The Great Stone Face I

Chapter Summary

“The Great Stone Face-I” is a short story by Nathaniel Hawthorne, explaining the life and livelihood of a person named Ernest. The man resides in a beautiful valley. In the story, the valley has been described as an ordinary town with specialities. The significance of the valley highlights some local Rocky Mountains. The rocks of the mountains are arranged in such a way that they all resemble a benevolent face and wise face from afar. Ernest gets fascinated by this benevolent face a lot, as his mother explains to him, the person who resembles the great stone face will always return to valley. Ernest's belief in his mother’s words and quest to find the great stone face is depicted in the story.

What was the Great Stone Face?

The story of Nathaniel Hawthorne, “The Great Stone Face” was a work that depicts the beauty of nature. Throughout the story, the significance of the valley played a vital role. There was a rocky mountain in the valley that resembles a benevolent face and wise face. The speciality of the mountain is that the rocks are placed one on another which resembles human features or faces. The outline of this enormous face is visible from a proper distance. Throughout the prose, Ernest has quested to find out the great stone face and the truthfulness of the prophecy behind it.

What did young Ernest wish when he gazed at it?

On gazing at the stone that resembles the features of a human face the little boy Ernest thought that the great stone face will speak to him. The boy also thought that he would make the man his friend whoever will resemble that face. Ernest had quested a lot to find out the man named Gathergold, who had left the valley years back and settle at a distant seaport. A rumour went around the town that this man resembles the great stone face. Ernest believed in his mother's words that one day he will meet the man and will make him his friend when the man will return to his valley.

What was the story attributed to the Stone Face?

The story The Great Stone Face-I, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, attributed to the Stone Face was that in future one day will come when a child will take birth in the valley, whose face will resemble the great stone face. According to the prophecy the man who will resemble the stone face will be destined to develop into the noblest and greatest in life. Ernest wished that he would meet the man who resemble the stone face and would ask him to be his friend for the rest of his life. The great stone face influenced Ernest greatly as a teacher and encouraged him to establish his goal of growing up into a kind and noble man.

What gave the people of the valley the idea that the prophecy was about to come true for the first time?

The people of the valley started believing that the prophecy was about to come true for the first time as they hear a rumour about the man who resembles the great stone face. The man who resembles the stone face left the valley years back and set up as a potential shopkeeper, at a distant seaport. His name was Gathergold, and he was a potential man in business matters who has grown into a rich old man.

After becoming a wealthy man, he decided to return to his valley and spend his last days there. On returning to his native valley, Gathergold was identified by the people as the man who resembles the great stone face. People identified his face and spread a rumour that he looks like the stone face. This made the people of the town believe that the prophecy had come true.

Did Ernest see in Gathergold the likeness of the Stone Face? Who did he confide in and how was he proved right?

Every people had found a likeness to the stone face in Gathergold, but Ernest did not find any likeness to the great stone face in the rich and old man Gathergold.

In the first part of the story, the little boy Ernest was stirred to hear that the great nobleman, Gathergold would be returning to his native town after years and will be spending his last days where he had been born. He was identified as the man who resembles the stone face by all excluding Ernest who did not find similarities between Gathgergold and the great stone face.

The second part of the story highlight that Ernest confided in the great stone face. After the death of a rich old man Gathergold, all his gold and weather got disappeared. This made the boy believe that he does not resemble the great stone face.

What made people believe General Blood-and-Thunder was their man?

People of the valley generally believed that General Blood-and-thunder has risen to a higher position than the soldier who has returned to his native valley after years. After returning to his town Gathergold was pleased to hear from his friend that he always resembled the great stone face. Gathergold, was a general to his friend as he influences all of them with his kindness and honesty.

Ernest compared the man’s face with the Stone Face. What did he conclude?

People identified him as the man of prophecy but Ernest could not any similarities between Gathgergold and the great stone face. This is because after the death of the rich old man all his gold and wealth got disappeared, which was determined as the spirit and body of his existence.

FAQs

Q1. Who was Gathergold?

Ans. Gathergold was set up as a potential shopkeeper, at a distant seaport after he left his valley. He was a potential man in business matters who has grown up into a rich old man over time. He returned to his hometown and there he was identified as the man who resembles the great stone face.

Q2. What happened when Gathergold returned to his town after years?

Ans. After becoming rich and old Gathergold returned to his town to spend his last days of life. Earnest's thoughts came true when he heard the sound of a carriage wheel and found the great Mr Gathergold in town.

Q3. Who was rumoured as the man of prophecy by the people in the valley?

Ans. Gathergold was the man of prophecy, with whom Ernest was thought of meeting one day as he has got highly influence and wanted to grow into a noble and wise man like him. He resembles the great stone face according to all people of the valley.