The concept of individualism is on the rise in many Western societies. Several studies have been carried out on individualism, all highlighting that the increasing incidence of individualism is a global trend. It has undoubtedly been noted that the increase in social and economic development in all respects demonstrates the extent to which individualistic practices are being adopted in various parts of the world. Furthermore, it should be noted that factors such as an increase in the divorce rate, as well as increasing cases of narcissism, also demonstrate the rise of individualism. Although the concept of individualism is widely embraced, this idea harms society in several ways. For example, individuals may refrain from cooperating with other members of society, thereby depriving them of the benefits that accrue from such interactions. To the extent that people have the right to choose their approach to life, individualism has a negative impact, as it tends to sow confusion and conflict within society. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay In his book titled “The Blithedale Romance,” Nathaniel Hawthorne explores the lives of several utopians who set out to reform an American society that they believe they have been dissipated. This group includes several competing ambitions, making it difficult for them to embrace idealism and be satisfied with the activities in which they are engaged. Instead of working together to change and improve the world, the people of the Blithedale community begin to embark on selfish paths that end in tragedy. Reading through the novel, one realizes that Hawthorne is not only using the tale to mourn the community, but also to satirize the situation as it was in 19th century America. Mainly, the theme of individualism is exhibited when members of the community seem unhappy even though they reside in a utopia. The novel, written based on the experience Hawthorne had at the Brook farm, notes that at the end of his time on the farm he was quite disappointed (Hawthorne 8). One of the reasons why utopianism fails in society is because intellectual and yeoman cannot come together to work together. The selfishness exhibited by the members of the community is a sufficient reason to explain the failure of utopianism, thus giving rise to individualism. This statement is mainly because most people are selfish and only focus on their interests instead of working together for the common good of the community. The concept of selfishness appears further when Coverdale writes: "He, Zenobia, and Priscilla, both for their own sake and as bound to it, were separated from the rest of the Fellowship in my imagination and presented themselves as the clues to a problem that it was. my business to resolve” (Hawthorne 69). In this section, Coverdale's main goal is to ensure that he identifies his friends who are not interested in working together but are instead focused on activities that only benefit them. From this desire, the members of the community result in analyzing, scolding and judging each other while provoking each other. Therefore, this results in a situation in which members of different communities are unable to trust each other. The concept of individualism in the novel is further emphasized by the fact that men and women are unable to work together for the good of the community. . Notably, taking into account the concept of gender, menand women have different interests and end up despising each other. In the novel, Coverdale appears somewhat neutral and takes a middle ground regarding the issue of gender, an aspect which sometimes causes her to be referred to as a sympathizer of women (Hawthorne 58). As the novel unfolds, the way women are perceived regarding their sexuality further demonstrates a society that is far from adhering to everyone's principles. This statement is based on the idea that women should comply without objection to policies set by men, otherwise their actions may be perceived as disrespectful. Hawthorne further brings out the concept of individualism within society by illustrating how the countryside and cities are perceived throughout the novel. Since the novel is set in a time when the agrarian revolution was being replaced by the industrial revolution, cities are seen as dangerous, unsanitary, dirty, and unsatisfactory. One of the reasons for the lack of social amenities in cities is that individuals are determined to satisfy their unique needs instead of seeking a solution to the problems facing the community. The negative way in which the campaign is perceived further illustrates the extent of individualism within society. The countryside is defined as areas full of betrayal and frustration which, if not identified and resolved at an early age, tends to result in murder and suicide. From the above discussion, it should be noted that individualism manifests itself in the extent to which most of the characters in the novel are selfish. Their selfishness does not help them overcome the challenges they face, but rather leads to their downfall. The main lesson that can be learned from the novel is the need for individuals to refrain from engaging in the utopias and individualism that have been widely embraced. Instead, individuals should ensure that they are doing their best to work with each of their colleagues to advance their communities. Taking direct inspiration from Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Blithedale Romance," George Eliot's Silas Marner tells the story of an individual who used to lead a solitary life but is redeemed by the joys that fatherhood brings him. After being wrongly accused of committing the theft that resulted in his exile from the community, Silas Marner decides to live alone within Raveloe (Eliot 11). He is so isolated from society that he only leaves his residence when his errand involves tending to his precious treasure or working. However, the money he values ​​so much is stolen. At the same time, an orphan child reaches out to him. The arrival of the little girl offers Silas the opportunity to transform his life. As one continues to read through the novel, it becomes apparent that the fate of Silas, as well as that of Eppie, the little girl who entered his home, is somewhat linked to that of Godfrey Cass. Cass is the son of the village squire who, like Silas, finds himself trapped in the events of his past (Eliot 47). At the same time, it should be noted that in developing the novel, George Elliot uses several stylistic devices aimed at criticizing the social community within which the novel takes place. Likewise, Elliot aims to illustrate how individualism can affect communities in cases where essential steps are not put in place to get the best out of people. Individualism in the novel arises due to the frequent friction between Silas Marner and the community in which he resides. Since the main point of the story is to illustrate the challenges that Silas Marner facedthroughout her outreach to the community, she highlights, in a way, how communities generally treat individuals who do not conform to the ideologies they present (Eliot 84). In the early 19th century, the community in which individuals often resided provided a vital source of emotional support and resources that individuals needed to use to complete their assigned tasks. The connection within community members runs through the novel. Aspects such as the charitable allowance that community members receive from their local parish symbolize the concept of connection. The fact that these donations primarily target the less fortunate in the community is an indication that the community does indeed have the best interests of its members at heart. Another element of interdependence that arises in the novel appears following the robbery that took place at Silas's home, where his money was stolen (Eliot 89). Several members of the community pass by his house to offer him the support he deserves. Individualism nevertheless appears when Silas is rejected by his community due to his loss of faith. At the time Silas is introduced to the public, he is approximately thirty-nine years old. He has lived in the English countryside village of Raveloe for about fifteen years. One of the main reasons why Silas seems reclusive is the fact that most of his neighbors who reside in Raveloe perceive him with suspicion and tend to view him with considerable curiosity (Eliot 97). Such a perception explains Silas's decision to spend most of his time working at his loom instead of trying to get to know the other members of his society. Throughout the story, it is not lost on the audience's attention that another potential reason why members of the community ignored Silas was his physical appearance which seemed strange. This claim is based on the fact that as a result of his work in the room, he appears to have bent slightly. At the same time, it is worth noting that Silas has eyes that can be perceived as frightening and strange, an aspect which contributes to the members of the neighboring village attesting to the fact that he may be old. Even though he is the main character in the novel, Silas is the one who suffers from the action of members of the neighboring community. Regardless of the discrimination and challenges he faces, at no point does he say anything negative to other members of the community. The concept of individualism is further reinforced by the way Silas is presented as the thief who stole from his community. Instead of complaining about being innocent, Silas doesn't fight back. Instead, he believes that the God he worships will free him by clearing his name. Individualism is further heightened when Dunsey plots and steals gold from Silas. In this case, Dunsey primarily focused on improving his own social status instead of taking Silas's needs into consideration. The concept of individualism is further reaffirmed by Godfrey, whose actions illustrate that he does not care about any individual other than himself. For example, Godfrey decides to marry again even though he already has a wife. By entering into another long-term relationship and keeping it a secret for fear of being disowned, Godfrey illustrates that he only cares about himself and no one else. This does not end well for him, however, as his brother Dunsey discovers him and uses him as a mechanism to exploit him. At the same time, the death of Molly, freezing to death while traveling to Raveloe to reveal their secret, is another indication that this does not always end well for individuals who often engage in individualistic tendencies . The fact.