1. Characterize Grace Ansley and Alida Slade as fully as you can. By what characterizing devices does the story imply the superiority of Mrs. Slade (what gestures, what statements, what unspoken thoughts)? At what point does Mrs. Ansley begin to seem the superior person?KirstenGrace Ansley initially seems to be the more passive of the two women since she does not hold strong feelings of rivalry and jealousy as Alida Slade does. She is not envious of Mrs. Slade because she secretly knows that Delphin chose her that night in the Colosseum. Although she is involved in more mundane activities -- like knitting and playing bridge -- the revelation of her relationship with Delphin shows that she is also passionate. Living across the street from him for twenty-five years and raising his child suggest that she is also capable of enduring love. Alida Slade, on the other hand, is driven by feelings of jealousy for Mrs. Ansley: these feelings first prompted Mrs. Slade to write a fake letter to her from Delphin. Because Mrs. Ansley reacted to the letter, Mrs. Slade had, "always gone on hating [Mrs. Ansley]" (p. 360). Mrs. Slade believes that Mrs. Ansley was not met at the Colosseum since Delphin did not actually invite her; this allows her to feel superior in their friendship until Mrs. Ansley reveals her secret. Mrs. Slade exerts her superiority over Mrs. Ansley by, for example, publicly insulting her: "'I'd rather live opposite a speakeasy for a change; at least one might see it raided.' The idea of seeing Grace raided was so amusing that (before the move) she launched it at a woman's lunch" (p. 353). Mrs. Slade also privately compares herself to Mrs. Ansley and refers to her and her husband as, "Museum specimens of old New York" (p. 353), or as, "nullities" (p. 353). After Mrs. Slade reveals that she actually wrote the letter, she physically seems to dominate Mrs. Ansley by, "leaning above her" (p. 360), and, "continue[ing] to look down on her" (p. 360). The shift of power occurs when Mrs. Ansley tells Mrs. Slade that she responded to the letter and met Delphin that night. Mrs. Slade grows hysterical and aggressive, and while Mrs. Ansley remains composed she says to Alida, "'I'm sorry for you'" (p. 361). KelseyGrace Ansley is characterized as old-fashioned, and as the smaller, paler one of the two women. It is shown multiple times that she is easily embarrassed and shy. She is also said to be much less articulate and innocent-looking compared to Mrs. Slade. She feels sorry for, and pities, Alida Slade who is described as energetic and colorful with a strong face and dark, defining brows. Alida is portrayed as selfish and self-absorbed, yet she is a vivid, respected woman. It is shown that she is envious of Ansley. Mrs. Ansley begins to seem the superior person on page 359, paragraph 82: "Mrs. Slade waited nervously for another word or movement. None came, and at length she broke out: 'I horrify you.'" KatieMrs. Ansley is a sophisticated woman, but not as high on the social ladder as Mrs. Slade. She married a man inferior to Mrs. Slade's husband. Mrs. Slade married well and holds herself higher than Mrs. Ansley. "She [Mrs. Ansley] was evidently far less sure than her companion of herself and her rights in the world." (p. 352.) Mrs. Slade is also arrogant and eager to put down Mrs. Ansley in the most subtle ways possible. "And I was wondering...how two such exemplary characters as you and Horace had managed to produce anything so dynamic." (p. 356) Mrs. Ansley seems superior when she takes Mrs. Slade's criticism with composure and poise. She ultimately seems superior when she states: "But I didn't wait. He'd arranged everything. He was there. We were let in at once." (p. 361) Whether Mrs. Ansley is lying about Delphin's meeting her or not, she has wit and dexterity coming up with the story, and does not tell her story with an egotistical attitude. BaileyAnsley -- Is not of the same high social status, and seems to be less exaggerated and more blunt: "Mrs. Ansley was much less articulate than her friend, and her mental portrait of Mrs. Slade was slighter, and drawn with fainter touches. 'Alida Slade's awfully brilliant; but not as brilliant as she thinks. Though she did not end up marrying Delphin, she seems to be satisfied with her life, especially because she has a daughter from Delphin, who is spunky and brilliant. She also comments on how she had her memory of "the night" and now how that was enough to keep her happy. Slade -- "Mrs. Slade's black brows drew together, as though references to the moon were out of place and even unwelcome." Paragraph 21 goes into detail about how she feels about herself: "She had always regarded herself as his [her husband's] equal in social gifts, as contributing her full share to the making of the exceptional couple they were..." There seems to be more reflection on Mrs. Slade and how she feels about herself and how others perceive her. Mrs. Ansley begins to look the superior person when they begin discussing the letter: she thinks about sending an answer back and comes across as much more organized. She also gets the upper leg in the argument because Delphin really did love her and she has a daughter to prove it. Mrs. Slade says: "After all, I had everything: I had him for twenty-five years. And you had nothing but that one letter hat he didn't write." Mrs. Ansley then