The Blithdale Romance

“It was a hot-house flower, an exotic.”

Zenobia wears that exotic flower in her hair every single day. It feels like a beautiful mask for how much she is hurting inside.

“He had taught his cheek of iron to soften.”

Hollingsworth claims he wants to fix the world. He actually just wants to bend everyone to his own rigid will.

“We had struck up a conspiracy of hope.”

Living in a commune didn't make these people more selfless. They just brought all their old jealousies to a farm.

“I was a devoted epicure of my own emotions.”

Coverdale watches everyone from a distance because he is too scared to actually live. He misses everything by trying to see too much.