Nathaniel Hawthorne is known for playing characters whose past largely influences who they are and how they behave in the future, and The Blithedale Romance is no exception. What's interesting about The Blithedale Romance is that much of the characters' pasts aren't known until later in the novel. However, once discovered, it becomes clear how the characters' pasts shape who they are and what they choose to do. The most obvious recipients of this characterization are Zenobia and Priscilla. Zenobia's entire personality, as seen both by herself and by other people, is largely due to early heredity. Priscilla, on the other hand, is constantly thrown into different situations, leaving her with little to no free will. Both of these characters have very different pasts, yet they are prisoners of their previous experiences. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Throughout the novel, Zenobia is perceived almost as a goddess. She is described many times as ethereal. Of course, this description is normally given by Coverdale, so it's a bit biased. However, most people in the novel see Zenobia as a picture of perfection. This is, in part, due to the way it behaves. She almost acts as if she is separate from others in society. This is represented by the flower she always has in her hair. The flower represents his desire to differentiate himself from others in society. Therefore, she behaves in this way which makes other people see her the same way. This is represented on page 189 which says, “Indeed, it was her innate power and influence, and such seemed the careless purity of her nature, that whatever Zenobia did was generally recognized as right for her to do” (189 ). This brings us to the question: what is the main reason for this perception? The answer is his expected wealth. This “anticipated wealth” is discussed in chapter 22, by Fauntleroy (or Mr.Moodie). It further explains the relationship between Zenobia and Priscilla as well as Moodie's wealth. It is said that Moodie's wealth should have been passed on to Zenobia, a piece of evidence that shows us the reasoning behind the perception of Zenobia as having wealth. However, in chapter 25, it is revealed that Zenobia actually has no wealth coming in. This is where we see her become a prisoner of her past. His past self and experiences depended greatly on his perception as a wealthy person. However, when it becomes apparent that he has no wealth, things start to go south. Hollingsworth leaves her for Priscilla. Even his confidence, which was his strongest asset, was shaken. After finding out that Hollingsworth is leaving her, Zenobia says, “Why would he look for me? What did I have to offer him? A miserable heart, wounded and battered, spoiled long before it met me! (225). Throughout the novel, Zenobia displays a sense of poise and confidence. However, when it is discovered that he has no wealth, all of this disappears. He even goes so far as to remove the beloved flower from his hair. Coverdale describes this act as “the act of a queen, when defeated in a fight, uncrowning herself, as if she found some sort of relief in abandoning all her pride” (226). This perfectly describes Zenobia's disappearance after her past experiences have fundamentally changed. This is consolidated by his suicide. Priscilla is a second example of a character who is a prisoner of her past experiences. He is completely and utterly dependent on other people and past experiences to rebuild his life. She just goes with the flow and does what she's told. This is exemplified by Coverdale comparing her.