replies: "I had Barbara." For Ansley, Delphin was less of an image, he was her true love, and the fact that he went to see her even though he was engaged shows that the feelings were mutual. JamieGrace Ansley is a character of modesty and reservation. She does not intentionally belittle others to make her feel dominant, and instead remains content in the scheme of day to day life. At one point in the story she says, "It will always be, to me," which is followed by a thought by Mrs. Slade: "so slight a stress on the 'me." While Grace does have a subtle feeling of secrecy and power behind her (me), she does not further explain or divulge any feelings as to what is behind "me"; she continues to be humble in her thoughts and words. Alida Slade is quite different. She is very conceited, looking down on others with amusement. She is always thinking of how much better she is than her friend Grace, how she is classy, and of how others are jealous of her. She is marked by a sense of superiority. Such thoughts and remarks as, "she had always regarded herself [Alida] (with a certain conjugal pride)," (p. 21) "it did the irreproachable no harm to laugh at them a little," (p 19) and "'What, that handsome woman with good clothes and eyes is Mrs. Slade -- the Slade's wife? Really? Generally the wives of celebrities are such frumps,'" (p.21) help to characterize Alida as superior. This dominance continues until Mrs. Ansley reveals that she in fact met the husband that night, at which time Mrs. Ansley assumes ascendancy. KathrynMrs. Slade is initially characterized as the superior of the two, because she is apparently more self-assured, intelligent, and shrewd than Mrs. Ansley. Mrs. Ansley is described as "far less sure than her companion of herself and of her rights in the world." Mrs. Ansley's mannerisms appear to be more docile and submissive than Mrs. Slade's, in that Mrs. Ansley gives her friend "shy" glances, and "furtively" draws out her knitting. Because she seems to seek her companion's approval, Mrs. Ansley is the lower-status character at the beginning of the story. Mrs. Slade's private criticisms of Mrs. Ansley enhance the feeling that she is more dominant. When Mrs. Slade passes judgement on Mrs. Ansley with thoughts such as: "'She can knit -- in the face of this! How like her...", it gives the reader the impression that she is better, and therefore qualified to scorn her friend. Immediately when Mrs. Slade begins to talk about the letter however, the tables of status turn. When Mrs. Slade thinks to herself: "I shouldn't have thought she had herself so well in hand," it indicates that she no longer feels that she controls the situation. It hints that perhaps Mrs. Ansley has a hidden source of self-worth that Mrs. Slade, with her outward facade of arrogance and self-importance, lacks. 2. What is the meaning of the comment about "the wrong end of [the] little telescope" (paragraph 24)? How is that comment a suitable conclusion for the first part of the story?KirstenThe comment implies that while both women judge one another because each believes that she understands the true nature of her friend, they actually have no idea: their perspective of one another is skewed, like looking, "through the wrong end of her little telescope" (p.355). This is comment is a suitable conclusion for the first part because the section deals with, "how little they knew each other" (p. 353). KelseyEach woman seems to view herself as so much better than the other. Thus they are making the good qualities of the other look miniscule compared to their bad traits. When a person looks through the wrong end of the telescope all the beauty they would normally be enlarging, is shrunk and overlooked. Both women feel as if they know the entire situation: however, this comment points out that that may not be the case. By ending in such a way, the author is showing that the way in which the two women categorize each other is by pointing out all the negatives, and thus it may be misleading. Wharton is demonstrating the little knowledge that each woman actually has on the situation. KatieThe comment refers to each of the women's perspectives. They view each other with a skewed point of view or through "the wrong end of [the] little telescope." Each woman sees only the part she wants to see in her lunch date and not the entire character. It is suitable for the ending part of the first story because it concisely summarizes the point of the first section: The women see each other with a narrow and selective point of view. BaileyWhen a person looks through the wrong end of a telescope, instead of making the image larger, the image becomes very small and it becomes difficult to see the details of what the person is looking at. Both these women only know their points of view about the other, and because they only know what they believe: their focus on the other is narrowly defined. The comment shows that behind the story of these two women, there is much they don't know about each other or about the truth. JamieThe comment means that the ladies are viewing one another wrongly. They are using a "little telescope" which cannot see as deeply or far into things as a large one, and they are looking at it through the wrong end; they are seeing things out of proportion or from the incorrect perspective. The comment proves to be a suitable ending