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Interpreting Edith Wharton's "Roman Fever" - Online Essay

Interpreting Edith Wharton's "Roman Fever"

Definitive criteria for judging the success or failure of a work of
fiction are not easily agreed upon; individuals almost necessarily introduce
bias into any such attempt. Only those who affect an exorbitantly refined
artistic taste, however, would deny the importance of poignancy in literary
pieces. To be sure, writings of dubious and fleeting merit frequently enchant
the public, but there is too the occasional author who garners widespread
acclaim and whose works remain deeply affecting despite the passage of time.
The continued eminence of the fiction of Edith Wharton attests to her placement
into such a category of authors: it is a recognition of her propensity to create
poignant ...

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age," it becomes clear that stereotypes are at
issue (Wharton 1116). This mild description evokes immediate images of demure
and supportive wives, their husbands' wards. Neither woman is without her
"handsomely mounted black handbag," and it is not until several paragraphs into
the piece that Mrs. Slade and Mrs. Ansley even acquire first names (1117). Thus,
without even disclosing any of the ladies' thoughts to the reader, Wharton has
already revealed a great deal of their personal worlds. They live in a society
which expects women to act largely as background figures, thoroughly engaged
with furthering their husbands' careers and the constant struggle to remain
pretty. Indeed, little else is desired or even toleratedžand Grace Ansley and
Alida Slade appear, at first glance, to conform to this image perfectly.
As the workings of the characters' minds are revealed, the extent to
which they have internalized these values becomes apparent. Each, in their
brief description of ...

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Interpreting Edith Wharton's "Roman Fever". (2004, February 13). Retrieved January 22, 2025, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Interpreting-Edith-Whartons-Roman-Fever/3021

"Interpreting Edith Wharton's "Roman Fever"." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 13 Feb. 2004. Web. 22 Jan. 2025. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Interpreting-Edith-Whartons-Roman-Fever/3021>

"Interpreting Edith Wharton's "Roman Fever"." Essayworld.com. February 13, 2004. Accessed January 22, 2025. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Interpreting-Edith-Whartons-Roman-Fever/3021.

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PAPER DETAILS

Added: 2/13/2004 11:22:11 PM
Category: English
Type: Premium Paper
Words: 1189
Pages: 5

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