Freeman's Obsessive Organization

Louisa is almost incapable of feeling at ease with other people around, thus, her independent lifestyle is shown to be the only way she can feel serene. Louisa’s compulsive nature leads her to maintain her home in a very particular way. Any disruption upsets her disposition greatly. She seems to prefer an orderly life over human companionship. Obsessive organization is what brings Louisa peace, as she “had almost the enthusiasm of an artist over the mere order and cleanliness of her solitary home” (Freeman, 443). The level of tidiness she maintains seems to be the only way she can cope with her neurotic tendencies. Accordingly, she cannot possess serenity while other people are sharing, or even visiting, her home. Also, her sense of peace derives