because the two ladies have just given descriptions of one another which, one can deduce from the comment, are false or not really true. It implies that something is going to happen that will reveal the true essence of the two. The comment might also play into the fact that it is turning into night time and the moon, which sheds light upon secrets/truth, is coming out and will be viewed through the correct end of their telescopes. Kathryn"The wrong end of the telescope" reveals the women's strategy of judging and minimizing one another in order to live carefree, self-assured lives. Each looks down upon the other; Mrs. Slade from her pedestal of having written the letter, tricked her friend, and married the man that they both loved, Mrs. Ansley from the security of Delphin's love, evidenced by Barbara. Each believes that she was ultimately victorious, and is therefore able to regard the other from a detached, distant perspective. 3. Trace the revelation of the animosity that Mrs. Slade feels for Mrs. Ansley. Is Mrs. Ansley doing anything on this evening to provoke her envy? Why has Mrs. Slade always harbored negative feelings about her friend?KirstenThe animosity Mrs. Slade feels for Mrs. Ansley is created by feelings of envy towards her. Mrs. Slade says: "I was afraid; afraid of you, of your quiet ways, your sweetness" (p. 360): it is from this insecurity that Mrs. Slade's envy and negative feelings originate. When she learns that Mrs. Ansley fell for her false letter, Mrs. Slade feels superior because she believes that she successfully tricked and humiliated her friend; she also experiences hatred towards her since Mrs. Ansley betrayed her. While Mrs. Ansley does not actually do anything to provoke Mrs. Slade's envy, Alida can't help but want to hurt Mrs. Ansley because of years of dark feelings she has felt for her. KelseyMrs. Ansley provokes Mrs. Slade by denying how she caught Roman Fever. This upsets Mrs. Slade because she has a need to feel dominant over Mrs. Ansley; however, in this situation she feels dominated, thus a feeling of hostility arises towards Mrs. Ansley.ÊNegative feelings have been harbored by Mrs. Slade for the last twenty years because she cannot get past the idea that her husband and Mrs. Ansley were once in love. KatieThe animosity that Mrs. Slade feels for Mrs. Ansley has been brewing inside of her for nearly twenty five years. She is distraught that Mrs. Ansley and her deceased husband were once lovers and had an affair while they were engaged. On this specific night in Rome Mrs. Ansley has done nothing to trigger Mrs. Slade's anger, but her past actions cannot be erased. BaileyMrs. Slade thought to herself: "I must make one more effort not to hate her." (p. 357) This animosity first began when they were younger and were in love with the same man and because both of them knew this, it created early anger and jealousy. I have the feeling that Mrs. Ansley felt less animosity because she gained something special in her life, where as I think Mrs. Slade is a lot more angry because she was the one engaged and felt that this woman was taking her man. Their hostility continues to grow when Mrs. Slade tells Mrs. Ansley that she had written the letter and as new information about that night comes forward. JamieMrs. Slade's animosity first festers in her condescending description of Mrs. Ansley. There is a slight hint of dislike and contempt for her friend. But the real exposure of Mrs. Slade's loathing of Mrs. Ansley comes in the second part of the book when Mrs. Ansley replies to Mrs. Slade with little care. Mrs. Slade thinks, "she can knit -- in the face of this! How like her," and begins to bring forth her hate, jealously, and envy for Mrs. Ansley. Mrs. Ansley unintentionally provokes Mrs. Slade by being casual and almost nonchalant in her answers. This angers Mrs. Slade because she knows Mrs. Ansley's secret and wants her to tell the truth. Mrs. Slade has always harbored negative feelings because she knows Mrs. Ansley loved her husband. KathrynMrs. Slade's envy of Mrs. Ansley originates from their common love of Delphin. Mrs. Slade's attributes seem to be her intelligence and vigor, whereas Mrs. Ansley was exceptionally beautiful as a girl. Mrs. Slade was evidently envious of Mrs. Ansley's looks and threatened by their influence, because she reacted harshly when she learned that Mrs. Ansley was in love with her fiance'. Because she believes that nothing happened between her husband and Mrs. Ansley, Mrs. Slade's envy lies in her perception of the qualities of Mrs. Ansley that she herself lacks. When Mrs Ansley reveals that her love for Delphin still exists, Mrs. Slade's jealousy is renewed because she perceives that once again, Mrs. Ansley possesses something that she lacks. Mrs. Slade's relationship with her husband seems to have been one of service; more of a job or position than a union of true love. Mrs. Slade is jealous that Mrs. Ansley has a romantic, if distant and unrealistic, relationship with her husband that she never did. 4. What purpose is served by the discussion of the different meanings of Rome to mothers and daughters of different generations (paragraphs 29-31)? What standards of behavior have changed from one generation to the next? What standards have remained the same? How does this discussion expand the meaning of the title of the story?KirstenThis