Discussion Topic

The Colosseum as a symbol in "Roman Fever" and its importance to the story

Summary:

In "Roman Fever," the Colosseum symbolizes the enduring nature of past conflicts and emotions. It serves as a backdrop to the unfolding drama between the two main characters, highlighting the ancient rivalries and secrets that continue to shape their lives. The Colosseum's historical significance underscores the themes of memory and the impact of history on personal relationships.

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In "Roman Fever," is the Colosseum a symbol and how is it important to the story?

Certainly, the coliseum of Rome represents a well-developed society of ancient times, one against which the Gilded Age of America can be reflected as its notably named high society also placed its passions and pretenses inside its glory. 

As representative of the Roman culture, the coliseum stands as a monument to the Roman customs and passions. Likewise, for Mrs. Ansley the coliseum symbolizes in her memory a delicious moment of unbridled passion away from her Victorian upper-class New York society. 

It is, indeed, ironic that the two matrons bring their daughters to the site of their great competitions and passions. In a not so subtle conversation Mrs. Slade wishes to again throw Mrs Ansley to the lions of the past; however, Mrs. Ansley reveals that she was not "thrown to the lions" at all by her intimate friend,

"But I didn't wait.  He'd arranged everything. He was there....
"I had...

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Barabara."

In a moment of glorious conquest over her foe of a lifetime, her neighbor and close friend and travel companion who has always believed that she had the best of the old incident, Mrs. Ansley brutally conquers Mrs. Slade by telling her the truth of that ancient night. 

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What does "the Colosseum" symbolize in the short story "Roman Fever"?

It is also worth mentioning that the ironic ending completely reverses the position of the two women.  Mrs. Ansley, who has been feeling superior to Mrs. Slade all these years, is suddenly aware that she has been living a lie.  Mrs. Slade's daughter is more vivacious and lively than Mrs. Ansley's...this has been one source of displeasure in Mrs. Ansley's life as she wished her own daughter was as lovely and accomplished and noticeable.  It is not until the end of the "confrontation" about the meeting so many years ago in the colosseum that Mrs. Ansley is told that Mrs. Slade's lovely and vivacious daughter is Mr. Ansley's daughter as well...a product of that secret meeting so many years ago.  What an amazing twist!

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As in many of her stories, here Wharton uses space, interior and exterior, to communicate both theme and something important about her characters. The coliseum is an artifact of an earlier day, both in the larger historical and ideological sense—a time when men fought and ruled each other brutally—but also a time that the two women spent together in Rome, “when their friendship and rivalry both began.” Here, now, in visiting Rome again, they can talk to each other, unlike when, at home in America, their privileged lives across the street from each other prevented such communication. This space proves both confining in its domesticity and divisive by class that regulates behavior in such a way that real communication is not possible. It is only in Romethat Mrs. Slade feels able to reveal the truth to Mrs. Ansley. This truth is that she sent Mrs. Slade a letter that tricked her into meeting Mrs. Ansley’s fiancé at the time, hoping she would catch the “Roman fever” and die.  Just as the men competed for their lives in the coliseum years ago, so these two women competed against each other for men in the same location. Wharton weaves together themes of rivalry and friendship through this symbol.

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