The Generation Gap

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The story highlights the significant generation gap often found between the elderly and the youth in society. To Rose, Margaret is a ‘‘Victorian woman,’’ implying she is outdated and stuck in the past. Conversely, Margaret views Rose as a ‘‘Bohemian,’’ someone who embraces new ideas and challenges traditional norms. Since the narrative is presented from Margaret’s perspective, readers primarily see her critique of the younger generation: she dismisses Rose’s talk of ‘‘self-development’’ as mere ‘‘catchwords’’ of the ‘‘new freedom,’’ and believes Rose’s peers fail to grasp the compromises essential for a successful relationship. Although readers don’t directly experience Rose’s view of Margaret’s old-fashioned ways, Rose’s sentiments are encapsulated in her remark, ‘‘Oh, I wonder what you Victorian women did for a solace when you weren’t allowed even a cigarette!’’ Rose also exemplifies her generation’s progressive stance on love and relationships by stating that if she falls for someone else, George will let her go.

Margaret further associates Rose’s generation with a broader societal decline. In Margaret’s opinion, Rose’s generation has disregarded all the traditions that ensure societal stability. She perceives this not only in Rose’s dominance over her husband but also in the neglected state of her surroundings—the rundown villa, the decaying leaves in the yard, and the run in Rose’s stocking. Margaret believes her own commitment to propriety and morality highlights her generation’s superiority. To her, Rose represents a younger, self-centered cohort of Americans, ready to sacrifice anything or anyone to fulfill their desires.

However, other aspects of the story indicate that the generation gap is not the main source of conflict between Margaret and Rose, nor must it divide women across age groups. There are similarities between Margaret and Rose, particularly in their shared belief that George’s affair with a younger woman signifies his love for her. Dorothy Chambers also embodies a character aware of her generation’s values yet open to evolving moral perspectives. Dorothy appears more receptive to modern influences; she not only smokes but, unlike Margaret, does not see an affair as the end of a marriage.

Love and Adultery

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The differing perspectives on love and infidelity drive the plot conflict in the story. Margaret believes her husband would only betray her for love, whereas George thinks an affair can be pursued simply for "recreation." He neither denies his love for his wife nor claims to love Rose. Instead, George subtly offers stereotypical reasons for his involvement with Rose: she was young, adventurous, and available. He never considers that his affair might affect his feelings for his wife.

To Margaret, however, George's actions signify his lack of love for her. She reasons that only someone who values her so little could cause her such pain without a valid reason (fun doesn't suffice, but love does). Margaret's distress centers on defining love and its significance. For her, love is an abstract, powerful connection between two individuals, while for George, it's more of a routine aspect of daily life. As Dorothy says, "women love with their imagination and men with their senses."

Although the story examines what love means to different people, it does not delve into why individuals might stray in their relationships. Since the narrative is heavily shaped by Margaret's perspective and she cannot imagine adultery without love, the story doesn't explore infidelity's meaning as thoroughly as it does love. This might also reflect the moral values of the era in which the story was written and published.

Sex Roles

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Margaret embodies the archetype of many women from her era; she is the...

(This entire section contains 272 words.)

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considerate supporter of her husband, managing all household responsibilities and issues while also aiding George with his professional tasks. She takes pride in this role, never doubting the significance of her life's duties, even though they are limited by her gender. This perspective changes when she discovers George's infidelity. Upon receiving Rose's letter, her world is completely upended. Although Margaret was never a "partner" in the modern sense, she always felt that her role in George's life was indispensable. She acknowledges her conscious decision to prioritize his needs over hers, though she doesn't recognize any suppressed desires until her life is turned inside out.

George communicates to Margaret his need for her to maintain her role, while insisting that he never loved Rose. By doing so, he distinctly separates the roles of "wife" and "mistress," illustrating that women of that era were expected to fulfill multiple roles, yet neither the role of helpmate nor lover could entirely satisfy a man.

George's insensitivity to Margaret's pain and disillusionment can be seen as a result of a gender divide. As Dorothy aptly states: "When a man and a woman talk of love, they speak two different languages. They can never understand each other." This reality is evident in the Flemings' marriage. Margaret believes that her efforts to support George bind him to her with ties of love rather than obligation, while George seeks out Rose simply for the pleasure of her company. To George, Rose is a temporary interest, but this doesn't lessen his wish to spend his life with Margaret.

Betrayal and Infidelity

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The story is intricately plotted, with three climaxes and reversals, all carefully controlled by the focus on Margaret’s consciousness. The first phase centers on her discovery of betrayal and infidelity, on the contrast between her placid assumption of routine domestic duties and George’s varied outside interests. She is devastated that a twenty-year marriage should expire in an afternoon, but he blandly carries on with business as usual. Her first instinct is to fight for what is hers. This movement comes to a climax in the visit of Dorothy Chambers with her cynical views of the different ways of men and women in love and her suggestion that marriage involves both more and less than love. Margaret rejects that counsel and decides to confront Rose; the implication is that she continues to feel that marriage depends on mutual love.

Love and Sacrifice

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The second phase involves her exchange with Rose. Here the conflict is partly older woman and experience against younger woman and the intensity of youth, partly domestic housewife against independent career woman. However, more is engaged than that. Both women speak of love as a common, identifiable experience and feeling, almost a supreme law to which both must conform. Margaret realizes that if George loves Rose—and Rose is confident that he does—in the way the women speak of love, then Margaret must give him up. Only for that supreme reason could he have hurt her so much. She resolves to concede.

Disillusionment and Cynicism

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The third and final phase is her conference with George. Here, once again, things turn out not as she expected. Far from confirming Rose’s account of their relationship, George denies its substance, asserting that it was no more significant than a game of golf. Margaret cannot understand this; he seems to be giving words such as “love” a totally different meaning, and this allows him to treat women as adversaries. This attitude desecrates all of them. Small wonder that she now feels life has no meaning; she has discovered that the kind of love that means so much to women is unappreciated by men. This final climax is shattering, because the only alternative it leaves is the cynical opportunism of Dorothy Chambers.

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