discussion explores the way that Rome has changed in its meaning to the different generations. Rome was first characterized by an actual illness -- a danger that mothers had to protect their daughters from. With then next generation, it was only a, "sentimental danger..." (p. 355), while with Mrs. Slade and Mrs. Ansley's daughters it is no longer a hazard, only something remembered by the earlier generations. With the first generation, daughters were protected; with the next, they rebelled from protection, and with the present generation, they are no longer in need of shelter. While Mrs. Slade's and Mrs. Ansley's daughters go out with boys into the city like their mothers did, they are different from them since when Alida and Grace were young, they lived, "with such beauty calling us, and the spice of disobedience thrown in" (p. 356). The title of the story is not meant to necessarily describe the illness, Roman Fever, which was feared by the first generation, but rather the "fever" that infects each generation with a purpose and a feeling that is symbolic of the time. KelseyIt shows how each generation acts the same at similar ages and how with time mothering has become less protective.The Grandmas had to protect their daughters from Roman Fever, the next generation was highly protective of their child's actions, and now the girls have no worries. Mothering has become easier over time; however the girls are missing out on experience the rush of emotions that come with sneaking around.ÊThe title "Roman Fever" describes a time in which mothers had to be extremely protective and how still their daughters managed to defy their wishes.ÊMrs. Ansley became sick it due to a lustful relationship in which she sneaked around, and now neither girl will be able to experience anything similar. KatieFrom their grandmothers' generation to their daughters' generation standards have become less strict. The two women's daughters are parading around Rome with young men unguarded, while during their grandmothers' era they were terrified of Roman Fever. Once the disease had faded it was harder for mothers to keep control of their daughters. The purpose of this discussion is to show the progression of their societal customs compared to their daughters' customs now. BaileyTo show the differences of generations, and by doing so we see how life has changed and are shown how life was when these two women were younger. The grandmothers had to watch out for Roman Fever; the mothers (Mrs. Slade and Mrs. Ansley) had sentimental dangers, and the daughters wanted to be out on the town. Yet these three generations were caught in the folds of Rome. Though Roman Fever is a cold, in this story it can expand to include the idea that all of these women were captured into the rush and life of Rome and the romantics. Mrs. Slade and Mrs. Ansley discuss how part of the fun of Rome is lost to their children because they don't have the same rush from breaking rules, because they can go off with the aviators, without having to disobey their parents. Mrs. Slade and Mrs. Ansley believed that part of the "Roman Fever" and what made Rome so fun was the disobedience. JamieI think the discussion serves to show that the meaning of Rome is different among mothers and daughters just as it is among individuals; To Mrs. Ansley it is a place of cherished memory where she met with her true love, while Mrs. Slade views it as a place of justice and vengeance. It is a place where she thwarted her friend. The discussion also shows the dangers of Rome and the changes it has been through. The standards of behavior have changed in that people are free to roam and be more careless, without having to worry about the presence of a harmful disease or ailment. Still the mothers have to show some kind of protection for their daughters. The discussion expands the meaning of the title of the story by implying Roman Fever was a good thing in that it kept girls at home but, when it went away, it opened up a whole new dangerous realm of other things (like adultery). KathrynThe meanings of Rome to mothers and daughters of different generations reveal sources of danger that change as society evolves. As the historical stage for important, often romantic events, Rome's most immediate danger was death. As this threat became obsolete, the dangers of love became apparent to younger generations. Immediately categorized as less harmful than a fever, "sentimental dangers" were actually just as dangerous in that they drew children away from home, where injury could befall them without parental knowledge. Following this stage, children came to recognize no danger in the streets of Rome, and therefore began to travel even farther outside their parents' jurisdiction. The danger of this is probably equal to that of the other two stages in that parents cease even to care or worry about the welfare of their children, under the assumption that no dangers exist. During every generation, the two main threats were love and illness; but the eminence of one or the other varied. "Roman Fever" could be literally interpreted as the name of a disease, but could also signify the perils of love, "Fever" indicating passion. 