Journal 15 - Editha

Journal 15 – William Dean Howell’s “Editha”

1. Write a sentence that summarizes the story’s overall message, and provide three direct quotes from the story that best illustrate this message.

The story’s overall message was to not give into peer pressure, and to follow your own desires.

· “All the while, in her duplex emotioning, she was

aware that now at the very beginning she must put a

guard upon herself against urging him, by any word

or act, to take the part that her whole soul willed him

to take, for the completion of her ideal of him.”

· “He was very nearly perfect as he was, and he must be

allowed to perfect himself. But he was peculiar, and

he might very well be reasoned out of his peculiarit.”

· “He took half the lemonade at a gulp, and he

answered as he set the glass down: "I know you

always have the highest ideal. When I differ from

you I ought to doubt myself."

A generous sob rose in Editha's throat for the

humility of a man, so very nearly perfect, who was

willing to put himself below her.”

2. What tactics does Editha use to make George believe as she does about the war?

Editha makes herself seem pathetic and upset about the ideas of war in oder to convince George about her ideas. She tells him how great he is and how much he could help our country, right or wrong. She tricks him into beliving that the war is what is best for him. She twists his mind and almost brainwashes him.

3. Is there ever a time in which Editha truly understands what she has done? Does she ever experience an epiphany?

Yes, Editha truly understans what she has done. George is killed in the war and she feels as if it is her fault. She is full of self-pitty and sorrow throughout her life, until the end of the reading when she talks to the lady that is painting her. She then realizes that she needs to move on with her life and continue to live the way she used to, in the ideal.