Editha By William Dean Howells Analysis

William Dean Howells work, Editha, perfectly exemplifies the opportunist that existed in the Gilded Age. She refuses to visualize the cruel realities of war, however, she sees the romantic aspect of war that she read in her patriotic novels. She forces her views of war on her fiancé, convincing him that it might be best for him to join the military. She realizes that Gearson could die in battle, however, appears to not care, because then the attention would be centered on her and she could act like the heroes of her stories. Howells displays her twisted imagination as she daydreams of Gearson losing his arm in battle once he writes; “She thrilled with the sense of the arm around her; what if that should be lost?” (Howells). Editha is very controlling