The Threefold Destiny

Hawthorne, Nathaniel, 1804-1864Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.2

Word count: 20K words
Chapters: 2

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.The Threefold Destiny (From "Twice Told Tales") by Nathaniel HawthorneAuthor: Hawthorne, Nathaniel, 1804-1864,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Nov 1, 2005

Editor's review

Hawthorne's "The Threefold Destiny," from Twice-Told Tales, is a short story with an allegorical quality, centering on fate, omens, and self-choice. It continues Hawthorne's characteristic use of symbolism and psychological description, planting reflections on life's path beneath a calm surface. Brief in length yet suited to repeated reading: readers can take it as a story and also see Hawthorne's attention to the tension between Puritan tradition, fatalism, and individual will. This edition is a Project Gutenberg electronic version in the original English, convenient for searching and citation. It is suitable as a supplementary text in literature courses, short-story seminars, or Hawthorne selections. When reading, note changes in the narrator's attitude toward the word "fate" and the function of symbolic objects in advancing the plot. As a public-domain electronic text with simple formatting, it is better suited to readers with some English reading ability reading independently than to beginners seeking detailed notes or a fluent translation.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Students in English or American/British literature courses who need to read a Hawthorne short story
Readers interested in nineteenth-century American short fiction and allegorical narrative
Organizers who need a short public-domain English text for classroom discussion or reading groups
Readers who want to approach Hawthorne's symbolism and Puritan background through a short story

Not a good fit for

Beginning readers who need full annotations, bilingual text, or a detailed guide
Readers who prefer tightly plotted, longer modern novels
Readers who want Hawthorne's major novels rather than a selection of short stories

Reading tips

Read through once to grasp the plot, then revisit how "threefold" in the title corresponds to specific events or characters.
Mark recurring symbolic objects and ominous sentences while reading, then sort out their relationship to the ending.
Read alongside other stories in Hawthorne's Twice-Told Tales to observe common features of his allegorical method.
If used in class, prepare two discussion questions in advance: Is fate predetermined, and where do characters' choices change the course?

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book a novel or a short story?

It is a short story from Hawthorne's collection Twice-Told Tales. It is brief enough to read in one or two sittings. The electronic edition is in the original English and does not include a Chinese translation.

Can I read it without a background in American or British literature?

Yes, but some English reading ability is needed. Hawthorne's sentences are long and symbolic; if you are unfamiliar with the Puritan background, reading with a translation or a related guide will make understanding smoother.

What are the features of this edition?

This is a public-domain electronic text released by Project Gutenberg, in the original English with simple formatting, convenient for searching and citation. It has no notes, translation, or guide, so it suits independent reading or use as course support material.

What is most worth paying attention to while reading?

Note how "fate" is presented in the narration, how symbolic objects drive the plot, and how characters choose when faced with omens. Hawthorne often hides moral meaning in everyday details; watching changes in the narrator's tone will help.

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About the author

Hawthorne, Nathaniel, 1804-1864 Author

Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804–1864) was an American novelist known for his engagement with Puritan tradition and moral allegory. He wrote about sin, guilt, confession, and social prejudice in a restrained style with vivid imagery, often using historical settings and legendary tales to reveal the subtleties of human nature. The collection here holds 98 of his works, including the frequently translated novel The Scarlet Letter, the short-story collection Twice-Told Tales, and children's books drawn from myth and legend such as A Wonder Book for Girls & Boys, Tanglewood Tales, The Gorgon's Head, and The Three Golden Apples, showing his dual interest in New England history and classical myth. His writing has had a lasting influence on American literature's treatment of conscience and identity. Publicly available details of his life are limited, so they are not elaborated here.