Roman Fever By Edith Wharton
In most cases, men are the dominant figures in literary works. The women are the ones who stand behind the men and let them be the major role, but in the story “Roman Fever” written by Edith Wharton, the women are the ones who are dominant and secretive. Mrs. Slade and Mrs. Ainsley are two older women who have been friends for years, enjoying a nice afternoon at a restaurant in Rome while their daughters are out and about having fun among the town. Unfortunately, these women’s husbands have died and they have reunited together to reminisce about their adventures in the city, while their children are off exploring and having a good time like they used to. Even though the men are not present in the flesh during their, they are still a major part
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Slade knew that Mrs. Ainsley was going to meet up with her current fiancé at the time. Wharton reveals to the reader that Mrs. Slade writes a fake letter to Mrs. Ainsley, stating that she needs to meet up with Delphin, who is Mrs. Slade’s fiancé at the time, at the colosseum at night. As it turns out, this was Mrs. Slade’s ploy to get rid of her friend who is in love with her Fiancé. Mrs. Slade mentions, “I knew you were in love with Delphin – and I was afraid; afraid of you…. I wanted you out of the way” (Wharton 519). While this is going on Delphin does not know of his fiancé's intentions he is merely passive and oblivious to the fact that his wife knows of their affairs. As Mrs. Ainsley realizes that Mrs. Slade wrote the letter, Mrs. Slade mentions, “I remember laughing to myself at the idea that you were waiting around there in the dark...Of course I was upset when I hear you were so ill afterward” (520). Mrs. Ainsley then reveals that she actually went to see Delphin that night. Of course Mrs. Slade does not believe her. Mrs. Ainsley states, “But I answered the letter, I told him I would be there so he came” (521). This shows to the reader that Delphin was not a passive man anymore but became reactive to the situation by meeting up with his fiancé's friend to continue the
Slade knew that Mrs. Ainsley was going to meet up with her current fiancé at the time. Wharton reveals to the reader that Mrs. Slade writes a fake letter to Mrs. Ainsley, stating that she needs to meet up with Delphin, who is Mrs. Slade’s fiancé at the time, at the colosseum at night. As it turns out, this was Mrs. Slade’s ploy to get rid of her friend who is in love with her Fiancé. Mrs. Slade mentions, “I knew you were in love with Delphin – and I was afraid; afraid of you…. I wanted you out of the way” (Wharton 519). While this is going on Delphin does not know of his fiancé's intentions he is merely passive and oblivious to the fact that his wife knows of their affairs. As Mrs. Ainsley realizes that Mrs. Slade wrote the letter, Mrs. Slade mentions, “I remember laughing to myself at the idea that you were waiting around there in the dark...Of course I was upset when I hear you were so ill afterward” (520). Mrs. Ainsley then reveals that she actually went to see Delphin that night. Of course Mrs. Slade does not believe her. Mrs. Ainsley states, “But I answered the letter, I told him I would be there so he came” (521). This shows to the reader that Delphin was not a passive man anymore but became reactive to the situation by meeting up with his fiancé's friend to continue the