“Editha” by William Dean Howells presents an unnusual character.  The omniscient third person narrator follows Editha through various moments that reveal her character as one who does not understand life, love, or death because she is more interested in her own views. Her idealistic perspective becomes dangerous and destructive.

Edith, the protagonist, wants her fiancé George to go to war and show his patriotism.  Through him, she will be doing her part for the war by sending him to fight. The war [the Spanish American War] comes first. 

Plot-The confrontation between the young couple who argue over the importance of the war begins the story, providing the conflict within Editha.  Like so many inexperienced  women, she decides that her view is the only one.

'There is no honor above America with me. Your heart will make my words clear to you. I had never expected to say so much, but it has come upon me that I must say the utmost. Editha.'  She thought she had worded her letter well; all had been implied and nothing expressed. 

As she thinks about George joining, she pictures him in his uniform; then, she imagines him coming home with only one arm and her standing next to him. To her, this is the glory of war.

Despite his better judgment, George does decide to join. She sends him off to war with the letter that ends their relationship, telling him not to read it until later.  George leaves with his unit asking Editha to promise to look after his mother.

Immediately, George is killed. Facing the climax of the story, Editha grieves as long as she thinks she should.  Then, she remembers her promise.  Along with her father, Editha travels by train to Arizona to console George’s mother. 

Filled with grief for her son and angry with this silly girl, the mother begins to condemn Editha for sending her son to his death.  After reading Editha’s letter enclosed in George’s things, the mother is enraged. Editha leaves immediately.

When a person’s idealistic concept of the world isolates them from others, loneliness and loss often force them to review their former beliefs. Not so with Editha. Bringing the story to its conclusion, the reader learns that like many superficial people, Editha thinks that she did nothing wrong and begins to look for a new cause to champion.

Theme- The story wraps itself around war.  The author despised war and used his main character to foster the idea of the foolishness of romanticizing any aspect of an action in which men kill each other for a cause that has no purpose. When Howell points up the mother’s comments about Editha sending her man to fight and glory, Howell denounces this sentimentalized view of war.

Tone- Howell bitterly uses the death of the innocent George to point up his disgust for war.  The dialogue between Editha and the other characters illustrates this denouncement of war. Nothing changes this atmosphere because the main character does not change or learn anything through her experiences. 

Symbolism- Editha’s letter to George represents her immaturity and lack of love for anyone but herself.  How could someone send her fiancé off to a war with a note that he probably thinks tells of her love for him. Even as the poor man leaves on the train, Editha can recognize his waving hand because he is holding her letter. Instead at the most important time of his life, he finds that his sweetheart admonishes him for not putting his country before everything else. Foolish girl!

Discuss the story "Editha" by William Dean Howells.

William Dean Howells in his story “Editha” creates a character that sees life through those clichéd  “rose-colored glasses.” The story written in 1905 concerns the topic and theme of war [in this case the Spanish –American War] both realistically and romantically. 

Told by an omniscient third person narrator, most of the story belongs to Editha, a young girl who think s that she is the only one that really matters in the world.  The story’s theme points up the idea that life is fragile and to be valued, not to be played with as though it were a toy.  The tone belies the bitterness felt by the reader as he delves into the lives of the characters.

A disagreement between the unrealistic Editha and the more pragmatic George takes the reader to the heart of the story.  Editha wants her boyfriend to go off to war to serve his country, and he is not sure about it.  Even after discussing it with the other men, George still does not feel good about joining up and going off to fight. 

Editha can imagine George in his uniform; then, she can see him coming home to her after losing an arm in battle. None of which is real to her and the possibilities are too uncomfortable for her to spend time on. She is insistent that George be a part of the war effort.  In her mind, she is doing her part by sending her man off to fight.  Through her idealistic view of death, she pushes George to an early death.

George’s mother condemns Editha for giving him the letter that was returned with his things to his mother.  Everything  his mother says is  true,  and Editha realizes it.  She suddenly becomes quiet and her father rushes her away from the scene.

Summary

Editha decides to return all of the things that George has given her along with a “Dear John” letter.  Even as he returns to tell her of his intention to join, she still gives him the letter telling him to open it only when he is on the battle field. What sensitivity the girl has for others’ feelings!

But now, it flashed upon her, if he could do something worthy to have won her--be a hero, her hero--it would be even better than if he had done it before asking her; it would be grander. Besides, she had believed in the war from the beginning.

Actually, George does not believe in the war.  He prefers peace. Although he loves his country, it does not come first to him as Editha says it does for her.  Her foolish talk about patriotism being the most important thing to her sends George out the door.  After a few drinks, George decides to join. The last thing he asks of Editha is take care of his mother who lives in Arizona. 

George is immediately killed in battle.  Of course, Editha experiences grief, but it does not last long. When she remembers that George had given her a mission, Editha quickly leaves with her father to console George’s mother.  Editha expects to be welcomed by the grief-stricken mother.

Surprisingly, his mother quickly admonishes Editha for sending him to his death.

"When you sent him you didn't expect he would get killed . . . [women and girls] think he'll just come marching back somehow . .!"

Howells employs this scene to show how a truly self-centered person handles confrontation.  After finding what she thinks is a noble explanation for what she has been through, Editha is ready to idealistically tackle the world again.  Howell comments in the story that Editha has begun "to live again in the ideal.”