Editha

Why does George enlist in the war? Where do we see that he, like Editha, believes his masculinity is dependent on his enlisting? What does his enlisting after being swept away by enthusiasm at a town meeting suggest about the glorified picture of war painted in the newspapers and about those who enlist?

Discuss the contrast between Mr. and Mrs. Balcom’s reactions upon learning George has enlisted. What do Mrs. Balcom’s concern and Mr. Balcom’s amusement suggest about gender roles? 

Why, of all professions, does Howells choose a portrait artist to discuss with Editha the “tragedy” (11) of Editha’s life?

How does Editha’s manipulation of George—her deviousness and his susceptibility to it—disprove the effectiveness of gender roles?

Although Howells is a realist writer, “Editha” contains some elements of naturalism, a close cousin of realism. One characteristic of naturalism is its focus on internal and external forces that influence characters’ behavior. Characters are neither aware of, nor in control of, these forces. What internal and external forces are depicted in “Editha”? Who is at the mercy of these forces, and how do these forces dictate characters’ behavior?