"Roman Fever" -- Lies and Cruelty

Betrayal. Cruelty. Lies. Edith Wharton’s short story “Roman Fever” encompasses all of these concepts with Ancient Rome as a backdrop. The story is also a struggle between generations. The two main characters, Mrs. Ansley and Mrs. Slade, have two daughters that are close in age. All four women are in Rome, and the story takes place during a sitting the two older women have. Throughout the story there is a clear distinction between their “Old New York” generation and their daughters’ newer, more forward generation, which is much more carefree. This story explores the difference between the generations through the eyes and experiences of the older women. It is fitting that they discuss these experiences exactly where they happened: Rome. Wharton mentions specific monuments in Rome which foreshadow, mirror, and enhance the largely unspoken history between the two women. The Palatine Hill, the Roman Forum, and the Colosseum are the three important monuments mentioned.



Palatine Hill-- The Palatine, one of the Seven Hills of Rome, was the place for wealthy and powerful individuals in Ancient Rome, and is where the english word palace originates. The Roman Forum was located on the Palatine, which also had a beautiful view of the city. Today, however, the Palatine hill is almost completely excavation sites and “sad remnants of Roman antiquities” (Thayer).

The Palatine hill today mirrors the lives of Mrs. Slade and Mrs. Ansley in “Roman Fever.” The two women have only the memories and “sad remnants” of their past. As the two women look out from the restaurant onto the Palatine Hill, they reflect almost longingly on their past lives, while noting that their lives have become severely emptier in their old age, very similar to the Palatine Hill.


Roman Forum-- The Roman Forum was situated on the Palatine Hill and was thought of as the economic, political and religious center of Rome. The Forum contained many shrines and temples, as well as holding the Senate House, rostra (the speaker’s platform), and the Assembly. The two women in “Roman Fever” look upon the Forum throughout the short story. The fact that the women reflect upon the important center of the Roman world indicates the importance of their discussion, how the event they are both thinking about is the center, or turning point, of their lives as well as their relationship with each other.


Colosseum-- The Colosseum is obviously the most important monument in the story. The central issue of the short story is Mrs. Ansley meeting up with Mrs. Slade’s husband, Delphin, in the Colosseum back when they were younger. It turns out that Mrs. Ansley’s daughter, Barbara, is Delphin’s child as well. Interestingly the Colosseum is where this turning point in the lives of these women takes place. The Colosseum is still viewed as one of the most extravagant and huge architectural masterpieces ever created. The vastness of the building mirrors the monumental weight of the events that took place within its walls for the women in the story. The treachery, envy, and jealousy that the two women feel towards one another fits in perfectly with the cruel and torturous memories the Colosseum stands for. Gladiators, animals, and many other people were killed within the Colosseum’s walls, largely for the entertainment of spectators. Similarly, the two women are cruel to each other: Mrs. Ansley slept with Mrs. Slade’s husband, and Mrs. Slade destroyed the only sweet memory Mrs. Ansley had of Delphin--a letter he had written her. Mrs. Slade bitterly reveals that she wrote the letter, and leaves Mrs. Ansley devastated.


Wharton created an element of circularity in this short story. The life-changing events for these women happened in Rome, and the truth about what happened back then is also revealed in Rome. In fact, the women are looking at the exact monument in which these events took place when said events are finally revealed. In the end, it becomes clear that these women are independent risk-takers just like their daughters. Perhaps the main difference between their generation and the daughters’ generation is the ability to be up front and truthful about reality, a trait which the older women lack and perhaps the newest generation can attain.



Sources:
Hopkins, Keith. “The Colosseum: Emblem of Rome.” 13 January 2010.

Gill, N.S. “Area and Archaeology of the Forum Romanum.” 13 January 2010

Thayer, Bill. “The Palatine Hill: Two Millenia of Landscaping (sort of).” 13 January 2010

Image of Palatine Hill: http://romeitaly.ca/attractions/palatinehill.html

Image of Roman Forum: http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/romans/architecture/pictures /generalforum.jpg

Image of Colosseum: http://www.visitingdc.com/rome/colosseum-picture.asp