Previous
Motifs
Definition of Paradox
A paradox is a figure of speech that seems to contradict itself, but which, upon further examination, contains some kernel of truth or reason. Oscar Wilde's famous declaration that "Life is... read full definition
A paradox is a figure of speech that seems to contradict itself, but which, upon further examination, contains some kernel of truth or reason. Oscar... read full definition
A paradox is a figure of speech that seems to contradict itself, but which, upon further examination, contains some kernel... read full definition
Chapter 11: The Wood-path
Explanation and Analysis—Self vs. Society:
In The Blithedale Romance, the following paradox arises: the members of Blithedale try to embrace their own individuality, but in order to create a haven in which they can express themselves, they must conform and collaborate in a way that stifles their individuality. More specifically, as they strive to make a perfect utopia (with the goal of rescuing individual identity from the clutches of industrialism), the characters must work together in a way that makes their identities and passions inextricably entwined. For example, in Chapter 11, Coverdale takes a holiday to relieve himself of the pressures of collective labor:
[...] to relieve my spirit of the irksomeness of a settled routine, I took a holiday. It was my purpose to spend it, all alone, from breakfast-time till twilight, in the deepest wood-seclusion that lay anywhere around us. Though fond of society, I was so constituted as to need these occasional retirements, even in a life like that of Blithedale, which was itself characterized by a remoteness from the world. Unless renewed by a yet farther withdrawal towards the inner circle of self-communion, I lost the better part of my individuality.
Here Coverdale tries to break away from the monotony of a "settled routine" in which he has "lost the better part of [his] individuality." After just a few months at Blithedale, he seems disturbed by its impact on his psyche. He wants to isolate himself from the group in order to "renew" himself with a vacation. His poetic senses have suffered greatly in the course of manual farmwork, and his grand sense of optimism about Blithedale begins to diminish when he realizes the sacrifices he must make to be a part of its community.
In this moment and throughout the novel, the disparity between communal ideals and personal interests creates tension and reveals the struggles—or perhaps the impossibility—of creating an ideal world. The professed tenets of Blithedale always clash with the personal preoccupations of its inhabitants, and a series of unfortunate events in the second half of the novel reveals a paradox between Blithedale's purported goal and its eventual reality: in order to create a safe haven for individualism, and to escape industrialism, every character must engage in some form of collective work that limits their individuality.
Related Themes:
