Illusion versus Reality: Marriage in Modern Literature
Modern literature is known for questioning society and its various conventions. One question that these works often ask is, “What is real?” Some modern authors explore this question by placing their characters within self-constructed illusions that are later shattered by the introduction of reality. Marriages are frequently at the center of this theme, with one spouse crafting an illusory impression of the other. Modern literature demonstrates that a marriage built upon illusion will falter when exposed to reality.
In order to understand the effects of illusion on marriages in modern literature, we will explore two pieces: The Dead by James Joyce and Odour of Chrysanthemums by D.H. Lawrence. Both stories have central characters who have created, and lived with, a false picture of their spouse and their marriage. Firstly, I will discuss Elizabeth Bates’ negative, villainizing view of her husband in Odour of Chrysanthemums. Secondly, I will provide a contrast to that negative illusion with Joyce’s character Gabriel Conroy, who has painted a positive, idealized picture of his wife and their affection for one another.
Elizabeth Bates is an unhappy woman, particularly with regards to her husband’s drinking habits. She bitterly thinks to herself, “…he had probably gone past his home, slunk past his own door, to drink before he came in, while his dinner spoiled and wasted in waiting” (Lawrence 2247). While her husband has been brought home drunk before (2249), she has no evidence of that being the case on this particular day. This assumption is at the heart of Elizabeth’s illusion. Instead of being worried for her husband’s safety, she chooses to believe that he has no regard for hi...
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...o go on living much happier lives with other partners.
The cases of Elizabeth and Gabriel demonstrate to readers of modern literature that a marriage built upon illusion—whether it be positive or negative—cannot withstand the pressure of reality, and my own experience confirms that notion. However, my personal experience provides a glimpse of possibility: there can be happiness after the swift blow of reality. Let us hope that, in the recesses of the authors’ minds, Elizabeth and Gabriel were able to find their own happiness.
Works Cited
Joyce, James. “The Dead.” The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Gen. ed. Stephen Greenblatt. 8th ed. Vol. F. New York: Norton, 2006. 2245-2258. Print.
Lawrence, D.H. “Odour of Chrysanthemums.” The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Gen. ed. Stephen Greenblatt. 8th ed. Vol. F. New York: Norton, 2006. 2172-2199. Print.
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...as the day we married.” (p 23) On the surface, all seems well; however if on looks closer one can see a very sad occurrence-taking place. Most couples who have lasted a goodly time together will not answer the question, “Do you love your spouse like the day you married?” Invariably man and wife will reply, “No, I love him/her more than the day we married.” Long married couples become closer. Intimacy grows in the physical as the couple’s love proportionally grows all more. The growth is palpable to the individuals within the marriage. Furthermore, as life’s hardships are over come together, the couple’s love will grow exponentially. Welty understands this yet chooses a different path for the Fletchers. Some place in time, either by Mrs. Fletchers pride or by Mr. Fletcher’s inability to deal with confrontation, the growth of which should have taken place will happen.
Renner, Stanley. “The Real Woman Inside the Fence in ‘The Chrysanthemums’.” Modern Fiction Studies. Vol. 31. No.2. (Summer 1985). 305-317. print; reprinted in Short Story Criticisms. Vol.37. eds. Anja Barnard and Anna Sheets Nesbitt (Farmington Hills: The Gale Group, 2000). 333-339. print.
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Abrams, M.H., ed. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. 6th ed. Vol. 2. New York: Norton, 1993.
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married. However, “for pragmatic reasons, the author’s conclusions favor marriage as the ultimate solution, but her pairings predict happiness” (“Austen, Jane”). Als...