Appearance
Excerpt
Excerpt from The Man Between: An International Romance, by Amelia E. Barr
She was in no hurry of feeling or movement. She had been in a crowd for
some hours, and was glad to be quite alone and talk to herself a little.
It was also so restful to gradually relinquish all the restraining gauds
of fashionable attire, and as she leisurely performed these duties, she
entered into conversation with her own heart--talked over with it the
events of the past week, and decided that its fretless days, full of
good things, had been, from the beginning to the end, sweet as a cup of
new milk. For a woman’s heart is very talkative, and requires little to
make it eloquent in its own way.
In the midst of this intimate companionship she turned her head, and
saw two letters lying upon a table. She rose and lifted them. One was an
invitation to a studio reception, and she let it flutter indeterminately
from her hand; the other was both familiar and appealing; none of her
correspondents but Dora Denning used that peculiar shade of blue paper,
and she instantly began to wonder why Dora had written to her.
“I saw her yesterday afternoon,” she reflected, “and she told me
everything she had to tell--and what does she-mean by such a tantalizing
message as this? ‘Dearest Ethel: I have the most extraordinary news.
Come to me immediately. Dora.’ How exactly like Dora!” she commented.
“Come to me im-mediately--whether you are in bed or asleep--whether
you are sick or well--whether it is midnight or high noon--come to
me immediately. Well, Dora, I am going to sleep now, and to-morrow is
Sunday, and I never know what view father is going to take of Sunday. He
may ask me to go to church with him, and he may not. He may want me to
drive in the afternoon, and again he may not; but Sunday is father’s
home day, and Ruth and I make a point of obliging him in regard to it.
That is one of our family principles; and a girl ought to have a few
principles of conduct involving self-denial. Aunt Ruth says, ‘Life
cannot stand erect without self-denial,’ and aunt is usually right--but
I do wonder what Dora wants! I cannot imagine what extraordinary news
has come. I must try and see her to-morrow--it may be difficult--but I
must make the effort”--and with this satisfying resolution she easily
fell asleep.
Explanation
Detailed Explanation of the Excerpt from The Man Between: An International Romance by Amelia E. Barr
Context of the Source
Amelia E. Barr (1831–1919) was a prolific British-American novelist known for her sentimental and moralistic fiction, often exploring themes of love, duty, and social expectations in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Man Between: An International Romance (1901) is a lesser-known work but fits within her broader oeuvre of romantic and domestic fiction, which frequently examined the tensions between personal desire and societal obligations—particularly for women.
This excerpt introduces Ethel, a young woman of leisure, in a moment of quiet introspection before an unexpected letter disrupts her tranquility. The passage is characteristic of Barr’s style: psychologically observant, morally didactic, and rich in domestic detail, while also hinting at the romantic intrigue that drives the novel’s plot.
Themes in the Excerpt
Solitude and Self-Reflection
- The passage opens with Ethel enjoying a rare moment of solitude after a social event, emphasizing the restorative power of being alone. The act of undressing ("relinquish all the restraining gauds of fashionable attire") symbolizes shedding societal expectations and returning to her true self.
- Her "conversation with her own heart" suggests a Romantic-era influence, where inner life and emotion are privileged over external pressures.
Duty vs. Desire
- Ethel’s internal monologue reveals a conflict between personal curiosity (Dora’s letter) and familial obligation (Sunday as "father’s home day").
- The mention of "self-denial" as a "principle of conduct" reflects Victorian moral values, where women were expected to prioritize family and social duty over individual whims.
- Aunt Ruth’s aphorism—"Life cannot stand erect without self-denial"—reinforces this theme, framing restraint as a moral necessity, even as Ethel’s curiosity about Dora’s news tugs at her.
Female Friendship and Secrecy
- Dora’s letter introduces mystery and urgency, a common trope in romantic fiction. The blue paper as a personal signature suggests an intimate, almost coded connection between the women.
- Ethel’s amused frustration ("How exactly like Dora!") hints at a playful, long-standing friendship, but the unspecified "extraordinary news" also implies gossip, scandal, or romantic entanglement—a staple of Barr’s plots.
Class and Leisure
- Ethel’s unhurried routine (undressing, musing, deciding when to respond) marks her as a woman of privilege. Her ability to delay action (sleeping instead of rushing to Dora) contrasts with the urgency of Dora’s demand, highlighting her social position and autonomy.
- The studio reception invitation (dismissed casually) further signals her upper-class milieu, where artistic and social events are common but not always compelling.
Literary Devices
Free Indirect Discourse
- Barr blends third-person narration with Ethel’s internal voice, creating intimacy. Phrases like "I must try and see her to-morrow—it may be difficult—but I must make the effort" feel like direct access to Ethel’s thoughts, making her relatable.
Symbolism
- Fashionable attire as "restraining gauds": Clothing represents social constraints; undressing is liberation.
- Dora’s blue paper: A symbol of individuality and intimacy in a world of generic invitations.
- "Sweet as a cup of new milk": A domestic, sensual metaphor for contentment, contrasting with the impending disruption.
Irony and Humor
- Ethel’s wry amusement at Dora’s dramatic demand ("come to me immediately") undercuts the urgency, adding lightness to the scene.
- The contradiction between Dora’s urgency and Ethel’s calm ("I am going to sleep now") is comically humanizing.
Foreshadowing
- The unopened letter and Dora’s "extraordinary news" hint at future plot developments, likely involving romance or scandal.
- The mention of Sunday as "father’s home day" suggests patriarchal control, which may become a source of conflict.
Significance of the Passage
Characterization of Ethel
- Ethel is thoughtful, dutiful, but not passive. She weighs her options (obeying Dora vs. her father) rather than blindly submitting to either.
- Her self-awareness ("a girl ought to have a few principles") shows her moral grounding, but her curiosity makes her a dynamic protagonist.
Gender and Agency
- The excerpt subtly critiques Victorian expectations by showing Ethel negotiating between duty and desire. While she defers to her father, she also asserts her own timeline ("I must make the effort").
- The female-centric focus (Ethel, Dora, Aunt Ruth) suggests a world where women’s relationships and choices drive the narrative, even within patriarchal structures.
Narrative Tension
- The unresolved question of Dora’s news creates suspense, a key element in romantic fiction. The reader is left wondering: Is it a marriage proposal? A scandal? A secret?
- The contrast between Ethel’s calm and the letter’s urgency sets up a dramatic shift, promising future conflict.
Moral Didacticism
- Barr, known for her moral lessons, uses Aunt Ruth’s maxim to reinforce the value of self-denial, a Victorian ideal. However, Ethel’s practical approach (delaying but not refusing Dora) softens the didacticism, making it feel organic rather than preachy.
Close Reading of Key Lines
"She entered into conversation with her own heart"
- Personification of the heart as a talkative companion reflects the Romantic idea of emotion as a guide, but also suggests loneliness—Ethel’s only confidant is herself.
"Sweet as a cup of new milk"
- Sensory imagery that evokes purity, nourishment, and simplicity, contrasting with the artificiality of high society (the "restraining gauds").
- The domestic metaphor also ties into feminine virtues (nurturing, wholesomeness).
"Come to me immediately—whether you are in bed or asleep..."
- Hyperbolic urgency that parodies melodramatic tropes in romantic fiction. Ethel’s dry response ("Well, Dora, I am going to sleep now") grounds the scene in realism.
"Sunday is father’s home day, and Ruth and I make a point of obliging him"
- Family as a microcosm of societal hierarchy: The father’s unpredictable demands ("he may ask me to go to church") show patriarchal authority, but Ethel’s willing compliance is framed as virtuous self-denial.
Conclusion: Why This Passage Matters
This excerpt is a microcosm of Barr’s themes: the tension between duty and desire, the importance of female relationships, and the quiet rebellions within conformity. Ethel’s internal debate makes her a relatable figure—neither a rebel nor a passive victim, but a woman navigating expectations with thoughtfulness.
The letter from Dora serves as a catalyst, promising disruption to Ethel’s orderly world, which aligns with the romantic and dramatic conventions of the time. Yet, Barr’s psychological depth and subtle humor elevate it beyond mere melodrama, offering a nuanced portrait of a woman’s inner life in a restrictive society.
Ultimately, the passage sets the stage for the novel’s central conflicts: Will Ethel prioritize duty or curiosity? Will Dora’s news upend her contentment? These questions drive the reader forward, making the excerpt both a character study and a narrative hook.