I was especially
interested in Zenobia and Priscilla’s relationship. While Priscilla’s feelings
towards Zenobia are clear from the start, I found Zenobia’s treatment of
Priscilla both confusing and intriguing.
Zenobia’s reaction to
Priscilla’s arrival supports her character and her defiance displayed throughout
the book, as Zenobia opposes all things traditionally seen as ‘womanly’. It is
assumed that Zenobia will take care of Priscilla because she is a woman, this
should be natural for her as the ideal women should be maternal, but her first
reaction to Priscilla opposes this maternal image. It seems as though she needs
to be reminded by Hollingsworth what her duties are, as a woman; ‘The very
heart will be frozen in her bosom, unless you women can warm it’ (pg.28), after
which she is more kind to Priscilla.
Initially she makes
her annoyance with Priscilla clear, discussing this with Coverdale in front of
her, clearly showing no regard for Priscilla’s feelings. Possibly she wanted Priscilla
to hear in the hope it might make her less attached, or perhaps she was trying
to draw a reaction from Priscilla. Or maybe she simply knew enough of Priscilla’s
character by that point that she was secure in the knowledge that Priscilla
would not protest.
It appears that at
some point Zenobia begins to take pity on Priscilla, and attempts to be kinder
to her. She offers act as a 'duenna', as she tells Priscilla; ‘I intend to fill
the place of a maiden-aunt’ (pg.77). But despite Zenobia’s conscious attempts to
be kinder to Priscilla, occasionally streaks of her original reluctance sneak
through. For example, when she places a weed in Priscilla’s hair amongst the
flowers.
Zenobia’s attitude
changes again as Priscilla becomes a rival for Hollingsworth’s affections. While
initially she was unkind to Priscilla out of annoyance, this rivalry begins to
make me question Zenobia’s actions. It is unclear whether she has Priscilla’s
best interests at heart, or whether Zenobia’s desperate pursuit of
Hollingsworth’s love affects her motives. On his return to Blithedale Coverdale
hints at Zenobia’s role in a scheme against Priscilla, as he deliberates over
what discussion he missed; ‘the degree in which Zenobia had been cognizant of
the plot against Priscilla, and what, at last, has been the real object of that
scheme’ (pg.215).
Additionally, the
scene towards the end of the book when Coverdale returns to Blithedale made me
wonder if the revelation that they were half-sisters changed Zenobia’s feelings
towards Priscilla? It may have changed her treatment of Priscilla because she
felt an obligation, as family, to treat her better, but the competition for
Hollingsworth must still have had an impact on their relationship.
After acknowledging
they are sisters Zenobia ‘stooped down and kissed Priscilla – but not lovingly’
(pg.219). Zenobia’s actions towards Priscilla are often confusing and contradicting,
this may reflect how she feels towards Priscilla. Zenobia is trying to make
sense of the contradicting feelings of sisterly affection and the hatred or
jealousy of a rival for her love interest.
