The Hawthorne Legacy

A compass is a critical clue in The Hawthorne Legacy, first mentioned in Tobias’s will: “To my daughter Skye Hawthorne, I leave my compass, may she always know true north” (70; 146). Xander brings the compass to True North, where it helps the group solve a clue. However, the compass isn’t just a clue. It symbolizes the metaphorical “moral compass.” The fact that the holiday home is called “True North” emphasizes this symbolic meaning: Usually, the idea of having your moral compass pointing “true north” means you’re doing the right thing (what is “moral”). The inclusion of the compass ironically underscores the fact that many of the Hawthorne family’s members lose sight—or have lost sight, at some point—of their own moral compass. Examples include Toby/Harry when he bought the accelerant for the Hawthorne Island fire; Tobias when he covered up the truth about the fire and let Kaylie Rooney be the scapegoat; and Skye when she tried to have Avery killed. Although not a Hawthorn, Sheffield is another example of a character whose moral compass is lost, and he dies as a result. In contrast, Avery stays true to her moral compass throughout the book, and ultimately comes out a “winner,” driving home the value of staying true to your north point.