The Blithedale Romance · Chapter
A Modern Arcadia explained
Coverdale emerges from his illness on a deferred May Day and finds Zenobia and Priscilla gathering wildflowers.
What happens
Coverdale emerges from his illness on a deferred May Day and finds Zenobia and Priscilla gathering wildflowers. Zenobia has playfully decked Priscilla with blossoms, including a malicious weed that Coverdale points out. Priscilla's newfound wildness and happiness are discussed, and Zenobia reflects on the limited fate of women. Priscilla runs to meet Hollingsworth, and Coverdale observes the strong influence Hollingsworth has on both women. The chapter also describes the diverse, ragged, and idealistic community at Blithedale, united more by rejection of the old system than by a common plan.
Themes in this chapter
Idealism vs. Reality
The chapter contrasts the pastoral ideal of Arcadia with the ragged, makeshift reality of the Blithedale community, highlighting the gap between theory and practice.
Gender Roles and Women's Rights
Zenobia's remark about women having only 'one single event' in life versus men's 'innumerable events' directly addresses the constraints on women's roles and happiness.
Obsession and Philanthropy
Hollingsworth's powerful influence over Zenobia and Priscilla, and Coverdale's suspicion that Hollingsworth is making proselytes, hints at an obsessive philanthropic mission.
Characters to notice
- Miles Coverdale
Narrator who descends from his sickroom on May Day, observes Zenobia and Priscilla, and reflects on the community.
- Zenobia
Decked Priscilla with wildflowers and a malicious weed; speaks of women's limited fate and praises Hollingsworth's influence.
- Priscilla
Shows newfound wildness and happiness; runs to meet Hollingsworth; described as the picture of New England spring.
- Mr. Hollingsworth
Seen returning from the field with a hoe; the object of Priscilla's eager approach and Zenobia's admiration.
- Silas Foster
Mentioned in Coverdale's description of the community's ragged appearance and practical farming.
Key passages
“May Day—I forget whether by Zenobia’s sole decree, or by the unanimous vote of our community—had been declared a movable festival.”
May Day was postponed until the weather improved, either by Zenobia's decision or by group vote.
Establishes the flexible, informal governance of Blithedale.
“Did you ever see a happy woman in your life? Of course, I do not mean a girl, like Priscilla and a thousand others—for they are all alike, while on the sunny side of experience—but a grown woman. How can she be happy, after discovering that fate has assigned her but one single event, which she must contrive to make the substance of her whole life?”
Zenobia argues that grown women cannot be truly happy because society limits them to marriage as the only significant life event, unlike men who have many choices.
Key statement on gender roles and women's restricted opportunities.
“Our bond, it seems to me, was not affirmative, but negative. We had individually found one thing or another to quarrel with in our past life, and were pretty well agreed as to the inexpediency of lumbering along with the old system any further.”
The community was united more by shared dissatisfaction with the old ways than by a positive common vision.
Reflects the fragile, experimental nature of the Blithedale project.