What Is The Main Idea Of The Other Two By Edith Wharton

Feminism advocates for enhancement of women’s rights with regard to social, economic and political equality. The story “The Other Two,” by Edith Wharton, was developed at a time when women were not considered equal to men. There are values that women were required to adhere to, and most of them did not help in the case of actualizing equality. However, they made a milestone by gaining the right to request for divorce. This would ensure that they did not remain in abusive relationships just because that is what society expects of them. Alice took advantage of this opportunity and divorced her first two husbands. Although she was on her third marriage with Waythorn, it was only his first. Therefore, he was not in tune with married life or the
In his thoughts, he reflects on Alice as his “joy of possessorship.” Therefore, Alice did not belong to herself, but rather, was owned be her husband. The order of the day consisted of Alice’s actions being scrutinized, which makes her seem like a coveted prize that Waythorn had won. Another instance in which Waythorn believes he controls his wife is when he compared himself to a member of a syndicate and owned several shares in Alice’s personality. Her former husbands are referred to as partners in his business. This implies that he has the right to acquire her at anytime, regardless of her stance. It also goes to show that he has the right to discard her to any other willing buyer when she no longer pleases him. This would be offensive to any woman and further emphasizes the lack of rights that women had in society. Their actions and way of thinking, among other things, are controlled by men. This goes against feminism, which tries to accord the same rights that men have for women. Alice has been portrayed as someone who does not have an input in her own life since there are “shareholders” making decisions on her behalf and therefore, is not equal to her
Although the visitation is out of Alice’s control because it is court mandated, Waythorn continues to convey his possessive attributes. He demands that she not communicate with Hackett while he visits their home, which is virtually impossible as both parents intend to play an active role in their daughter’s life. Although Hackett has not always been a reliable participant, Lily’s failing health has encouraged him to come around. When Waythorn found out that Alice had in fact communicated with Hackett during the first visit, his possessive behavior became more intense. He views her ex-husband as a business competitor that should be kept at bay. Therefore, he wants to emphasize that he owns Alice and she is no longer Hackett’s property. He makes sure that he refers to Alice, as “my wife” in every statement, which further coveys his control over her. Waythorn is new to the married life and does not understand the burden of caring for a sick child. While he should be understanding and sympathetic to the situation, he is acting in a possessive manor. He believes that Alice should get his permission in all aspects of her life. Therefore, she has no ability to make her own decisions or judgments, including how to handle the relationship with her previous