Appearance
Excerpt
Excerpt from Dear Enemy, by Jean Webster
We arrived in a snowstorm at eleven last night, Singapore and Jane and
I. It does not appear to be customary for superintendents of orphan
asylums to bring with them personal maids and Chinese chows. The night
watchman and housekeeper, who had waited up to receive me, were thrown
into an awful flutter. They had never seen the like of Sing, and thought
that I was introducing a wolf into the fold. I reassured them as to his
dogginess, and the watchman, after studying his black tongue, ventured a
witticism. He wanted to know if I fed him on huckleberry pie.
It was difficult to find accommodations for my family. Poor Sing was
dragged off whimpering to a strange woodshed, and given a piece of
burlap. Jane did not fare much better. There was not an extra bed in
the building, barring a five-foot crib in the hospital room. She, as you
know, approaches six. We tucked her in, and she spent the night folded
up like a jackknife. She has limped about today, looking like a decrepit
letter S, openly deploring this latest escapade on the part of her
flighty mistress, and longing for the time when we shall come to our
senses, and return to the parental fireside in Worcester.
I know that she is going to spoil all my chances of being popular with
the rest of the staff. Having her here is the silliest idea that was
ever conceived, but you know my family. I fought their objections step
by step, but they made their last stand on Jane. If I brought her along
to see that I ate nourishing food and didn't stay up all night, I might
come--temporarily; but if I refused to bring her--oh, dear me, I am not
sure that I was ever again to cross the threshold of Stone Gate! So here
we are, and neither of us very welcome, I am afraid.
Explanation
Detailed Explanation of the Excerpt from Dear Enemy by Jean Webster
Context of the Source
Dear Enemy (1915) is an epistolary novel by Jean Webster, best known for her classic Daddy-Long-Legs (1912). The story is told through letters written by Sallie McBride, a young, spirited woman who temporarily takes over the management of the John Grier Home, an orphan asylum, while the regular superintendent is away. The novel explores themes of social reform, independence, class, and the challenges of institutional care in early 20th-century America.
This excerpt is from one of Sallie’s early letters, describing her chaotic arrival at the orphanage with her personal maid (Jane) and her Chinese Chow dog (Sing)—both of whom are seen as eccentric and disruptive by the staff.
Themes in the Excerpt
Class and Social Expectations
- Sallie’s arrival with a maid (Jane) and a luxury pet (Sing) immediately marks her as an outsider in the austere, utilitarian world of the orphanage.
- The staff’s reaction suggests that orphan asylums were not places for personal comforts—they were institutions run on strict budgets and practicality.
- Sallie’s privileged background (hinted at by her family’s insistence on sending Jane) contrasts sharply with the harsh realities of orphan life, setting up a central tension in the novel.
Independence vs. Family Control
- Sallie’s family opposes her taking this job, seeing it as beneath her social standing. Their compromise—forcing her to bring Jane—is a way to maintain control over her.
- The line:
"If I brought her along to see that I ate nourishing food and didn't stay up all night, I might come—temporarily; but if I refused to bring her—oh, dear me, I am not sure that I was ever again to cross the threshold of Stone Gate!" shows how her family polices her behavior, treating her like a child rather than a capable adult.
- This reflects the gendered expectations of the time—women, especially upper-class ones, were not supposed to work in such environments without supervision.
First Impressions and Misfit Status
- Sallie is immediately an outsider—her dog is mistaken for a wolf, her maid is crammed into a crib, and the staff is horrified by her unconventional choices.
- The humor in the scene (e.g., the watchman’s joke about huckleberry pie) masks the underlying judgment—Sallie is not what they expected in a superintendent.
- Her self-awareness ("neither of us very welcome, I am afraid") suggests she knows she doesn’t fit in, but she’s determined to prove herself.
Humor and Irony
- The scene is comically absurd—a grown woman (Jane) folded into a crib, a Chow dog mistaken for a wolf, a maid limping like a "decrepit letter S."
- The irony lies in the fact that Sallie is trying to do good work, but her privileged habits (bringing a maid and a dog) make her seem frivolous to the staff.
- The watchman’s witticism about huckleberry pie (a reference to the dog’s black tongue) lightens the mood but also highlights the cultural gap between Sallie and the orphanage workers.
Literary Devices
Epistolary Style (Letter Writing)
- The first-person, conversational tone makes the reader feel like a confidant.
- Sallie’s voice is witty, self-deprecating, and observant, which makes her an engaging narrator.
- The letter format allows for immediate, personal reactions (e.g., her frustration with Jane, her amusement at the watchman’s joke).
Imagery & Vivid Descriptions
- Sing the Chow: "thought that I was introducing a wolf into the fold" → animal imagery emphasizes how exotic and out of place he seems.
- Jane in the crib: "folded up like a jackknife" and "looking like a decrepit letter S" → hyperbolic, visual humor that paints a clear (and ridiculous) picture.
- The snowstorm arrival adds to the chaos and discomfort of the scene.
Irony & Understatement
- "It does not appear to be customary for superintendents of orphan asylums to bring with them personal maids and Chinese chows." → dry understatement highlighting how absurd her situation is.
- "Having her here is the silliest idea that was ever conceived" → ironic, since it was her family’s idea, not hers.
Characterization Through Dialogue & Action
- The watchman’s joke ("if I fed him on huckleberry pie") reveals his rustic humor and the cultural divide between him and Sallie.
- Jane’s limping and complaints show her disapproval of Sallie’s choices, reinforcing the family’s resistance to her independence.
- Sallie’s resignation ("here we are, and neither of us very welcome") shows her self-awareness and determination despite the awkwardness.
Significance of the Excerpt
Establishes Sallie’s Character
- She is unconventional, stubborn, and humorous—traits that will define her approach to managing the orphanage.
- Her willingness to challenge norms (even if it makes her unpopular) foreshadows her reformist instincts later in the novel.
Sets Up Key Conflicts
- Class conflict: The orphanage staff vs. Sallie’s privileged background.
- Generational conflict: Sallie’s independence vs. her family’s control.
- Institutional rigidity: The orphanage’s strict rules vs. Sallie’s desire for humanity and warmth.
Introduces the Orphanage as a Setting
- The harsh, no-frills environment (no extra beds, a woodshed for the dog) contrasts with Sallie’s comfortable upbringing.
- This culture shock will drive much of the novel’s social commentary on orphan care.
Foreshadows Sallie’s Growth
- Right now, she’s an outsider struggling to fit in, but her perspective will shift as she learns more about the orphans’ lives.
- Her initial frustration (with Jane, the staff, the conditions) will evolve into empathy and activism.
Final Interpretation: Why This Scene Matters
This excerpt is more than just a funny arrival scene—it’s a microcosm of the novel’s central tensions:
- Privilege vs. Poverty (Sallie’s world vs. the orphanage’s)
- Tradition vs. Change (the staff’s expectations vs. Sallie’s unconventional methods)
- Independence vs. Control (Sallie’s choices vs. her family’s interference)
Sallie’s awkward, unwanted entrance mirrors how reformers and outsiders are often met with resistance when trying to change entrenched systems. The humor keeps the tone light, but the underlying critiques of class, gender, and institutional care are sharp and intentional.
By the end of the novel, Sallie will earn the staff’s respect, but this first letter shows just how far she has to go—and how unprepared the orphanage is for someone like her.