

Nathaniel Hawthorne was an American novelist and short story writer, born in 1804 in Salem, Massachusetts. He is best known for his exploration of moral complexity and the human condition, often set against the backdrop of New England's Puritan heritage. His notable works include "The Scarlet Letter," which delves into themes of sin and redemption, and "The House of the Seven Gables," a tale of guilt and retribution. Hawthorne's writing is characterized by its rich symbolism and psychological depth, making significant contributions to American literature. His stories often reflect his fascination with the darker aspects of human nature and the consequences of isolation.