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The Blithedale Romance
(1852)
Abjuring the city for a pastoral life, a group of utopians set out to reform a dissipated America. But the group is a powerful mix of competing ambitions and its idealism finds little satisfaction in farmwork. Instead, of changing the world, the members of the Blithedale community individually pursue egotistical paths that ultimately lead to tragedy. Hawthorne's tale both mourns and satirizes a rural idyll not unlike that of nineteenth-century America at large.
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outdated, dinosaur.
Transcendentalism is outdated. This book was original in it's hayday about 150 years ago. It is now contrived and NOT rellevant.
Posted By X at Thu 17 Mar 2005, 9:47 AM in The Blithedale Romance || 1 Reply
Hawthorne's failure
This book is one of Hawthornes worst peices in that he failed to control what he created. Hawthorne created a monster (Zenobia) who he could not control. Zenobia ruled the book as a strong, powerful, and Independant woman. In order to challenge Zenobia's strong grip on the book, Hawthorne introduced her rival: Hollingsworth. However the fact that Zenobia, a strong queen bowed down and was rejected by Hollingsworth is not credible. Neither is the abrupt dramatic suicide.
Posted By Jenn at Tue 24 May 2005, 5:07 PM in The Blithedale Romance || 1 Reply
No Subject
I think this is a wonderful book! I had to read it for my Junior Year term paper... At first, I thought it was going to be stupid and pointless, but by the end of the novel, I realized how wrong I was! It has everything: utopianism, romance, revenge, and mystery... I recommend this book to anyone who loves Hawthorne! Enjoy!
Posted By Roger at Tue 24 May 2005, 5:07 PM in The Blithedale Romance || 1 Reply
Not Complete Version
just to let any of you using this know: this version of the novel is not complete. I noticed this only in chapter 21 (the only chapter I looked at) when I was doing a close reading and was to print it out so I could mark it up thoroughly -- just letting you know.
Posted By Matt at Tue 24 May 2005, 5:07 PM in The Blithedale Romance || 0 Replies
No Subject
It's amazing. wrestling, bungee jumping, and seafood, all in the same book. Wow! Hawthorne lives on!
Posted By Unregistered at Tue 24 May 2005, 5:07 PM in The Blithedale Romance || 0 Replies
Response to other comments
As an English major, I realize that this book is entertaining but I think that it is cheapened when that is the only comment that is made. The book is not just about mystery and revenge. It carries along with these themes a very important massage concerning the role of women in society and also explores the fundamental ideas surrounding transcendentalism. It is also important to note that it is a satire on American society of that time and carries with it the hypocrisy of American Materialism. Overall, the book is very entertaining and has an abundance of romantic ideals but Hawthornes intention was not solely to entertain his readers with these ideas, but rather to educate them on his views of the subjugation of women during the time period, and the hopelessness of American society.
Posted By Jess at Tue 24 May 2005, 5:07 PM in The Blithedale Romance || 0 Replies
Blithedale Romance
Wonderful...a must read for hopeless romantics who try to live in there own Utopian society
Posted By Bri at Tue 24 May 2005, 5:03 PM in The Blithedale Romance || 3 Replies