In The Blithedale Romance, the narrator, Miles Coverdale, believes that freedom came from apathy, and that emotions enslave individuals. He thinks that Zenobia loses her freedom to Hollingsworth by loving him, and he fears that he will lose his freedom if he loves another. Ultimately, he loves and feels that he loses his individuality, which he views as freedom. The author, however, may not have held the same views as his narrator. Miles believes that …showed first 75 words of 2189 total…

…showed last 75 words of 2189 total…up in himself and his own thoughts; therefore, he still feels emotions, which enslaved him. In essence, he enslaves himself with his self-absorption. Miles may believe that freedom comes from apathy; however, Hawthorne, apparently, does not hold the same view. He may view Zenobia’s suicide and Miles’ loss of freedom as not a result of loving others, but because they excessively love themselves. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **Bibliography** Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Blithedale Romance. New York: Penguin Books, 1986.