Coverdale: Idle, Jealous, and Selfish

After reading The Blithedale Romance, I realized Miles Coverdale is not much of a protagonist; in fact, he embodies most of the traits of an antagonist. He is selfish, jealous, idle, skeptical, and hateful throughout the novel. Maybe Hawthorne portrays Coverdale in this way to show how individualism clashes with community and that usually selfishness is the source of a society’s downfall as well as an individual’s solitude.

First, it is interesting to note that Miles Coverdale’s name in itself hints at his separation from reality. “Miles” implies his distance from society and the ideals he sometimes seems to support; “Coverdale,” which means “Cover Valley,” alludes to his veiling himself from those around him.

Coverdale is a skeptic of Blithedale from the very beginning. He comments, “if the vision have been worth the having, it is certain never to be consummated otherwise than by a failure” (Hawthorne 10-11), while later saying, “What, in the name of common-sense, had I to do with any better society than I had always lived in!” (40). Coverdale never has faith in Blithedale’s success and seems to passively partake in its reformation not out of belief in socialism, but out of want of something better to do. Coverdale seems to lack a purpose in life, or his purpose is to observe others and criticize all that they do.

Because Coverdale lacks a purpose, his character clashes greatly with Hollingsworth, who has one all-consuming purpose: philanthropy. Coverdale says, “[Hollingsworth] had grown to be the bond-slave [of] … his philanthropic theory” (Hawthorne 55). Coverdale’s constant criticism of Hollingsworth and his philanthropy suggest Coverdale is almost jealous of Hollingsworth. Not having a purpose in life has caused Coverdale to envy those that do. In addition, Hollingsworth gains the favor of Priscilla, who Coverdale secretly loves.

Coverdale’s jealousy leads him to separate himself from the Blithedale community, which is not healthy for the community’s progress. Coverdale’s observations from his hiding tree further indicate he is distancing himself from the socialist community as well as refusing to take action for what he believes in. As if to compensate for his incompetence, Coverdale places himself above everyone else by being in his tree, from which he can look down upon everyone and lay his criticism.

He asks, “What right has [Hollingsworth] to be the driver?” and states, “Our especial scheme of reform … I could take in with the bodily eye, looked so ridiculous that it was impossible not to laugh aloud” (Hawthorne 100-101). In reality, Hollingsworth has a noble cause, which Coverdale again belittles merely out of jealousy as shown by his later words “if she has given [Hollingsworth] her love, it is like casting a flower into a sepulcher” (100); and it is Coverdale who seems ridiculous, disconnected from society and passively observing those below him.

Coverdale proceeds by blaming his recent conversation with Professor Westervelt for his skepticism. Of course, Coverdale is just avoiding taking responsibility for his actions, because even when not in contact with Westervelt, Coverdale is still skeptical.

Coverdale’s hiding place also highlights his idleness. When he says “I—I myself—was in love—with—Priscilla!” (247), I immediately thought why this is so surprising: Coverdale never attempts to gain Priscilla’s love. It is the irony behind this statement that solidifies, in my mind, the persistent theme of Coverdale’s inaction; he might as well have ended with, “It was all a dream!” for never does he seem so disconnected from reality than when he professes his love and suggests it “will throw a gleam of light over my behavior” (247). I think he meant “over my lack of behavior.”