Roman Fever Symbolism

Without the elements of fiction, a story is simply not a story. Each element blends seamlessly with the other to artistically create a work of literature that is both enjoyable and creates a theme that passionately influences the reader. Through the use of symbolism, setting, and point of view, “Roman Fever” expresses a theme of how the combination of jealousy and deceit consequently cause one to be the author of their own misfortune. Any act no matter how simple can have symbolic significance in a work of fiction. The simple act of knitting in “Roman Fever” has momentous symbolic importance throughout the story and suggests integral background information during the course of the story. According to Petry, Grace Ansley’s devotion to knitting allows the reader to reconstruct past events in the story and delve deeper into the persona of both women. Consequently, the act of knitting does not represent complacency in Grace, but instead
The setting sets the tone of the story when describing how the terrace of the Roman restaurant where the women are seated overlooks the hills of the Palatine and the central plaza of ancient Rome (Wharton 116). “The story’s setting above the ruins of Rome provides the backdrop for the emergence of long-buried stories and for the gladiatorial violence of Mrs. Slade” (Bowlby 41). Though the scenery is beautiful, the dying light of the day depicts the shadows of underlying conflict approaching. When “ Dusk spread over. . . abruptly darkening the Seven Hills” the darkness insinuates that the conflict comes to a pinnacle between the two women (Wharton 124). The final scene depicting Grace standing over Alida, revealing her shocking secret while moving ahead of her counterpart toward the staircase represents the final blow of victory in the power struggle between the two women, according to