5. From what point of view is "A New Leaf" told? For what purposes does the view shift? Compare the contribution of point of view here to that in "Roman Fever".KirstenThe point of view in A New Leaf begins as omniscient. When Julia and Phil first eat at the cafe', the reader sees the emotions and thoughts of both of them. But when Dick Ragland enters Julia's life, the point of view shifts to third person limited, allowing the reader to only experience the thoughts of Julia. This shift occurs to parallel the way that Julia singularly envisions the situation: despite Phil's warning of:"I've never known anybody to change" (p. 372), she is unable to fully understand his thoughts and is only able to look at her relationship with Dick in the way that she wants it to be, with the illusion that he has changed for her. In Roman Fever, the point of view remains omniscient throughout the entire story. The reader sees the emotions and thoughts of both characters in order to understand just how greatly they have each misjudged one another. KelseyA New Leaf is told from an overall prospective and the reader is presented with feelings from both Julia and Phil.ÊWhen Dick Ragland enters, the view suddenly shifts, and the reader is given the one-sided opinion of Julia.ÊPhil originally tells the realistic view of the situation, and by removing this, the reader is left with the unrealistic views of Julia. This shift is important because it allows the reader to fully understand Julia's thought process and how she is unable to look at the bigger picture of Dick's drinking.ÊRoman Fever is told from an overall perspective of the characters, allowing the reader to make his own assumptions on the situations that are being discussed. Katie??BaileyIt begins from the point of view of an onlooker explaining the setting and then we are presented with the interactions between Julia and Dick. We are given Julia's view to see her different ways of thinking and why she likes Dick, instead of from a narrator's point of view, because now we can see he feelings.It begins for the point of view from an onlooker explaining the setting and then we are presented with the interactions between Julia and Dick. [Explain this??] JamieI think it is told from an omniscient point of view in the beginning, wandering in and out of the characters' thoughts and feelings, especially Phil's (who tells the reality of the situation). Then I think it shifts to Julia's point of view to show her disillusioned outlook on things. Providing several points of view helps to show contrast the reality and illusion in the story. In Roman Fever the reader is receives the story from Mrs. Slade, who spills her biased feelings to the audience. This also does good for the reader, because he/she can see how corrupt Mrs. Slade is. KathrynAt the beginning and the end of the story, the point of view is that of Phil Hoffman, but during the middle it is Julia's. Phil's perspective at the outset and the conclusion of the story allow the reader to formulate an interpretation separate from that of solely Julia's. By casting Julia and Dick's meeting and separation in the light of a third party, Fitzgerald allows the reader to make inferences about their relationship that he can then apply to the rest of the story. Judging Julia's actions from an angle other than her own allows the reader draw conclusions about her, instead of relying on her perception of herself in interpreting the story. Roman Fever is told exclusively from Mrs. Slade's perspective. The reader is able to analyze who she is in the light of truth, when it is finally revealed at the end of the story. 6. Compare the emotional lives of Julia & Dick in "A New Leaf" (what causes each of them to fall in love with the other? Is one reason more mature or sound than another?) with the emotional lives of Mrs. Ansley & Mrs. Slade in "Roman Fever".KirstenJulia falls in love with Dick because he is, "'the handsomest man I ever saw in my life'" (p. 363). Dick, meanwhile, falls in love with Julia because he is weak and needs somebody to take care of him. He relies on her love and says to her: "'Life is so bleak alone. When I go to bed my mind churns on and on. Can't we get married sooner?'" (p. 372). But when Julia leaves for California, he has an affair and reveals that it isn't necessarily Julia he needs, just someone. Both Julia and Dick fall in love with each other for superficial and selfish reasons. Mrs. Ansley and Mrs. Slade, on the other hand, consider each other old friends. This is ironic, however, as Mrs. Slade feels nothing but contempt, jealousy, and hatred for Mrs. Ansley, while Mrs. Ansley betrayed her friend when they were younger by having an affair with Mrs. Slade's fiance' and having his daughter. KelseyJulia is emotionally dependent on a relationship in which her lover needs to be fixed, while Dick needs someone to believe in his potential. This is a more mature relationship compared to that of Mrs. Slade and Mrs. Ansley because it is built on positive energy, while the latter is built on negative energy. The two women must put each other down to feel good about themselves. KatieIn A New Leaf Julia and Dick fall in love for purely superficial reasons. Julia is attracted to Dick because he is dangerous and insecure: "She did not realize that his being a sort of outcast added to his attraction for her," (p. 365) while Dick is attracted to Julia because of her status, her beauty, and her ability to take care of him. Mrs. Slade seems equally immature as Julia and Dick are due to