I like "The Other Two" by Edith Wharton less than I like the readings by Crane this week. I guess I just have trouble relating to Wharton's story. It was set in a world governed by money and high-society, neither of which I have much experience with. I don't think Waythorn would have kept up a relationship with Varick had money not been a key constituent between the two of them. And I don't really understand how Waythorn was able to stomach the thought of Haskett visiting every week, especially after his wife lied to him about speaking with Haskett during the first visit. It just didn't seem believable to me that Waythorn didn't show more animosity towards "the other two." I also thought it rather unlikely that he would so readily move from pessimism to acceptance of the troubling, but necessary, relationships between himself and Varick and Haskett. I think I would have trouble being involved with my husband's previous romantic partners, and I certainly wouldn't be happy if he were to be involved with them either. I guess one of the messages in Wharton's story would be to accept those things you cannot change. For various reasons, both personal and business, Waythorn is caught in relationships with his wife's ex-husbands, and he figures the best way to deal with the situation is to accept it and move on with his life. Another message may be that if you truly love and trust another then the involvement of past interests should not be such a problem. Perhaps Wharton was writing of the virtues of a loving and strong relationship and how two people who have this can withstand much if they stick together.
I think this story epitomizes the the writing style of Edith Wharton. She focuses on the upper class within which she grew up and is thus a very believable writer because she is writing about that which is familiar to her. I just couldn't relate because I lack her perspective on life. So, while this wasn't one of my favorites because of the subject matter, I still think it was a very well-written story.
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