Paper Summary:

The paper discusses "The Blithedale Romance", by Nathaniel Hawthorne, and examines how Hawthorne's characters exemplify the social and cultural upheavals of the market revolution, why the various protagonists go to Blithedale, and why they are disappointed in their longings. The paper comments that this is a very thought-provoking novel drawn from the author's stay at Brook Farm, a communal experiment in living the pastoral life. The paper describes how this engaging story touches on many of the issues of Hawthorne's day, such as brotherhood, women's rights, socialism, mesmerism, and spiritualism.

From the Paper:

" In the social context of the times, because of her firm rejection of her expected role as daughter and wife, Zenobia loses the right to her place in contemporary society in the minds of most people, man and women, and, as a consequence of doing so, must die. Priscilla, on the other hand, is lacking in free will. She does not reject the male-assigned, stereotyped identities that Zenobia does, although the reader never sees her actively accept one. ollingsworth's actions demonstrate to Zenobia that there is no place for feminism in a society that produces males such as Hollingsworth and Coverdale. Consequently, disillusioned to the point of utter despair, Zenobia tragically drowns herself because death is the only type of freedom she feels she can have in such a society. Ultimately, Hollingsworth marries Priscilla, and Coverdale remains a skeptical, solitary observer of mankind's aspirations and its disappointments. It should be noted at this point that some readers see Hollingsworth as having in effect put Zenobia on trial for her feminism and maternal neglect of Priscilla, and question Zenobia's motivation for her suicide. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Blithedale Romance. New York: Viking Press, 1983

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