her rooted disdain for Mrs. Ansley and her inability to forget and move on. Mrs. Ansley, however, seems more emotionally sound due to the tranquil emotional state she maintains while Mrs. Slade verbally attacks her. BaileyThe emotional lives of Mrs. Ansley and Mrs. Slade seem to be more mature, because of what had happened, yet the action of Mrs. Slade (the letter) seems very childish. The feelings, though, that they have for each other are for a good reason. Julia, on the other hand, seems to have this idealistic image of Dick. Her image of him is less realistic than what he truly is (she believes he could change his ways, by simply wanting them to change.) JamieDick and Julia fall in love with each other because of personal wants. Dick has found someone who, despite knowing his socially unacceptable behavior and bad reputation, wants to be with him. He finds comfort in such a prospect of security and love. Julia loves Dick because of the way he makers her feel about herself; accomplished. Julia feels almost charitable being with Dick, as she is using her abilities to seemingly better him. This in turn makes her feel like she is doing good in his world, and hence makes her fall in love with him. Dick, even though he is a little off, has a more sound reason in falling in love, which is out of necessity for security. In Roman Fever, Mrs. Ansley and Mrs. Slade have a very different relationship. The two are detached and do not care so much for each other. Mrs. Slade has a sense of jealousy about her for Mrs. Ansley, and Mrs. Ansley does not seem to have very sincere remarks towards Mrs. Slade. But similarly to Dick and Julia, they remain with each other out of personal wants. Mrs. Slade does it in part to make herself feel superior to her friend. Mrs. Ansley does it to remind her of her past love. KathrynJulia loves Dick because she relishes the ideal of their relationship. Julia subsists on their potential to be a duo of beautiful, sophisticated people, and she finds purpose in trying to reform Dick so that he will fit this vision. Dick's past of alcoholism adds glamour and adventure to a life that easily could have been simple and effortless. Although her motives are largely selfish, Julia's love for Dick is sincere in that the satisfaction she achieves from working towards a goal outwardly assumes the appearance of romantic love. Mrs. Slade and Mrs. Ansley also strive for contentment in achievement, but use their ambition against one another. Whereas Julia tries to help Dick as a means for satisfaction, Mrs. Slade and Mrs. Ansley seek to feel superior to one another. 7. What are the connotations of the settings of "A New Leaf" -- Paris, the steamship Olympia, and New York -- and how do they reinforce your understanding of the social class and attitudes of the characters? Compare the role of settings in this story to that in "Roman Fever." Which story more fully integrates the setting into its meanings and emotional effects?KirstenIn A New Leaf, the characters begin in Paris -- a foreign place where Dick is known for his bad reputation with alcohol, and where Julia refuses to be with him because of this. The time spent on steamship Olympia from Paris to New York represents the transition of both Dick's behavior and their relationship. Once in New York, Julia describes that, "Dick's misdemeanors had, fortunately, been confined to Paris and assumed here a far-away unreality" (p. 371). The settings of the story directly parallels the couple's relationship to one another. The settings also enforce the high social class of both characters and the way that each place affects their social attitudes and actions. In Roman Fever, the setting lets the characters return to where the reality of their relationship can be fully understood. Rome was where the tone for the rest of their relationship was set through the jealousy and secrets that both characters had. By returning here, Mrs. Slade and Mrs. Ansley are motivated to reveal their secret emotions and actions while remembering their youth in Rome. I feel that Roman Fever more fully integrates the setting into the story's meaning since Rome came to symbolize an entire feeling of their youth and represents the place were Mrs. Slade and Mrs. Ansley's relationship changed. KelseyThe setting of A New Leaf symbolizes a journey through life, a transformation. Paris is used as a high-class party city, where Dick becomes lost in his surroundings. The boat is supposed to connote a new start for Dick; he has the chance to change his bad habits. The boat's name,Olympia, connotes the Greek gods' home: a place of excess in both partying and drink -- Dick uses his time on the ship as a place apart -- a place to revel in the excesses that he is to give up once in New York.Ê However, inevitably he goes back to his old ways in New York City, also known and portrayed as a party town. The Roman Fever setting brings the two women back to the place in which the whole love triangle took place.