44 pages 1 hour read

Nathaniel Hawthorne

The Marble Faun

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1860

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Chapters 5-10

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 5 Summary: “Miriam’s Studio”

Hawthorne describes the Renaissance palazzo in which Miriam lives and keeps her studio. Donatello visits there after the episode at the Capitol and tries to cheer Miriam up, but she insists that artists are naturally dark and gloomy. After showing him her artwork, she tells him to meet her in the grounds of the Villa Borghese that afternoon.

Chapter 6 Summary: “The Virgin’s Shrine”

Miriam pays a visit to Hilda in her “old and shabby palace” surmounted by a tower with a shrine to the Virgin Mary (39). The shrine contains a lamp that has been kept burning for centuries and that Hilda now tends.

Chapter 7 Summary: “Beatrice”

Hawthorne describes Hilda’s travels to the galleries of Rome to paint and make skillful copies of the Old Masters. The narrative then returns to Miriam’s visit to Hilda from Chapter 6. Hilda shows Miriam her copy of a portrait of Beatrice Cenci, which she has reproduced from memory. Miriam praises Hilda for the accurate and profound likeness. Hilda explains that she sees Beatrice as a “fallen angel” who is profoundly sorrowful because of a sin. Miriam says that she wishes to “penetrate poor Beatrice’s mystery” (50); as she says this, Hilda notices that Miriam’s expression matches that of the portrait.

Related Titles

By Nathaniel Hawthorne

Study Guide

logo

Dr. Heidegger's Experiment

Nathaniel Hawthorne

Dr. Heidegger's Experiment

Nathaniel Hawthorne

Study Guide

logo

Ethan Brand

Nathaniel Hawthorne

Ethan Brand

Nathaniel Hawthorne

Study Guide

logo

My Kinsman Major Molineux

Nathaniel Hawthorne

My Kinsman Major Molineux

Nathaniel Hawthorne

Study Guide

logo

The Ambitious Guest

Nathaniel Hawthorne

The Ambitious Guest

Nathaniel Hawthorne

Study Guide

logo

The Artist of the Beautiful

Nathaniel Hawthorne

The Artist of the Beautiful

Nathaniel Hawthorne

Study Guide

logo

The Blithedale Romance

Nathaniel Hawthorne

The Blithedale Romance

Nathaniel Hawthorne

Study Guide

logo

The Hollow of the Three Hills

Nathaniel Hawthorne

The Hollow of the Three Hills

Nathaniel Hawthorne

Study Guide

logo

The House of the Seven Gables

Nathaniel Hawthorne

The House of the Seven Gables

Nathaniel Hawthorne

Study Guide

logo

The Maypole Of Merry Mount

Nathaniel Hawthorne

The Maypole Of Merry Mount

Nathaniel Hawthorne

Study Guide

logo

The Minister's Black Veil

Nathaniel Hawthorne

The Minister's Black Veil

Nathaniel Hawthorne

Study Guide

logo

The Wives of the Dead

Nathaniel Hawthorne

The Wives of the Dead

Nathaniel Hawthorne

Study Guide

logo

Young Goodman Brown

Nathaniel Hawthorne

Young Goodman Brown

Nathaniel Hawthorne