The Hollow of the Three Hills

The Destructiveness of Guilt and Shame is a theme that appears in many of Hawthorne’s works. Hawthorne was intimately acquainted with guilt and shame due to his family’s Puritan background and involvement in the Salem witch trials, and he wrote with a personal perspective on this topic. This theme is prominently seen in “The Hollow of the Three Hills” through the character of the lady.

Going against safety and prudence, the lady seeks out the old woman to help her. It is never directly stated that the old woman is a witch, but the lady is the one who has requested a meeting because of the old woman’s supernatural reputation. The lady is hoping that the meeting will bring her peace and that she will see that the family that she left behind is fine. Her desire for absolution from her guilt is so great that the lady is willing to meet with someone who is known to be involved with the supernatural—her shame leads her to be reckless with her safety. The old woman demurs and claims that she cannot provide these visions but that if the lady is “bold” (Paragraph 5) she will get what she came for.