The Gray Champion
by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Joanna Olejniczak
Basic facts
O 1835- first published in the New England Magazine
O 1837- second published in The Twice- told Tales, as
the opening to the short story collection
Historical references:
O 1684- Charles II annulled the original charters of the
Massachusetts *
O James II (King of England 1685-1688), described as „the bigoted
O
O
O
O
successor” of Charles II
Sir Edmund Andros- English administrator in North America
(Governor and Council), introduced as „harsh and unprincipled
soldier” (p. 77)
William III reffered as Prince of Orange (King of England 16891702) with the Queen Mary II
King Philip’s war- 1675-76, an armed conflict between the
English settlers and Indian tribes (led by Metacom)
St. Bartholomew day- 24 August 1572, the massacre of
Protestants in Paris, and for them, a symbol of the Catholic evil
*Hawthorne assigned the annulation to James ll
PLOT
The story is set in 1689 in Boston
Main action: afternoon in April, King-street
Introduction: narrator provides the historical background: James II, described as a
popish tyrant and the oppressor of the Puritans. There is a rumour that the Prince
of Orange will save New England.
O Action: In April 1689, the Governor's Guard made its appearance in the streets of
Boston. A crowd of people gathered on the King Street. The Bostonians were
descendants of the Puritans and still bore their old spirit. It was a picture of the
condition of New England: on one side the religious multitude, on the other the
group of despotic rulers. A voice cried: "provide a Champion for thy people!“ (p. 81)
Suddenly an ancient man appeared, a grey patriarch clothed in a fashion at least
fifty years old, dignified, and authoritative. No one knew him and everyone
wondered that such an authority remained unknown to them. The man walked
towards the army, grasped his staff by the middle and cried: "Stand!“ (p.82) The man
prophesied the abdication of James II and imprisonment of the Governor next day.
O Ending: The leader and the saint at the same time is said to be disturbed by the cry
of an oppressed people in his secret place. He is said to appear again on similar
occasions and after the peace is restored, he always seems to dissolve in the
twilight and disappear.
O
The Gray Champion
ACTION: prediction of the future
He stops the march of the Governor
and his companions and makes a
speech:
„I am here (...) because the cry of an
oppressed people hath disturbed me
in my secret place; and beseeching
this favor earnestly of the Lord, it was
vouchsafed me to appear once again
on earth, in the good old causes of
his Saints” „There is no longer a
popish tyrant [James II] on the thorne
of England (...) With this night the
power is ended- tomorrow, the
prison!” (p.83)
Later „the old man had fadded from
their eyes, melting slowly into the
hues of twilight” (p.83)
Who was the Gray Champion?
Legend of the Angel of Hadley
In 1675, King Philip’s War- a brutal and horribly bloody conflict between
English settlers and various groups of Native Americans
According to legend, Hadley was attacted in September of 1675 while the
inhabitants were at worship. When the alarm was raised, men grabbed their
weapons and ran out to meet the attack. Completely disorganized, confused
and afraid, many of them unarmed.
Suddenly, in the midst of this chaos appeared an elderly man carrying an old
sword. No one had seen him before. He seemed out of place, quite different
than the rest of the settlers. His bearing was distinctly military and quickly
instructed them as to how they should fight. The attack was repulsed. As soon
as the conflict had ended, the mysterious stranger disappeared, leaving many
to wonder if he had been an angel from God.
The story was first documented by Thomas Hutchinson, in his 1764 History of
Massachusetts. Hutchinson identifies the mysterious hero as General
William Goffe, a key figure in the English Civil War.
Source: https://historicaldigression.com/2011/09/05/the-angel-of-hadley/
Puritans in
The Gray Champion
O oppressed- „under the actual pressure” (p.77)
O frightened- „take away our liberties and endanger our religion”
(p.77)
and afraid of being killed: „the Pope of Rome has given orders
for a new St. Bartholomew! (...) We are to be massacred, man and male
child” (p.79)
O complain about lack of freedom- „till this evil times (...) the
colonists had ruled themselves, enyoing far more freedom” (p.78)
O hope for „the triumpf of civil and religious rights and the
salvation of New England” (p. 78)
Puritans in other short stories
My Kinsman, Major
Molineux
The May- Pole of Merry
Mount
The Gentle Boy
The colonies do not
attack their real
father (the British
King), but rather
governors such as
Molineux.
The Puritans seem to be
harsh and extreme in their
dealings with a hedonistic
but physically harmless
group of individuals, they
attacted the Merry Mount.
The Puritans do not
accept the Quakers.
Act in a brutal way,
want to leave a child
in wilderness.
politics
religion
religion
Puritans: powerful, determined, ready to fight and act in a brutal way.
Possible reading
• Irony detected in Puritans’ description
(oppressed Puritans do not take action/ words vs. action)
‘Old soldiers of the Parliament were here, too, smiling grimly at the thought
did Their aged arms might strike another blow against the house of
Stuart. Here, then, were the veterans of King Philip's war, who had burned
villages and slaughtered young and old, with pious fierceness, while the
godly souls Throughout the country were helping them with prayer. ’ (p.79)
Whereas ‘the good Governor Bradstreet’ ,’a patriarch of nearly ninety’ asks
them to ‘do nothing rashly. Cry not aloud, but pray for the welfare of New
England, and expect patiently what the Lord will do in this matter’ (p.80)
CONTRAST: ’One one side the religious multitude, with their sad visages
and dark attire, and on the other, the group of despotic rulers, with the
high churchman (..) a crucifix at their bosoms (...) all magnificently clad,
flushed with wine, proud of unjust authority’ (p.81)
Hypocrisy: Puritans seemed to be against the union of politics and religion