The Hollow of the Three Hills by Nathaniel Hawthorne

In The Hollow of the Three Hills by Nathaniel Hawthorne we have the theme of sacrifice, death, regret, guilt,
desperation and bravery. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading
the story that Hawthorne may be exploring the theme of sacrifice. The woman must sacrifice her life with the
evil woman if she wishes to see what has happened to her family. Driven by guilt the woman agrees to this
requirement in order to settle her mind and her heart. Though the woman has been unfaithful to her husband
(by abandoning him) she still loves him, her parents and her family. If anything Hawthorne may be suggesting
that with family life comes responsibilities and that the woman has not met the responsibilities she was
expected to have met. This may be significant as Hawthorne could be suggesting that despite an individual’s
actions (the woman’s) a person can still have regrets about what they may have done. Though due to societal
norms a person knows that they must take a course of action that is difficult. That being the woman
abandoning her family. The reader aware that she abandoned her family due to her inability to handle the death
of her child.

The fact that the woman tried to escape her duties as a wife may also be important as Hawthorne may be
placing a spotlight on what exactly was expected of a woman at the time the story was written. There is no
doubting that the woman was under a lot of pressure. However she received no support from her parents or her
husband. If anything the pressure may have become too much for the woman. Though it is interesting that
when she meets the evil woman she knows the consequences of what will happen. She must give up her life. If
anything this might be considered to be an act of bravery by some readers. Even though she knows she is going
to die should she engage with the evil woman. The woman nonetheless does so. The woman is prepared to
sacrifice her life in order to discover that everything is okay with her family. She may also be so overwhelmed
with regret that she longs to make sure that everything is okay since her departure.

It is also interesting that at no stage in the story do any of the other characters that are mentioned think
positively of the woman. It is as though they blame her for acting irresponsibly. Which may suggest that none
of the characters have any compassion for the difficulties that the woman went through. Her only friend in the
story appears to be the evil woman. Who has a motive when it comes to helping the woman. She knows that
she can claim the woman’s life. If anything there is a sense of loneliness within the woman. Something that is
matched by the desolate setting of the story. The fact that the story takes place at night time might also be
important as Hawthorne may be attempting to add an element of darkness to the story. Something that he does
manage to achieve. If anything the woman is in a desperate position. Though she may have abandoned her
family. She has not forgotten them. Similarly the reason the woman doesn’t go back to her family might be
because of the shame she feels. There may be no chance of forgiveness for the woman due to accepted societal
norms of the time.

It may also be a case that Hawthorne is highlighting how overpowering guilt can be and the extremes an
individual will go to in order to cleanse themselves of guilt. This is exactly what the woman does. So weighed
down is she by guilt that she sacrifices her life in order to make some type of amends. An amends that nobody
can see. Which may further highlight how strong an emotion like regret can be. To lose somebody in life is
traumatic but to knowingly sacrifice yourself for others is something which many critics might consider to be
even more difficult. Though it would be easy to judge the woman negatively for her actions it may be
Hawthorne’s intention to highlight to the reader just how difficult the woman found things. She has never been
able to let go of what has happened and what she has done. It is a cross that she has borne right up to her death.
If anything Hawthorne could be suggesting that in life one will always have regrets and carry guilt for one’s
actions. It is a matter of how a person lives their life after the event which may be important and the woman
has paid the price for her actions.