Monday, August 22, 2016

A Hundred Thousand Straightened Nails by Donald Hall

Mount Washington, New Hampshire. Source: http://www.nhbfa.com
A Hundred Thousand Straightened Nails by Donald Hall (Page 252) is a description of the life of the author’s uncle, Washington Woodward. Throughout the story, Hall reflects on the insignificance of Washington’s existence, often connecting this idea with the setting, New Hampshire. Donald Hall, a graduate of Phillips Exeter Academy, Harvard and Oxford, is a respected writer and literary critic. Known primarily for his poems, he has received numerous awards, including most recently the National Medal of Arts in 2010, presented to him by President Barack Obama.
The author’s purpose in writing this essay is to show that most people live pointless lives that have little impact on the world. He demonstrates through Washington that although his uncle had little principles or close relationships, his “hermit” lifestyle was satisfying to himself, which, at the end of the day, is all that matters. Hall’s intended audience seems to be people who have high expectations for the repercussions of their lives.

Setting affects the mood of Hall’s essay. He describes his ancestor’s legacy in terms of “the decay of New Hampshire” (252) and “the disease that afflicted New Hampshire” (253). The way Hall sets up the atmosphere of New Hampshire gives an overall “gloomy” or “melancholy” mood to his story. This aids the reader’s comprehension of his purpose, as commenting on a setting negatively creates a dull outlook on life in general. I found that Hall accomplished his purpose. As he goes continues to recall Washington Woodward’s life, it becomes more apparent to the readers that his isolated and bizarre way of living was fulfilling for Woodward, a fact that should be admired. Shown by his uncle’s life, Hall is able to communicate that living to be remembered is less of an accomplishment than living to be happy.

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