Roman Fever: A Brilliant Display :: Roman Fever Essays

Exposing Gender Stereotypes in papistical feverishness Definitive criteria for judging the success or failure of a subject of fiction are not easily agreed upon individuals almost of necessity introduce bias into any such attempt. Only those who affect an extortionately refined artistic taste, however, would deny the importance of poignancy in literary pieces. To be sure, writings of dubious and fleeting merit frequently grip the public, but there is too the occasional author who garners widespread panegyric and whose forms remain deeply affecting despite the passage of time. The keep 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 and, indeed, successful literature. The brevity of her Roman Fever allows for a brilliant display of this talent in it we beget many of her highly celebrated qualities in the space of just a few pages. Roman Fever is truly outstanding a wor k that exposes the gender stereotypes of its day (1936) but that moves beyond documentary to reveal something of the perpetual antagonisms of human nature. From the storys first sentence, upon the introduction of two women of ripe but well-cared-for midway age, it becomes clear that stereotypes are at issue (Wharton 1116). This mild description evokes flying images of demure and supportive wives, their husbands wards. Neither woman is without her handsomely mounted total darkness handbag, and it is not until several paragraphs into the piece that Mrs. Slade and Mrs. Ansley even acquire first label (1117). Thus, without even disclosing any of the ladies thoughts to the reader, Wharton has already revealed a great deal of their ain 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, olive-sized else is desired or even tolerated3/4an d Grace Ansley and Alida Slade appear, at first glance, to adjust to this image perfectly. As the workings of the characters minds are revealed, the extent to which they have internalized these value becomes apparent. Each, in their brief description of the other, mentions that her acquaintance was quite beautiful in her youth. Alida recalls how much she enjoyed having been married to a famous lawyer she misses being the Slades married woman (1119). Startlingly, now that their husbands are dead, we find that the women consider themselves to be in a state of unemployment (1118)