ÊMrs. A. and Mrs. S. argue in plain sight of the Coliseum. This connotes internal fight between the two women; they are both competitive and seem to be two gladiators in a competition. The setting is more fully integrated into A New Leaf, because it helps to show the journey which Julia is helping Dick get through. KatieIn A New Leaf, the characters start out in Paris, which connotes opulence, love, luxury, and wealth. This is where Nick and Julia initially fall for each other, and their journey on the steamship to New York is a symbol of transformation and new beginnings. They travel across the ocean to a new city to escape Nick's bad reputation and start over in a new country. New York is a younger city compared to Paris which signifies Julia's and Nick's immature love for each other. Like Paris, New York City is a party town with superficial happiness like drinking and fine clothes and shows like opera and Broadway. In Roman Fever, the two friends, Mrs. Ansley and Mrs. Slade, meet up in the ancient city of Rome. Because the city has history this represents the two friends who started their friendship in Rome and returned when they were older with their daughters. The setting in Roman Fever is more influential in the story because it is a crucial backdrop for the two friends and their animosity towards each other. The Coliseum is a symbol for strength, battle, and superiority, each a quality Mrs. Ansley and Mrs. Slade desire. Rome is also a city with greater prestige than Paris or New York City, which merely represent wealth and artificial happiness. Rome is a city with history, depth, and was the highest power in the world at one time. This city mirrors the emotions of both women who have passionate, hidden disdain for one another due to their pasts. BaileyIn A New Leaf the setting connotes change, because it goes from one city to another by passage of a traversing. Though the cities are well-known and classic, they still seem to be the generic places of romanticism and new-age love, while Rome has that ancient feeling of love and history. This leads me to feel that the emotional effects of the characters in A New Leaf are more spur-of-the-moment, while the attitudes of the characters in Roman Fever seem to be attitudes that have grown over time. The setting in A New Leaf connotes change, because it goes from one city to another by passage of a traversing. Though the cities are well-known and classic, they still seem to be the generic places of romanticism, and new-age love, while Rome has that ancient feeling of love and history. This leads me to feel that the emotional effects of the characters in A New Leaf are more spur of the moment, while the attitudes of the characters in Roman Fever seem to be attitudes that have grown over time. JamieParis connotes love, or even blind love, which Dick and Julia experience while there. The Steamship, which the two board to cross the Atlantic, almost seems symbolic for change. The final location, New York, is a place of dreams, which can be achieved or crushed. Such connotations help one to understand the attitude of the characters by giving reason to their actions; the two fall in love in Paris, cross the ocean looking for a new life (change), and arrive in New York where their dream is ultimately ended. In Roman Fever the setting provides background for the two women, Mrs. Ansley and Mrs. Slade. It is the place of their history. Also, Rome represents a place of gluttony and temptation, as the Romans lived in excess with their various wines, spas, and women. Adding to the place is the sense of conspiracy or the forming of conniving plans. Having the story take place in Rome helps give a basis for the women's actions; Mrs. Slade's scheme against Mrs. Ansley, and Mrs. Ansley's attraction to lust. The setting is more pertinent in Roman Fever because it envelopes the essence of the relationship between Mrs. Slade and Mrs. Ansley, while A New Leaf's setting merely deepens the understanding of the character's actions. KathrynParis connotes the epitome of luxury, romance and irresponsibility for young Americans. The lifestyle seems to be that of European opulence, without the burden of expectations for rich Americans on vacation. Paris connotes Julia and Dick's carefree, cavalier attitudes about money and indicates their social class, but it also seems to be a stagnant city lacking rapid development. Julia and Dick's crossing the Atlantic on the Olympia characterizes their move from luxuriant idleness in Paris, to ambition in fast-paced New York. Both cities are indicative of the characters' wealth, but New York is a destination for those seeking opportunity and change. Rome is the scene of Mrs. Ansley and Mrs. Slade's fates' becoming intertwined, and it is the more effective setting in conveying emotional effects because of the references to its history. The evolution of Rome's dangers directly influenced its residents, while Paris and New York were mainly apt backgrounds for Julia and Dick's relationship to progress. 