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Excerpt ​

Excerpt from Arizona nights, by Stewart Edward White

"I plumb likes it all," he said. "I likes havin' interest in some fool
geranium plant, and I likes worryin' about the screen doors and all the
rest of the plumb foolishness. It does me good. It feels like
stretchin' your legs in front of a good warm fire."

The centre, the compelling influence of this new state of affairs, was
undoubtedly Estrella, and yet it is equally to be doubted whether she
stood for more than the suggestion. Senor Johnson conducted his entire
life with reference to his wife. His waking hours were concerned only
with the thought of her, his every act revolved in its orbit controlled
by her influence. Nevertheless she, as an individual human being, had
little to do with it. Senor Johnson referred his life to a state of
affairs he had himself invented and which he called the married state,
and to a woman whose attitude he had himself determined upon and whom
he designated as his wife. The actual state of affairs--whatever it
might be--he did not see; and the actual woman supplied merely the
material medium necessary to the reality of his idea. Whether
Estrella's eyes were interested or bored, bright or dull, alert or
abstracted, contented or afraid, Senor Johnson could not have told you.
He might have replied promptly enough--that they were happy and loving.
That is the way Senor Johnson conceived a wife's eyes.

The routine of life, then, soon settled. After breakfast the Senor
insisted that his wife accompany him on a short tour of inspection. "A
little pasear," he called it, "just to get set for the day." Then his
horse was brought, and he rode away on whatever business called him.
Like a true son of the alkali, he took no lunch with him, nor expected
his horse to feed until his return. This was an hour before sunset.
The evening passed as has been described. It was all very simple.

Explanation ​

Stewart Edward White’s Arizona Nights (1907) is a collection of short stories set in the American Southwest, blending adventure, romance, and psychological insight with the rugged landscapes and cultural dynamics of the region. The excerpt you’ve provided comes from one of these stories (likely "The Pasear"), and it offers a nuanced exploration of marriage, perception, and self-deception through the character of Senor Johnson—a man whose romantic idealism obscures reality. Below is a detailed breakdown of the passage, focusing on its themes, literary devices, character dynamics, and significance, with an emphasis on the text itself.

1. Context and Overview ​

The excerpt centers on Senor Johnson, a man who has married Estrella (Spanish for "star"), a woman whose actual personality and emotions are irrelevant to his constructed fantasy of marriage. The passage reveals how Johnson’s perception of his wife is entirely shaped by his own idealized vision of domesticity and wifely devotion, rather than any genuine connection to Estrella as an individual.

White, a writer fascinated by the Southwest’s cultural clashes and psychological depths, often explored how myth and reality collide in human relationships. Here, Johnson’s marriage is less about Estrella and more about his need for a narrative—one where he plays the doting husband in a world he controls.

2. Themes ​

A. Self-Deception and Idealization ​

The passage’s core theme is the gap between perception and reality. Johnson doesn’t see Estrella; he sees his projection of what a wife should be:

  • "The actual state of affairs—whatever it might be—he did not see; and the actual woman supplied merely the material medium necessary to the reality of his idea."
    • Estrella is reduced to a canvas for Johnson’s fantasy. Her real emotions ("interested or bored, bright or dull") are irrelevant because he has already decided how she should feel ("happy and loving").
  • "He referred his life to a state of affairs he had himself invented and which he called the married state."
    • His marriage is a performance—a role he scripts for himself and Estrella, regardless of her actual participation.

This theme reflects broader existential and psychological questions: How much of love is projection? How often do people mistake their desires for reality?

B. Domesticity as Comfort (Not Truth) ​

Johnson’s opening lines reveal his contentment with trivialities:

  • "I plumb likes it all... I likes havin' interest in some fool geranium plant, and I likes worryin' about the screen doors and all the rest of the plumb foolishness."
    • The word "plumb" (a colloquial intensifier meaning "utterly") emphasizes his wholehearted embrace of mundanity.
    • His comparison to "stretchin' your legs in front of a good warm fire" suggests that domestic rituals (even foolish ones) provide emotional warmth and structure, not necessarily truth.

This aligns with the American frontier mythos—where men like Johnson, accustomed to harshness, find solace in illusion rather than confronting the complexities of real relationships.

