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Metaphors
Definition of Mood
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect of a piece of writing... read full definition
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect... read full definition
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes... read full definition
Chapter 2: Blithedale
Explanation and Analysis:
The Blithedale Romance has a dynamic mood that becomes increasingly negative as the story progresses. It undergoes a drastic change from the first half of the story (which is told with optimism) to the second half of the story (which devolves into a bitter yet languid mood). For example, the first part of the story has a markedly hopeful mood. In Chapter 2, when the narrator goes to Blithedale, he calls it "paradise":
Paradise, indeed! Nobody else in the world, I am bold to affirm—nobody, at least, in our bleak little world of New England—had dreamed of Paradise, that day, except as the pole suggests the tropic. Nor, with such materials as were at hand, could the most skilful architect have constructed any better imitation of Eve’s bower, than might be seen in the snow-hut of an Esquimaux. But we made a summer of it, in spite of the wild drifts.
Here Coverdale compliments those "bold" enough to imagine an ideal world. A storm brews, but he and the other men brave the bad weather on the ride to Blithesdale. They must "divorce themselves from pride" and the familiar comforts of urban life; this project requires sacrifice but seems well worth it. Despite the many clues as to why the project might fail, the mood remains optimistic
In the second half of the story, the mood shifts to become obsessive, bitter, and negative. Three major events cause this downturn. The first is Theodore's decision to view the Veiled Lady's face before kissing her (which suggests his suspicion and superficiality). The second is Zenobia's suicide. And the third is Hollingsworth's downfall. The strong, bearlike Hollingsworth becomes weak and sickly and must be cared for by Priscilla. This succession of terrible events changes the story's mood and confirms the failure of Blithedale. The ever-changing mood mirrors the narrator's gradual realization that Blithedale is a hopeless project. It also reflects the nature of The Blithedale Romance as a psychological portrait of its narrator and his acquaintances.
Related Themes:
