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Roman Fever |
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written
by sariah / 10.24.2005 |
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Assignment |
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In Roman Fever, the setting of the Forum serves to emphasize the establishment of social order, giving context to the secret revelations of the two widows as pathways towards social superiority. The Forum is a representation of Rome’s competitive, structured history, and many of its monuments were built in order to project a sense of power to the viewer. For example, the Arch of Titus depicts Jewish subjugation. Through the Jews forced march and conveyance of important cultural objects in the Triumph, representations of Jewish humiliation are used in order to demonstrate Roman superiority. At the time of its erection, the resources and skills necessary to build such a structure were impressive. However, instead of exalting the imagination or industry of mankind, the Arch of Titus is more symbolic of man’s desire to dominate man. Likewise, the two protagonists in Edith Wharton’s Roman Fever carry out this theme of dominance. In particular, Mrs. Slade repeatedly demonstrates a desire to socially dominate Mrs. Ansley through reinforcing her marriage to the man Mrs. Ansley loved, reminding Mrs. Ansley of the cruelty of her Aunt Harriet, and re-opening past memories of the love letter authored by Mrs. Slade. Neither Mrs. Slade nor the Romans possessed the self-confidence to contain their displays of superiority, and both required acknowledgment by the dominated party of their lower status. At the end of Roman Fever, Mrs. Ansley also falls into this mindset when she devastates Mrs. Slade with the secret about Barbara’s father.
The setting of the Forum also reinforces how dominance or the perception of dominance changes over time. As day turns to twilight, then darkness, at the outdoor restaurant where the two women are reminiscing, the perception of one woman’s superiority over the other also changes. This is underscored by the passage of time that has occurred at the Forum. At one time, the Forum stood in its complete glory, a symbol of Roman power, but as time has passed, it now exists in ruins. The superiority of Mrs. Slade and Mrs. Ansley has also changed over the years. First, Mrs. Slade appears to be more brilliant than Mrs. Ansley, and has enjoyed a long marriage to the more prominent husband. But as the story progresses, the strengths of Mrs. Ansley become more evident, and by the end of the story, it is Mrs. Ansley who dominates while Mrs. Slade is in ruins. Once again, Wharton reminds us that dominance is seldom maintained indefinitely, and skillfully uses both the setting at the Forum and the relationship of the two women to support this theme.
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