teresting because is this how most women thought back then--to make their loved ones worthy? I seriously doubt it, but I'm sure a few were like that. "Editha" includes one of Howells's themes of ordinary, common folk. He says, "To see realistically is to meet the world honestly; to see romantically is to deceive and to be deceived" (McQuade 349). He thought optimism was a good trait while self-isolation and subjectivism was not. Possibly Editha's character in wanting perfection was a silent way of creating excitement in the real world; and George's subjectivity to "obey and listen" was in ways opposite to how women were viewed--as unequals with men. But for some reason, she believed in a guy winning her/proving his love by loving his country first. She was ignorant and inconsiderate because she sent him off to war without thinking of the consequences. She didn't count on him being killed; she only counted on him killing others. I don't blame George's mother for blaming Editha for the death of her son. She clearly was thinking about herself and her needs, not those of others. Howells's greatest strength was his honesty and his weakness was not being exciting. Even with all that, William Dean Howells reshaped American Literature and introduced the world to his great works....
