She had been so determined not to disappoint her mother about Johnny’s buttons!” (191). Wharton writes: “She sprang out of bed in dismay. But try as she may, Theodora cannot wake early enough to keep her promise to her mother. In other words, a young girl is up until two in the morning, alone, working on her manuscript, even when she has promised her mother to be up early to care for her two younger siblings. Its muffled thump sounded like an admonitory knock against her bedroom floor” (189). Wharton writes, “Downstairs the library clock struck two. What appears to be a simple short story about one writer’s failure to be published functions as a much larger comment on the communality of life itself, of the interactive nature of families and their function in society.Įarly in the narrative, Wharton informs her readers of Theodora’s solitary life. Yet Theodora’s parents understand more than she gives them credit for. In fact, in many instances, Theodora is seemingly misunderstood by her own family members, including both her mother and her father. Throughout, Wharton stresses the inherent loneliness in Theodora’s task: She must write and do so alone. Wharton also uses the text, however, to stress the importance of relationships. Through the fictional Kathleen Kyd, Wharton wastes no time in using “April Showers” to criticize both the publishing business and America’s critique of sentimental writers. In her short story April Showers, (1900) Edith Wharton tells the story of Theodora (writing under the pseudonym of Gladys Glyn), an aspiring young writer who has just completed her first novel, April Showers. I also appreciate that care was taken not to be overly dramatic, thus keeping the narrative moving and contemplative.Analysis of Edith Wharton’s April Showers

This is a first person narrative, and as such, it is important that the voice have a real authenticity to it. What does Anna Fields bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book? The descriptive scenes of homage and ceremony are a delightful repast, vivid and yet concise.

What was one of the most memorable moments of In Morocco?Įdith Wharton's empathy for those forced into slavery or raised to labor is moving, especially given the time period in which she writes. Although the visit takes place in a bygone era, the descriptions of people and ceremonies gives a feel for the recent history of this country and for the background of the people still living there. Edith Wharton's use of language is beautiful, her descriptions colorful and her experience delightfully presented.

In morocco by edith wharton