The idea of “inheritance,” both literal and figurative, looms large in The House of the Seven Gables. What are the different forms inheritance takes in the lives of the characters? How do different characters conceive of inheritance and its implications?

Analyze The House of the Seven Gables as a work of Dark Romanticism (See: Background). In what ways does the novel conform to, or diverge from, the techniques, tropes, and/or themes typical of that literary movement?

Consider the characterization of Hepzibah. How is she depicted in the novel? What is the significance of her being the protagonist, as opposed to Clifford, Judge Pyncheon, or Phoebe? How does having Hepzibah at the center of the story shape the narrative?