Introduction
William Howells’s story “Editha” has a central theme of war and related issues such as patriotism and personal ideals. The primary literary devices used in the story were symbolism and realism, so the appropriate examination of the war and included notions, such as patriotism, is seen. The main actions in the story take place during the war, and the reader can feel the atmosphere through the vividly described feelings of the main characters. The story’s atmosphere is full of fervor and anticipation, and the symbolism and realism make the story more impressive. The story is written in a realistic style and uses symbols and antithesis to show the role and opposite perception of armed conflict by the couple.
The Use of Symbolism
Editha is the main character and protagonist of the story, who believes in the nobility of war. She can be characterized as a passionate girl with idealistic views on life. For this girl, war was a symbol of the fight for liberty by people, and this war is holy, and the conflict served as the mediator of war (Howells 1). Moreover, an antithesis is presented in the story, and Editha’s fiancé expresses the opposite views about the morality and necessity of war.
The author uses symbolism to convey more meaning and make it more disturbing. For example, the war symbolizes the various conflicts people face in life. In addition, war is seen as a test of courage and a chance to prove something.
Editha is an idealistic woman, so the war might be seen as an allegory to fit her fiancé into her idealized version of him. Editha symbolizes patriotism and the romanticized acceptance of life, where everything should be idealistic according to her life assumptions. Therefore, one of the main symbols is war, which has different meanings among the characters.
Another important part of the story is George’s, Edith’s fiancé’s, negative attitude toward the war. George is skeptical about the role of patriotism, and he thinks that such patriotism is blind (Howells 6). The man believes that war is not an option and cannot bring anything other than harm. Moreover, the man sees the war as a symbol of the glorification of cruelty and violence. He questions the rightness of armed conflicts and their consequences for society.
Unlike Editha, George has no enthusiasm for the war, so he is an example of realism compared to Edith’s romantic worldview. As a result, the differences between Editha and George emphasize realism. On the one hand, we have Edith, who sees the war as a way to prove your worthiness. “And you haven’t simply done it for my sake. I couldn’t respect you if you had.” (Howells 6).
On the other hand, there is George, who sees the war as an act of cruelty that negatively influences people’s lives. In this case, the antithesis is demonstrated in the dialogue between the couple, where Editha encourages George to participate in the conflict, but he sees no point in it (Howells 5). Lastly, the author uses different techniques to engage readers in the story and analyze the role and impact of blind patriotism on society.
Conclusion
To conclude, the short story “Editha” raises serious questions about the war, its acceptance, and its impact on people’s lives. The author uses symbolism, realism, and antithesis to emphasize different essential aspects of the story. The story explores the different views on war: as a way to prove your worthiness and as a globalization of violence. The story encourages readers to think critically, analyze, and develop their views on the theme of war by demonstrating the couple’s opposing views on armed conflicts with realistic and romanticized views on life and the role of war.
Work Cited
Howells, William Dean. “Editha.” Between the Dark and the Daylight. Harper and Brothers, pp. 1-8