King Midas and the Mysterious Encounter: A Tale of Gold and Consequences

What is the encounter between King Midas and the stranger in “The Golden Touch”? How does it contribute to the mood of mystery and set the plot in motion?

Hawthorne introduces King Midas's love for gold in 'The Golden Touch'. The story takes a turn when Midas, granted a wish by a mysterious stranger, curses himself with a golden touch. This initiates the main conflict of the narrative as Midas's blessing becomes a curse when he turns his daughter into gold.

Explanation:

Hawthorne's narrative, “The Golden Touch”, begins with the introduction of King Midas, his daughter Marygold, and Midas’s obsession with gold. The inciting incident develops when Midas encounters a stranger. This stranger, an old man, grants Midas a wish. Driven by his love for gold, Midas hastily wishes that everything he touches turns to gold.

This encounter creates a feeling of mystery as the identity of the stranger who possesses such power to grant wishes is not immediately revealed. The way Hawthorne narrates this part also gives a mood of suspense, hinting at the unforeseen consequences of Midas's wish.

This incident with the stranger is a turning point in the story. King Midas's golden touch, while initially a cause for joy, morphs into a curse when he turns his beloved daughter, Marygold, into gold. This sets the conflict in motion, propelling the narrative into a series of events stemming from this consequence.