8. How does "A New Leaf" differ from "Roman Fever" in the way it presents the emotional lives of its characters?KirstenIn A New Leaf, the characters' emotional lives are presented primarily through Julia's limited perspective: we, like Julia, believe that Dick truly does change. Once the point of view shifts at the end of the story, however, it is understood that this idea is only an illusion Julia lived with. In Roman Fever, the characters' emotional lives are fully revealed to the reader. Both stories, however, are similar in that the characters are limited by how much they understand. While we can only see how Julia thinks and processes her feelings towards Dick, we experience both Mrs. Slade and Mrs. Ansley's emotions, but realize that they too do not understand each other at all. KelseyThe characters in the former rely on relationships intertwined with positive reinforcements. They are emotionally weak and need the support of others. Quite opposite, the characters in the latter rely on the put-down of others -- a negative relationship. Emotionally stable, these two women are both headstrong and view themselves as superior. The emotional lives in A New Leaf are presented entirely through Julia's biased views, while in Roman Fever the characters are presented with an unbiased opinion which allows the reader to make his own decisions. KatieRoman Fever represents the lives of these two women through their inner thoughts. The reader is exposed to what they are thinking as well as to their conversations between each other. There are also flashbacks to the characters' lives in their young adult years so the reader can see the events that molded their current personalities. Although Mrs. Slade is intelligent and outwardly confident, she has self-doubt due to her husband's affair when they were engaged. A New Leaf presents the characters' lives as if you were watching them on a movie screen. The reader only sees what is currently happening to the characters and the author does not thoroughly expose Julia's or Nick's inner thoughts. BaileyIn Roman Fever, each character tries to out-do the other in an attempt to hurt each other. The emotional lives of Mrs. Slade and Mrs. Ansely are portrayed through their actions with one another. In A New Leaf, the characters are more discussed throughout the story and are less based on the interactions between the characters. JamieIn A New Leaf the characters' emotional lives are presented more through events (external happenings and dialogue) while in Roman Fever the emotional lives are made apparent through the internal thoughts of the characters. KathrynIn A New Leaf, readers must interpret the characters' motives for everything. In Roman Fever Mrs. Slade and Mrs. Ansley's emotional motives are personally explained, and the question to be answered is how their environments shaped them to have the emotions that they do. 9. What is the theme of "A New Leaf"? By comparison, is it more or less significant than that of "Roman Fever"?KirstenThe theme of A New Leaf is that illusion can be more important than reality -- while Phil knows that Dick did not actually change, the belief that he did comforts Julia and it is for this reason that Phil does not tell her the truth about him. I believe that this theme is less significant than the theme of Roman Fever. Roman Fever deals with the idea of how one person's perspective about someone can be limited by personal emotions and observation. Roman Fever also discusses the idea of how the spirit of the times changes according to each new generation. I feel that these themes are more prevalent today than the idea that people need to live with illusion in order to be happy. KelseyThe theme of A New Leaf is that the bad habits of people do not change merely because someone wants them to, thus making the illusions of people more important than the actual content of their character. This is equally significant to the theme of Roman Fever, which is that people's views of others can sometimes be narrow-minded and inaccurate. KatieThe theme in A New Leaf is less significant than that of Roman Fever. A New Leaf presents the superficial desires of humans. Julia and Dick like each other because of superficial reasons. They are only happy on the surface with each other, but in reality they are not truly happy. Dick returns to drinking while Julia is away, and Julia feels content because she feels like she is "fixing" Dick. The theme of the story is surface satisfaction. Roman Fever displays the high societal lives of two women who would seem content because of their social standings. Each is living a fairly easy life with a mutual friendship that seems genuine. However, Wharton exposes how lives of the wealthy may seem perfect but there are many hidden "skeletons" that are not apparent on the surface. A theme of the story is also how friendships can appear strong but not truly be intimate and sincere. BaileyI feel that both Mrs. Ansley and Julia needed to preserve an image of their love. Julia needed to keep believing that Dick had kept his promise, while Mrs. Ansley needed to keep the memory of Delphin writing the letter to her. JamieThe theme of A New Leaf seems to be the idea that a person cannot change if they have practiced a particular lifestyle for a long period of time. There may be an illusion of progress or change, but in reality the person remains stagnant and retains old habits. Roman Fever's theme is that there may be more to a person than merely meets the eye. It does not matter if the person is a friend of many years, holds a very personal relationship, or is intimate, there is always the possibility they possess some unknown secret or characteristic. Such a theme is more significant than that of the one in A New Leaf, as it holds true more often. KathrynThe theme of A New Leaf, is that wealth and status do not necessarily guarantee happiness; satisfaction is often gained in the pursuit of something, and unattainable ideals are useful sources of ambition. [What about Roman Fever ??] |
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