The Blithedale Romance: Chapter 6 Summary & Analysis

The next day, as Silas warned, the call to wake up comes early. From his bed, Coverdale listens to everyone get up and get ready, including Hollingsworth saying his prayers (Coverdale is impressed by this). For his own part, Coverdale says that his pampered life in cozy city apartments has contributed to the severity of his cold. He questions why he decided to take on this project that would involve uncomfortably hard work when he was perfectly content living in his apartment where everything is comfortable and familiar. Coverdale shivers in his bed through breakfast until Hollingsworth knocks on his door to ask what’s wrong. Coverdale says he’s sick and wants to go back to the city, but Hollingsworth insists that he can take care of Coverdale. Coverdale is sick for a long time, but he says he has fond memories of this period nonetheless.

Coverdale says that, even though most men are indifferent towards people who are seriously ill, Hollingsworth patiently takes care of him—perhaps because there is “something of the woman” within Hollingsworth that, unlike most men, he isn’t ashamed of. Hollingsworth is so kind and gentle that during the worst part of his illness, Coverdale insists on having Hollingsworth always with him. From the present, Coverdale remarks that he sometimes wishes he could have died then with Hollingsworth with him—now, however, Hollingsworth probably wouldn’t come at Coverdale’s request, nor would Coverdale be comforted by his presence. While sick at Blithedale, Coverdale says he should be allowed to die while he’s in the mood to and Hollingsworth asks if he has nothing to live for. Coverdale says he has nothing but to “play a part” at Blithedale. He says Hollingsworth is so tender he should be a priest, but Hollingsworth completely disagrees.

Even though Hollingsworth tells Coverdale that he’s not dangerously ill, Coverdale is mortified to realize that he’s getting better instead of dying. Everyone is unfailingly kind to Coverdale during his illness. Zenobia brings him gruel she made herself and talks to him whenever she has time. Coverdale thinks Zenobia is truly wonderful—not even the simplicity of her outfits and ornaments can conceal how beautiful her body is. Coverdale notices that, somehow, Zenobia gets a new flower for her hair every day. The flowers are all so exotic and beautiful that it seems like they were made to adorn Zenobia in particular. In his fever, Coverdale becomes convinced that Zenobia is an enchantress, probably the Veiled Lady’s sister, and her flower has magical properties. Zenobia laughs at this, but Coverdale never quite loses the feeling that Zenobia’s flowers are enchanted. This might be because the flowers subtly reflect Zenobia’s character.

Coverdale obsesses over the thought that Zenobia has been married. She is young, wealthy, and beautiful, but if she has ever been married then nobody in the world seems to know. Then again, Coverdale remembers, her hometown in far away and any rumors of her marriage might not reach Boston. Coverdale asserts that there is no hard evidence for his beliefs. Still, few “girl[s]” laugh or talk like Zenobia. Although Coverdale tries to shame himself out of his preoccupation with Zenobia’s past, he can’t shake the thought that she has been married and has had sex. Zenobia asks why he stares at her and Coverdale says he wants to solve the mystery of her life, though she’ll never tell him about it. According to Coverdale, bachelors feel cheated when women they know have given themselves away. Coverdale isn’t in love with Zenobia, but he still wants to satisfy his curiosity.