In Roman Fever by Edith Wharton, the author wants us to consider the fact that nobody, including our friends, lovers, and family, is completely trustworthy. Grace and Delphin have an affair in this short story. This shows that we don’t know everything about our friends, lovers, and family. Grace’s husband, who is now dead, had an untrustworthy wife that he thought he knew. Mrs. Delphin Slade is unaware of her husband’s true intentions. This shows that their truly isn’t anyone on Earth that can be trusted completely.
One thought on “What does Wharton want us to consider about the ways in which we do or do not know certain people in our lives? E.g. friends, lovers, family.”
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I agree with your comments about Wharton wanting to show that people closest to us may not be the most trustworthy. I think the author depicted that dishonesty can come from anybody really well by using Mrs. Slade and Mrs. Ansleys interconnected pasts. They were both equally surprised by the truths revealed by one another and I think they were both equally hurt as well.