Gaston Mclemore
AML 3041-02
Dr. Tatia Jacobson

Edith’s Roman Fever
Edith Wharton’s short story Roman Fever portrays the early 1900s in Rome, depicting the ever-changing scenery, and society during the Victorian era, leading into the modernist era. The women and main characters Mrs. Ansley and Mrs. Slade, are shown to be in conflict with the norms of the up-bringing and movement which they grew around and the new passions of the younger generations. In addition they compare their daughters and reflect on each other’s lives while noticing a distinction of their children’s actions, carelessness, and ways of thinking that differs from their cultured ways.
Wharton historically and metaphorically uses the text to analyze the monuments, and main characters to visually foreshadow or paint the picture of the “Old New York” or “Old Rome” battling with the “new” modern societal social standards or principles. Wharton descriptively shows the kind of life an independent woman of means could live in Rome at that time, matching that of the ancient monuments; beautiful but subtle, still, stuck in time. Predominately most of the story is set gazing over the forum and coliseum remembering the “good ole times” when they were young running about Rome. The area of issue comes as did in “The Age of Innocence” is the immobility and routine of women lives, while in conflict trying to adapt to change seemingly watch life go by.
There were a handful of Roman Monuments present in Roman Fever, all reflective of the setting and dynamics of the time.
Listed below;

The first significant is that of the Coliseum. “The coliseum is an ancient amphitheater where Romans went for entertainment. Their entertainment mostly consisted of battles; people killing animals or people killing each other (K Carr)” In Roman Fever Wharton described it as “The monument when afternoon and evening hang balanced in mid-heavan (837).”

The second is that of the Palatine; This hill is the hill of Romulus, and the supposed creator of Rome. This is where the most prominent figures lived. It’s said to be the birth place of Rome “Rene Seindel”).


The last is that of the Roman Forum (The ruins) - Stationed between Palatine Hill and Capitoline Hill of the city of Rome. The oldest and most important structures are found, including the Old Republic establishment of the senate and Republican government. Additionally it served as city hall or city square for people to enforce justice and faith. It became known to be the center of the republic and Empire.

These are a few of the seven hills that make up Rome, not including the Velian, the Caelian, or Quirinal which are significant as well, though being separated from one another was structured and functioned similar to the pentagon or white house of today. Policy, Commerce, and agriculture were amongst the day to day discussions and routine topics.
I think the significance lies not far from another modernist literature from Joseph Conrad’s, Heart of Darkness. Light and dark symbolizes the back and forth quarrel between Mrs. Ansley and Mrs. Slade dealing with “light” which represent the beauty, and memory of the Old monumental Rome while through each night hatred and conflict cloud both women. Also, this plays a role in the gender and time issues for the women of being cemented in a younger, modernized world, irregular to their Victorian up-bringing. It’s seemingly like they both are falling into the “dark” because of the emergence of their ever growing daughters and new settings.
P.S. unfortunately my blog site won’t let me post the pictures, but the work cited cites has them.

Works Cited
“The Roman Forum.” Tripod. Web. 24 September 2009
Karen Carr, “Roman Coliseum” History for Kids. 10 Mar 2009. Kidipede, Web 24 Sept 2009
Rene Siendel, “Palatine Hill,” Sights. 06 Aug 2003. Web 24 Sept 2009
Photos bestofrome.eu/pho/pho.html