C. Power and Control in Marriage ​

Johnson’s marriage is unilateral:

  • "Senor Johnson conducted his entire life with reference to his wife... his every act revolved in its orbit controlled by her influence."
    • The astronomical metaphor ("orbit") implies Estrella is the center of his universe, but the irony is that she doesn’t actually exert influence—he imagines she does.
  • "The actual woman supplied merely the material medium necessary to the reality of his idea."
    • Estrella is objectified—a prop in his personal drama. This reflects patriarchal dynamics where women are often symbols (of purity, devotion, etc.) rather than autonomous beings.

D. The Illusion of Routine ​

The passage ends with a ritualized daily schedule:

  • "The routine of life, then, soon settled... It was all very simple."
    • The repetition ("After breakfast... his horse was brought... the evening passed") creates a false sense of harmony.
    • The simplicity is deceptive—it masks the emotional emptiness of a marriage built on fantasy.

3. Literary Devices ​

A. Irony (Dramatic and Situational) ​

  • Dramatic Irony: The reader sees what Johnson does not—that Estrella’s real emotions are irrelevant to him.
    • "Whether Estrella's eyes were interested or bored... Senor Johnson could not have told you."
  • Situational Irony: Johnson believes he is a devoted husband, but his devotion is to an idea, not a person.

B. Metaphor and Simile ​

  • "Stretchin' your legs in front of a good warm fire": Domestic trivialities are comforting illusions, not truths.
  • "Orbit controlled by her influence": Suggests cosmic inevitability, but the control is one-sided—Johnson’s own invention.

C. Repetition and Parallel Structure ​

  • "I likes havin' interest... I likes worryin'...": Emphasizes Johnson’s childlike pleasure in small things, reinforcing his avoidance of deeper realities.
  • "Happy and loving": The repetition of idealized traits shows how Johnson scripts Estrella’s role.

D. Symbolism ​

  • Estrella ("Star"): Stars are distant, untouchable, and idealized—just like Johnson’s view of his wife.
  • The "pasear" (stroll): Represents the performance of marriage—a daily ritual that masks emptiness.

4. Character Analysis: Senor Johnson ​

Johnson is a romantic narcissist:

  • He needs the idea of love more than the reality.
  • His contentment comes from control—he has defined what marriage should be, and Estrella’s actual self is irrelevant.
  • His language is folksy and simple ("plumb likes," "fool geranium"), which contrasts with the complex delusion he maintains.

Possible Interpretations of Johnson:

  1. A Tragic Figure: He is lonely and uses Estrella as a mirror for his own needs.
  2. A Satirical Figure: White may be critiquing the male fantasy of the "perfect wife"—a passive, adoring figure who exists only to fulfill her husband’s narrative.
  3. A Frontier Archetype: Like many Western heroes, Johnson prefers myth to reality, finding comfort in simplistic roles (the devoted husband, the noble provider).

5. Significance and Broader Connections ​

A. Critique of Romantic Idealism ​

White’s passage challenges the romanticized view of marriage common in literature and society. Johnson’s marriage is not about love, but about self-satisfaction—a warning against confusing fantasy with reality.

B. Gender and Agency ​

Estrella’s silence is telling. She has no voice in the passage, reflecting how women in patriarchal societies are often reduced to roles rather than seen as individuals. The text exposes the power imbalance in traditional marriages.

C. The American Southwest as a Setting ​

The arid, vast landscape of Arizona mirrors Johnson’s emotional barrenness. The frontier mentality—where men are self-reliant and women are scarce—may explain why Johnson clings to his illusion so tightly.

D. Psychological Depth ​

The passage foreshadows modern psychological theories about projection and cognitive dissonance. Johnson cannot see Estrella because doing so would disrupt his self-image as a loving husband.

6. Conclusion: The Illusion of Love ​

Stewart Edward White’s excerpt is a masterful dissection of self-deception. Senor Johnson’s marriage is not a partnership, but a solipsistic fantasy—one where the idea of love replaces the reality of connection. The passage serves as both a character study and a social critique, exposing how people often prefer comfortable illusions to the messy, uncertain truth of human relationships.

Final Thought: Johnson’s "plumb foolishness" is not just about geraniums or screen doors—it’s about the human tendency to mistake control for love, and routine for happiness. The real tragedy is that Estrella’s star may be shining, but Johnson is too busy looking at his own reflection to see it.

Would you like any additional analysis on specific aspects, such as comparisons to other works or deeper historical context?