Roman Fever By Edith Wharton

Humans are easily influenced by what they feel and see. In “Roman Fever” by Edith Wharton, two of the most intense emotions explored are jealousy and love. Through two distinct characters and through descriptive setting, the idea that jealousy and love are polar emotions is evident throughout the story. The tale depicts an image in which, where love perseveres, jealousy fails. Roman Fever begins by introducing the two women from which the story revolves around. The first is Alida Slade. She is physically described as “fuller, and higher in color, with a small determined nose supported by vigorous black eyebrows” (5). Interestly enough, though these descriptions are used to refer to her physical qualities, most of these descriptions …show more content…
All throughout the story, the setting further strengthens the characters, and thus, the idea that love and jealousy are contrary. For example, the story opens by describing the scenic view in front of the women as being “the outspread glories of the Palatine and the Forum” (1). Upon closer inspection, these ruins represent both Slade and Ansley respectively. Wikipedia describes the Palatine Hill as “the centermost of the Seven Hills of Rome...It stands...above Roman Forum, looking down upon it on one side” (“Palatine Hill”). The Palatine personifies Slade in that her jealousy is the center of the story’s conflict. In addition, she seems to suffer from a superiority complex towards Ansley. Alternatively, the Forum characterizes Ansley in that, though she was seen as inferior to Slade, she was actually victorious in her pursuits. As stated by Wikipedia, the Forum served “as the culminating venue for the celebratory military processions known as Triumphs” (“Roman Forum”). In another instance, the sky also helps to heighten the darkness found in Slade’s jealousy. As Slade’s envy rekindles, the sky’s “golden flank was drowned in purple shadow” (43), and as their discussion reaches a climax, “[t]he clear heaven overhead was emptied of all its gold” (101). Finally, Rome itself plays an important role in theme for it represents distinctive things for both Slade and Ansley. For Slade, Rome reminds her of her envy, for when she stares at its beauty “instead of tranquilizing her the sight seemed to increase her exasperation” (43). For Ansley, it reminds her of her young love for when Slade states it to be “the most beautiful view in the world” (8), Ansley emphasizes that “[i]t always will be, to me”