Appearance
Excerpt
Excerpt from Her Father's Daughter, by Gene Stratton-Porter
“Now look here,” interposed Linda “You are flying the track. I am
willing to justify my shoes, if I can, but here you go including my
dress and a big psychological problem, as well; but I think perhaps the
why of the shoes will explain the remainder. Does the name ‘Alexander
Strong’ mean anything to you?”
“The great nerve specialist?” asked Donald.
“Yes,” said Linda. “The man who was the author of half-dozen books
that have been translated into many foreign tongues and are used as
authorities all over the world. He happened to be my father. There are
two children in our family. I have a sister four years older than I
am who is exactly like Mother, and she and Mother were inseparable. I
am exactly like Father; because we understood each other, and because
both of us always knew, although we never mentioned it, that Mother
preferred my sister Eileen to me, Father tried to make it up to me, so
from the time I can remember I was at his heels. It never bothered him
to have me playing around in the library while he was writing his most
complicated treatise. I have waited in his car half a day at a time,
playing or reading, while he watched a patient or delivered a lecture
at some medical college. His mental relaxation was to hike or to motor
to the sea, to the mountains, to the canyons or the desert, and he
very seldom went without me even on long trips when he was fishing or
hunting with other men. There was not much to know concerning a woman’s
frame or her psychology that Father did not know, so there were two
reasons why he selected my footwear as he did. One was because he be
believed high heels and pointed toes an outrage against the nervous
system of a woman that would in time bring her within his province, and
the other was that I could not possibly have kept pace with him except
in shoes like these. No doubt, they are the same kind I shall wear all
my life, for walking. You probably don’t know it, but my home lies near
the middle of Lilac Valley and I walk over a mile each morning and
evening to and from the cars. Does this sufficiently explain my shoes?”
Explanation
Detailed Explanation of the Excerpt from Her Father’s Daughter by Gene Stratton-Porter
Context of the Work
Her Father’s Daughter (1921) is a novel by Gene Stratton-Porter, an American author, naturalist, and early feminist known for her strong, independent female protagonists and her deep appreciation for nature. The novel follows Linda Strong, the daughter of a renowned nerve specialist, Dr. Alexander Strong, as she navigates personal and professional challenges while staying true to her unconventional upbringing.
The excerpt occurs during a conversation where Linda is defending her choice of practical, flat-soled shoes—a decision that seems to have drawn criticism or curiosity from others (likely Donald, the male character she is speaking to). Her explanation reveals not just her footwear preferences but also her relationship with her father, her upbringing, and her defiance of traditional feminine norms.
Themes in the Excerpt
Father-Daughter Bond & Unconventional Upbringing
- Linda’s relationship with her father is central to her identity. Unlike her sister Eileen, who is "exactly like Mother," Linda is "exactly like Father"—intellectually curious, physically active, and resistant to societal expectations.
- Her father, a nerve specialist and author, treats her as an equal, allowing her into his professional and personal world (library, medical lectures, outdoor expeditions). This fosters her independence and practicality.
- The favoritism dynamic is subtle but significant: Linda acknowledges that her mother preferred Eileen, but her father compensated by including her in his life, shaping her into a woman who values utility over ornamentation.
Defiance of Gender Norms
- Linda’s shoes symbolize her rejection of traditional femininity. High heels and pointed toes, common in women’s fashion of the early 20th century, are dismissed as "an outrage against the nervous system"—a medicalized critique that aligns with her father’s expertise.
- Her footwear is functional, allowing her to keep pace with her father on hikes, hunts, and long walks. This reflects her physical and mental resilience, traits often associated with men at the time.
- The fact that she walks a mile each way to the train station further emphasizes her self-sufficiency, contrasting with the sedentary, decorative role expected of women.
Nature vs. Society
- Stratton-Porter often contrasts natural freedom with social constraints. Linda’s father seeks relaxation in the sea, mountains, canyons, and deserts—wild, untamed spaces—whereas conventional women’s fashion (high heels) restricts movement.
- Linda’s shoes are an extension of this philosophy: they allow her to engage with nature on her own terms, reinforcing her alignment with her father’s values.
Intellectual Inheritance & Authority
- Linda invokes her father’s medical and intellectual authority to justify her choices. By citing Alexander Strong’s expertise, she shuts down potential arguments—her shoes aren’t just a personal preference but a scientifically and medically sound decision.
- This also highlights her confidence in her own judgment, as she doesn’t apologize for her choices but educates others on why they make sense.
Literary Devices & Stylistic Choices
Dialogue as Characterization
- Linda’s speech is direct, logical, and slightly defensive, revealing her intelligence and assertiveness.
- The phrase "You are flying the track" (an idiom meaning "going off-topic") shows her no-nonsense attitude—she refuses to be sidetracked and controls the conversation.
- Her rhetorical question ("Does the name ‘Alexander Strong’ mean anything to you?") is a power move—she establishes her father’s credibility before explaining herself, ensuring her argument carries weight.
Symbolism (The Shoes)
- The shoes represent:
- Freedom vs. Constraint (flat soles = mobility; high heels = restriction)
- Practicality vs. Vanity (function over fashion)
- Masculine vs. Feminine Traits (her father’s influence vs. her mother’s expectations)
- Her statement, "No doubt, they are the same kind I shall wear all my life, for walking," suggests permanent defiance—she won’t conform, even in marriage or old age.
- The shoes represent:
Foreshadowing & Character Consistency
- Linda’s explanation hints at her future independence. If she walks a mile daily to the train, she’s likely self-reliant in other areas of life (career, relationships, decisions).
- Her loyalty to her father’s teachings suggests she will continue to challenge norms, a recurring theme in Stratton-Porter’s works.
Irony & Social Commentary
- There’s irony in the fact that a nerve specialist’s daughter wears shoes that prevent nervous system damage, while society’s "feminine" shoes do the opposite.
- The excerpt critiques how women’s fashion was (and often still is) designed for aesthetics over health, a feminist undertone in Stratton-Porter’s writing.
Significance of the Passage
Feminist Undertones
- Linda’s defense of her shoes is a microcosm of her broader resistance to patriarchal expectations. She doesn’t seek approval; she demands understanding on her own terms.
- Her father’s influence gives her a male-sanctioned excuse to defy norms, but she doesn’t need it—she owns her choices with confidence.
Nature as Liberation
- The emphasis on walking, hiking, and outdoor mobility ties into Stratton-Porter’s belief that women thrive when connected to nature, not confined by societal roles.
Class & Privilege
- While Linda’s upbringing was unconventional, it was also privileged—her father’s status allowed her access to education and experiences most women lacked. This complicates her rebellion; she has the freedom to choose, whereas many women did not.
Authorship & Legacy
- By naming her father as a published authority, Linda aligns herself with intellectual legacy. This mirrors Stratton-Porter’s own life—she was a self-made woman who used her writing to challenge gender roles.
Conclusion: Why This Excerpt Matters
This passage is more than just about shoes—it’s a manifestation of Linda’s identity. Her footwear is a physical embodiment of her values: practicality, independence, and a rejection of superficial femininity. Through her conversation, Stratton-Porter critiques how society polices women’s bodies while celebrating a woman who walks her own path—literally and metaphorically.
Linda’s unapologetic tone, her appeal to logic over emotion, and her alignment with her father’s worldview make her a progressive female character for the 1920s, reflecting Stratton-Porter’s own beliefs about women’s capabilities and the importance of individuality. The excerpt serves as a small but powerful act of defiance, reinforcing the novel’s central theme: that a woman can—and should—define herself on her own terms.