The Marble Faun
by Nathaniel Hawthorne
The Marble Faun is a gothic romance concerning three young Americans and one young Italian Count who meet in Rome. The book features picturesque descriptions of historic art and architecture in Rome as a backdrop to a tale of mystery, murder, and romance.
Source: Hawthorne, N. (1860). The Marble Faun. Boston: Ticknor and Fields.
- Author’s Preface
- The preface to the novel.
- Chapter I: “Miriam, Hilda, Kenyon, Donatello”
- The author introduces the four major characters of the novel.
- Chapter II: “The Faun”
- Donatello talks of the mythic faun.
- Chapter III: “Subterranean Reminiscences”
- The author describes Miriam model to the reader. Miriam disappears from the group.
- Chapter IV: “The Spectre of the Catacomb”
- Miriam returns to the group and acts strangely.
- Chapter V: “Miriam’s Studio”
- Donatello visits Miriam in her studio.
- Chapter VI: “The Virgin’s Shrine”
- Leaving her studio, Miriam goes to the statue of the virgin. She and Hilda talk about religion.
- Chapter VII: “Beatrice”
- Miriam and Hilda talk of a famous portrait, Beatrice.
- Chapter VIII: “The Suburban Villa”
- The author describes the villa and the surrounding scenery.
- Chapter IX: “The Faun and Nymph”
- Donatello confesses to Miriam that he loves her.
- Chapter X: “The Sylvan Dance”
- Miriam tells Donatello that she believes he is a true faun. They frolic and revel in the glade.
- Chapter XI: “Fragmentary Sentences”
- Miriam talks to the model of death. She fears he might be crazy.
- Chapter XII: “A Stroll on the Pincian”
- While taking a walk, Hilda and the sculptor spot Donatello and notice his unhappiness.
- Chapter XIII: “A Sculptor’s Studio”
- Miriam visits Kenyon in his studio.
- Chapter XIV: “Cleopatra”
- After much discussion, Kenyon unveils his latest statue, Cleopatra, to Miriam.
- Chapter XV: “An Aesthetic Company”
- A large group of artists, englishmen, tourists (as well as Kenyon, Hilda, Donatello, and Miriam) gather together for an exhibit.
- Chapter XVI: “A Moonlight Ramble”
- While the party continues, Miriam takes a moonlit walk and is confronted by someone from her past. Noticing her terror, Donatello goes to her and threatens violence on her intruder.
- Chapter XVII: “Miriam’s Trouble”
- While sitting on a fallen column, the four friends admire the moonlight.
- Chapter XVIII: “On the Edge of a Precipice”
- Kenyon, Hilda, Donatello, and Miriam search for the chasm.
- Chapter XIX: “The Faun’s Transformation”
- Miriam confronts Donatello.
- Chapter XX: “The Burial Chaunt”
- Wondering where Hilda is, Kenyon, Donatello, and Miriam wander into the church to look at the dead monk.
- Chapter XXI: “The Dead Capuchin”
- Miriam and Donatello recognize the dead monk.
- Chapter XXII: “The Medici Garden”
- Miriam and Donatello have a discussion in the garden.
- Chapter XXIII: “Miriam and Hilda”
- Miriam goes to Hilda and speaks of her own guilty feelings.
- Chapter XXIV: “The Tower among the Apennines”
- Kenyon visits Donatello at the tower residence.
- Chapter XXV: “Sunshine”
- During his visit, Kenyon asks Donatello to let him mold a bust of him.
- Chapter XXVI: “The Pedigree of Monte Beni”
- Kenyon discovers many peculiarities and occurances regarding the family history of the Counts of Monte Beni.
- Chapter XXVII: “Myths”
- Donatello tells Kenyon that he has the gift of talking to animals and tries to communcate with the creatures of nature.
- Chapter XXVIII: “The Owl-Tower”
- Donatello takes Kenyon to the old tower.
- Chapter XXIX: “On the Battlements”
- While looking out from the tower, Donatello and Kenyon discuss battles, clouds, and the life of monks.
- Chapter XXX: “Donatello’s Bust”
- Donatello’s bust is almost completed.
- Chapter XXXI: “The Marble Saloon”
- Miriam confesses to Kenyon her unhappiness regarding Donatello.
- Chapter XXXII: “Scenes by the Way”
- The two travelers (Kenyon and Donatello) take a long journey.
- Chapter XXXIII: “Pictured Windows”
- Donatello and Kenyon continue on their journey and comment on their natural surroundings.
- Chapter XXXIV: “Market-Day in Perugia”
- Donatello and Kenyon wander through the markets in Perugia.
- Chapter XXXV: “The Bronze Pontiff’s Benediction”
- Kenyon comes upon Miriam.
- Chapter XXXVI: “Hilda’s Tower”
- Hilda laments her current situation.
- Chapter XXXVII: “The Emptiness of Picture-Galleries”
- Hilda wanders through a picture gallery and feels the weariness and lonliness that accompanies it.
- Chapter XXXVIII: “Altars and Incense”
- Hilda makes a pilgrimage and ponders Catholicism.
- Chapter XXXIX: “The World’s Cathedral”
- Hilda wanders into a cathedral and becomes entranced by its magic.
- Chapter XL: “Hilda and a Friend”
- After Hilda receives the priest’s blessing, she is reunited with Kenyon.
- Chapter XLI: “Snow-Drops and Maidenly Delights”
- Kenyon and Hilda enjoy their reunion and catch up on past events.
- Chapter XLII: “Reminiscences of Miriam”
- Hilda bids Kenyon never to speak of Miriam
- Chapter XLIII: “The Extinction of a Lamp”
- Kenyon and Hilda come upon a shrine and, after becoming lost in thought, notice that the shrine's lamp goes out for the first time in centuries.
- Chapter XLIV: “The Deserted Shrine”
- Upon noticing the flame’s gone out, Kenyon goes inside to investigate.
- Chapter XLV: “The Flight of Hilda’s Doves”
- Noticing that Hilda’s light has gone out, Kenyon worries for her safety.
- Chapter XLVI: “A Walk on the Campagna”
- While wandering, Kenyon turns toward the Campagna and, looking for Hilda, spies an artistic treasure.
- Chapter XLVII: “The Peasant and Contadina”
- Donatello and Miriam arrive in costume telling Kenyon about the carnival.
- Chapter XLVIII: “A Scene in the Corso”
- The author describes the merriment at the Carnival. The sculptor spots 2 black masked figures.
- Chapter XLIX: “A Frolic of the Carnival”
- The sculptor tries to follow the figures wearing black masks.
- Chapter L: “Miriam, Hilda, Kenyon, Donatello”
- Hilda and Kenyon talk of religion and prayer.
- Conclusion
- The author’s anticipated conclusion.