The analysis that follows aims not to foreclose other perspectives but, by giving expression to a distinctive psychoanalytic voice, to complement them and to invite response in the ongoing critical conversation about Zenobia and The Blithedale Romance. Several essays referenced the mirror as a symbol reflecting Zenobia’s proud personality then reflecting how the narrator sees past Zenobia to his own shameful self trying to stay on equal footing with the effect that the gorgeous Zenobia imposed on him. The way the content is organized, A founding member of Blithedale, Zenobia is the group’s unofficial leader. The mistrust and disapproval of the vast bulk of society throttles us, as with two gigantic hands at our throats! Nineteenth-Century Fiction, vol. Our, "Sooo much more helpful than SparkNotes. Learn what works (and what doesn't) from the reader's perspective. Lentz, Vern B. and Allen F. Stein. For more information on choosing credible sources for your paper, check out this blog post. Now, as I looked down from my upper region at this man and woman—outwardly so fair a sight, and wandering like two lovers in the wood—I imagined that Zenobia, at an earlier period of youth, might have fallen into the misfortune above indicated. Returning to, Chapter 29: Mile’s Coverdale’s Confession, ...own story—he has very little to tell. (And nope, we don't source our examples from our editing service! In this romance, Hawthorne sets up a sort of “love square” in which the four main characters, Coverdale, Hollingsworth, Zenobia, and Priscilla, operate. He does Hollingsworth a great wrong by prying into his character, but he cannot help it because he loves Hollingsworth so much. But the pen is not for woman. The evening before his departure to Blithedale, he is confronted by Mr. Moodie who requests a favor but then changes his mind. Click here to see the rest of this review . He wanders outside, toward the sound of. Wild, startlingly gorgeous, imperious, tempestuous in spirit, and theatrical, Zenobia (not her real name) is the half-sister of Priscilla and the possible lover of Hollingsworth. (Insert the fat lady singing here). In the epilogue, Levine, Robert S. "Sympathy and Reform in The Blithedale Romance." Coverdale believes, ...touched Hollingsworth’s hand, he might have given in. Reading example essays works the same way! Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. The Blithedale Romance ebook reviews: I start my book options without reading about these people or about the creators, but this time through I read the Wiki entry for Nathaniel Hawthorne prior to starting The Blithedale Romance. Of all the varieties of mock-life, we have surely blundered into the very emptiest mockery, in our effort to establish the one true system. Let us know! 4–3 These lower-half essays fail to offer an adequate analysis of the passage. The Woman Named Zenobia In Hawthorne's story The Blithedale Romance, we are introduced to the character Zenobia. ZENOBIA AND COVERDALE It is hardly an exaggeration to consider Zenobia, as portrayed by so exacting an observer as Coverdale, one of the … Or this:--that the whole universe, her own sex and yours, and Providence, or Destiny, to boot, make common cause against the woman who swerves one hair’s breadth out of the beaten track.”, “But I am weary of this place, and sick to death of playing at philanthropy and progress. His sleep was tormented by dreams about Hollingsworth, For the rest of the day, Coverdale wonders why, In the next instant, Coverdale realizes that it’s only right for, Coverdale is on the verge of leaving after. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. The reason must have been, that, whether intentionally on her part, or not, this favorite ornament was actually a subtile expression of Zenobia’s character. It is nonsense, and a miserable wrong—the result, like so many others, of masculine egotism—that the success or failure of woman’s existence should be made to depend wholly on the affections, and on one species of affection; while man has such a multitude of other chances, that this seems but an incident. Coverdale asks if he’s seen, ...to the spot. In Chapter Nine, "Hollingsworth, Zenobia, Priscilla", Coverdale realizes that it is not mentally healthy to study individuals too closely. ― Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Blithedale Romance. It is the simplest thing in the world, with you, to bring a woman before your secret tribunals, and judge and condemn her, unheard, and then tell her to go free without a sentence. “Oh, this stale excuse of duty!” said Zenobia, in a whisper so full of scorn that it penetrated me like the hiss of a serpent. ...others enjoy the scenery around Blithedale or take long naps in the barn. Irony dominates the narration of The Blithedale Romance. At Blithedale, Zenobia becomes good friends with Coverdale and she falls in love (and has a somewhat one-sided relationship) with Hollingsworth. When he grows ill, Hollingsworth cares for him with brotherly devotion, causing … -Graham S. The timeline below shows where the character Zenobia appears in, ...help, but Moodie refuses to explain what he needs. ...silence, Coverdale comments on how picturesque the farmhouse must look with the fire blazing inside. ...wonders what Priscilla sees in Hollingsworth but enjoys the image of the two sitting together. “But how if she were sixty, and a fright?”. LitCharts Teacher Editions. His suspicions are confirmed when her rigid body is found in a black pool in the river. What makes you cringe? 3, 1966, pp. The essays in our library are intended to serve as content examples to inspire you as you write your own essay. See also Richard H. Fogle, Hawthorne's Fiction (Norman, 1952), 140-161. Thus, as my conscience has often whispered me, I did Hollingsworth a great wrong by prying into his character, and am perhaps doing him as great a one, at this moment, by putting faith in the discoveries which I seemed to make. He asks Coverdale if he knows. ...pair of shoes and Mrs. Foster knits. Everyone is unfailingly kind to Coverdale during his illness. sustained development of analysis. “Ah, this is very good!” said Zenobia, with a smile. Coverdale attempts to console Zenobia. I am awake, disenchanted, disenthralled! ...he’s getting better instead of dying. leaving Zenobia and Coverdale behind. The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Blithedale Romance, by Nathaniel Hawthorne This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. Then, also, as anybody could observe, the freedom of her deportment (though, to some tastes, it might commend itself as the utmost perfection of manner, in a youthful widow, or a blooming matron) was not exactly maidenlike. The example essays in Kibin's library were written by real students for real classes. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!”, “This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. In the novel, The Blithedale Romance, the main character Miles Coverdale claims to believe in gender equality. Hollingsworth comes outside and asks what’s wrong. Though the word “homosexual” did not yet exist in 1852 when The Blithedale Romance was published, its author portrayed both characters and relationships in it which clearly indicate distinctive aspects of queerness. Zenobia dodges the question with the answer, "Why should you think so?" Zenobia … They're not intended to be submitted as your own work, so we don't waste time removing every error. However, it bears some analysis, since Coverdale is so conspicuously alluding to Zenobia's imminent death. Blithedale as a community is eventually disbanded, and Coverdale reveals at the very end of the novel that he was in love with Priscilla the entire time. Suddenly Priscilla appears there with, ...The man apologizes for the way he addressed Coverdale and asks if a woman named, ...his name is Professor Westervelt. The most curious part of the matter was, that, long after my slight delirium had passed away—as long, indeed, as I continued to know this remarkable woman—her daily flower affected my imagination, though more slightly, yet in very much the same way. Coverdale hopes this will change over time. He points out some footprints leading to the water and Silas finds, Coverdale, Hollingsworth, and Silas make a bier to carry, There is no cemetery in Blithedale, so they must discuss where to bury, Coverdale says nothing Westervelt just described would’ve satisfied, ...Priscilla but knows that her heart only has room for a single all-consuming affection. What girl had ever spoken in her mellow tones! Although he appears to sympathize with Zenobia’s feminist cause, there were occasions in the novel which proved otherwise. to view the complete essay. “What strange beings you men are, Mr. Coverdale!—is it not so? Depressed and heartbroken, Zenobia commits suicide. He could be embellishing this for the narrative (which would not be surprising), he could be covering his tracks with this entire scene because he was actually the one who murdered her, or it really is a fantastical occurrence. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. The sphere of ordinary womanhood was felt to be narrower than her development required. ...charitably welcomes her, though she maintains an air of mystery. This romance derives from Hawthorne’s participation in the Brook Farm experiment in communal living (1841-42), an effort to establish a socialist Utopia inspired by New England Transcendentalism. Struggling with distance learning? This preview is partially blurred. The misfortune is, that this same secret tribunal chances to be the only judgment-seat that a true woman stands in awe of, and that any verdict short of acquittal is equivalent to a death-sentence!”, “It is all self!” answered Zenobia, with still intenser bitterness. Although he appears to sympathize with Zenobia’s feminist cause, there were occasions in the novel which proved otherwise. It almost yielded its assent when it beheld her stepping out of the common path, and asserting the more extensive privileges of her sex, both theoretically and by her practice. He wonders how Zenobia could have ever felt at home at Blithedale if this room represents her previous level of comfort. You know how looking at a math problem similar to the one you're stuck on can help you get unstuck? She is beautiful, vibrant, independently wealthy, and a known writer and activist with a passion for women’s equality. We mumble a few weak words, and leave a thousand better ones unsaid. Chapter 9: Hollingsworth. after him; Zenobia is the most vivid character, and her story receives even more space than Hollingsworth's; Coverdale is the character whom we know most intimately; and although Hawthorne prefatorially states that his descrip? But I could not help it. How we are to judge Zenobia's death, reportedly a suicide for love of the reformer Hollings-worth, in light of her feminist protestations is, of course, the crucial issue. ...to Hollingsworth, he might have been more objective in his assessments. Throughout the novel Coverdale and Zenobia discuss the issues of feminism and gender roles. Thus far, no woman in the world has ever once spoken out her whole heart and her whole mind. ...after a late night at the theater. You have embodied yourself in a project. And when her passionate womanhood, as was inevitable, had discovered its mistake, there had ensued the character of eccentricity and defiance, which distinguished the more public portion of her life. It is the iron sway of bodily force, which abases us, in our compelled submission. “Death should take me while I am in the mood.”. The Blithedale Romance (1852) is Nathaniel Hawthorne's third major romance. ...(whose husband will teach them how to run the farm) and two women greet them. Suddenly Hollingsworth looks fierce and asks why Coverdale insists on bringing her and, ...at Blithedale has become troublesome since his argument with Hollingsworth—even his friendship with Priscilla and, ...that end, Coverdale decided to go back to the city. As it is, Hollingsworth, ...of Hollingsworth, as many young women might. ...the fire, the men look young and energetic and the women look even more beautiful. She is committed to Blithedale, but her unrequited love for Hollingsworth leads her to despair and eventually suicide. When Priscilla arrives at Blithedale, she immediately attaches herself to Zenobia, who does not yet know that Priscilla is her half-sister, or that Priscilla has specifically come to Blithedale … Had I loved him less, I might have used him better. Priscilla is Zenobia ’s half-sister, Moodie ’s daughter from his second marriage, the woman behind the Veiled Lady act, and a founding member of Blithedale. Check out our Privacy and Content Sharing policies for more information.). While Zenobia’s past and identity are mostly a secret (“Zenobia” is itself a pseudonym), there are rumors of a past marriage and. It was a woful thought, that a woman of Zenobia’s diversified capacity should have fancied herself irretrievably defeated on the broad battle-field of life, and with no refuge, save to fall on her own sword, merely because Love had gone against her. ...character as a child. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." 263-275. Yet, sometimes, I strove to be ashamed of these conjectures. To protect the anonymity of contributors, we've removed their names and personal information from the essays. Uncover new sources by reviewing other students' references and bibliographies, Inspire new perspectives and arguments (or counterarguments) to address in your own essay. ...putting on theatrical performances from time to time. 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