Irony in Roman Fever
The story Roman Fever written by Edith Wharton is about two women and the relationship that they have established over a long period of friendship. These women, Mrs. Ansley and Mrs. Slade, have practically grown up together and they think that they know pretty much everything about one another. But as the story progresses, they realize that there is more and more that they have not told each other. Edith Wharton uses different types of writing and situations with the characters in the story to add excitement to the story. She also uses setting and wording in a way that is very unique and gives the story an ironic sense to it. Many ironic themes in this story make it interesting, and tie major points of the story together. One thing that is ironic in Roman Fever is how you shouldn’t pay attention to your enemies, but to the person who hugs you because they may have the knife behind your back. In this story of a friendship that went wrong, Mrs. Slade had sent a fake letter to Mrs. Ansley telling her it was Delphin, Mrs. Slade’s fiancé at the time, and that he wanted her to meet him at the Colosseum after dark. Mrs. Slade wanted her to catch a bad pneumonia and pay for her wrong of cheating. The whole plan turned around and bit her in the butt because Mrs. Ansley had written a letter back to Delphin telling him she would be there, which Mrs. Slade wasn’t expecting that because she was too caught up in being out to get Mrs. Ansley (120). The title of this story could possibly be the most important irony of the story. Although the other ironies are very important too, the story would not have that overall ironic twist to it if it were not for the title. Roman Fever is another name for pneumonia that you could catch it you were outside after dark in the valley, due to it being very cold and dropping in temperature. That was Mrs. Slade’s intention to trick Mrs. Ansley into going out after dark and getting sick, which worked. In conclusion, it is safe to say that