The Blithedale Romance Characters

Coverdale, the story’s narrator and protagonist, is a Boston poet who becomes one of the founding members of the utopian agrarian community of Blithedale. As intellectuals, he and the other founders believe that laboring in… read analysis of Miles Coverdale

A founding member of Blithedale, Zenobia is the group’s unofficial leader. She is beautiful, vibrant, independently wealthy, and a known writer and activist with a passion for women’s equality. While Zenobia’s past and identity are… read analysis of Zenobia

A philanthropist obsessed with criminal reform, Hollingsworth is one of the founding members of Blithedale. He initially appears to be a friendly, devoted, and helpful man who works hard at Blithedale, encourages others, and cares… read analysis of Hollingsworth

Priscilla is Zenobia’s half-sister, Moodie’s daughter from his second marriage, the woman behind the Veiled Lady act, and a founding member of Blithedale. She is a quiet, deferential, and obedient person who—despite having… read analysis of Priscilla / The Veiled Lady

An enigmatic acquaintance of Coverdale’s in Boston, Moodie is Zenobia and Priscilla’s father. He is a peculiar old man who has a habit of never looking at anyone head on. He stays in… read analysis of Mr. Moodie / Fauntleroy

Silas Foster, the farm manager at Blithedale, teaches Coverdale, Hollingsworth, Zenobia, and Priscilla about animal husbandry and farming throughout their time at Blithedale. Although Silas lives at Blithedale from the beginning, he… read analysis of Silas Foster

Theodore is the primary character in the story that Zenobia tells about the Veiled Lady. In the story, Theodore makes a bet with his male friends that he can discover the true identity of… read analysis of Theodore

Mrs. Foster is married to the farm manager Silas Foster. Like Silas, she lives at Blithedale from the beginning of the experiment to the end, but she is not a founding member of the… read analysis of Mrs. Foster