Consider Mary’s choices toward the end of the story. Why does she choose this life rather than another?

In the end of Edith Wharton’s short story “The Muse’s Tragedy,” Mary Anerton confesses in a letter the true nature of her relationship with Rendle to justify why she cannot accept Danyers’ marriage proposal. In her letter, Mary Anerton corrects both Danyers’ false perception of her as well as the public image that society has painted for her by revealing that her love for Rendle was unreciprocated. Mary Anerton refuses to further her relationship with Danyers because she never was Silvia, the object of the famous poet’s love. The letter written by Mary Anerton explains her desire to be loved not for her image as Rendle’s muse, but for her true human self.  Danyers was unwilling to adjust his blind admiration for Mary Anerton despite the validity of Mrs. Memorall’s “rude fingering[s] of his idol.” And although Mary Anerton eventually realized that Danyers “really cared” for her and not “only because [she was Silvia or]…because [he] thought Rendle had loved [her],” she decided she was not prepared to replace Rendle’s place in her life for she “never had what [she wanted, and never, never, never [would she] stoop to wanting anything else.”