In William Dean Howells short story "Editha" the theme of duty is prominent in both the title character and also her fiancee, George Gearson. Throughout the story, many different duties or obligations develop between these two characters and through the development we see that the sense of duty or what one person might think is their duty can often create conflict.
There was an expectation of women that involved behaving and speaking in a certain manner. Women were not supposed to have fantastic ideas or wild opinions about their husbands or worldly affairs such as war.
"She was aware that now at the very beginning she must put a guard upon herself against urging him by any word or act, to take the part that her whole soul willed him to take, for the completion of her ideal of him." (Howells, 86)Editha's opinions on war or her "ideals" of war was that she expected her fiancee to fight for there was no greater honor than to fight for their country, This she believed, was his duty. She persuaded her George Gearson to also believe that he should fight for his country.
"There is a sort of fascination in it. I suppose that at the bottom of his heart every man would like at times to have his courage tested, to see how he would act." (Howells, 87)Editha also used feminine manipulation as a way to encourage George to go to war.
"George, I wish you to believe whatever you think is true, at any and every cost. If I've tried to talk you into anything, I take it all back." (Howells, 88).Editha speaks to her mother later about her expectation of her fiancee joining the war.
""And I hope he will," the girl said, and confronted her mother with a stormy exaltation that would have frightened any creature less impressionable than a cat.
Her mother rocked herself again for an interval of cogitation. What she arrived at in speech was: "Well, I guess you've done a wicked thing, Editha Balcom.""Her manipulation continues through a letter she writes to her fiancee saying:
"I shall always love you, and therefore I shall never marry any one else. But the man I marry must love his country first of all, and be able to say to me,
"I could not love thee, dear, so much, Loved I not honor more." (Howells, 89)In this moment she believes her duty is to persuade and encourage her fiancee to fight and if he chooses not to she would make an ultimate sacrifice of declining his marriage proposal. In her letter she gives George an ultimatum. After she is finished writing her letter, however, she realizes that her duty as a loving fiancee would not force a person to fight if they do not wish to fight.
"She must leave him free, free, free. She could no accept for her country or herself a forced sacrifice." (Howells, 89)George Gearson, under the persuasion of Editha, joins the war to fight. He too comes to terms that it is his duty to his country and to Editha to fight in the war. Editha has condemned him. Once he joins, Editha returns to her former manipulation tactics. George celebrates with his men and has too much to drink in which Editha responds:
""Promise me," she commanded, "that you'll never touch it again."" (Howells, 90)
"You don't belong to yourself now; you don't even belong to me. You belong to your country, and you have a sacred charge to keep yourself strong and well for you country's sake." (Howells, 91)Before George leaves, he asks Editha to look after his mother. Gearson dies at war and Editha remembers her duty to her fiancee to tend to his mother.
"When she was well enough to leave her bed, her one thought was of George's mother, of his strangely worded wish that she should go to her and see what she could do for her. In the exaltation of the duty laid upon her--it buoyed her up instead of burdening her--she rapidly recovered." (Howells, 92).When she goes to speak to Mrs. Gearson Editha is chastised for sending George off to war. The ideals of duty in accordance to Editha, were not the same as George's and there was consequence because of it. Because he loved her, he had to die.
September 25th, 2014