The Country Husband

The period in which the story was written and the social milieu in which it is set bear significantly on its meaning. The story was first published in 1954, a time characterized by post-World War II suburban expansion and the rise of the American middle class. “The Country Husband” reflects and critiques the era’s emphasis on conformity, traditional gender roles, and suburban living as an idealized manifestation of the American Dream.

The aftermath of World War II was a period of significant (if often suppressed) tension in American society. The war had not only pulled the US out of the Great Depression but also established it as a world superpower, and an expanding social safety net ensured that the country’s economic gains did not remain concentrated exclusively at the top; the GI Bill, for example, allowed many WWII veterans to reap the financial benefits of a college education. Nevertheless, the era was less than idyllic for many. Jim Crow laws remained firmly entrenched in the South, and traditional gender norms enjoyed a resurgence in popularity. The US’s developing nuclear arms race with the USSR further contributed to a pervasive, underlying anxiety.

The rapid expansion of the nation’s suburbs reflected these tensions. The cultural narrative of the time promoted the idea that suburban life provided safety, social status, and upward mobility, and it was certainly true that the post-war economic boom facilitated the suburbs’ growth by expanding access to home and car ownership. However, migration to the suburbs was also driven by fear. Most proximately, some white Americans moved away from urban centers that were becoming more racially diverse to seek the homogeneity of the suburbs. However, with their emphasis on the nuclear family and material comfort, these suburbs also promised a more nebulous sense of stability in the face of escalating Cold War tensions.

The trade-off was the potential need to suppress one’s individual desires and emotions to fit the suburban mold. The residents of Shady Hill exhibit these conformist tendencies. On the outside, Francis and Julia are the perfect suburban couple and adhere to the gender roles of the time. Francis Weed is the breadwinner and head of the household, while Julia’s role revolves around maintaining the social standing of the family and fulfilling domestic responsibilities. At the many social events they attend, they project an image of happiness and respectability. Yet, as the story progresses, existential cracks in their union become apparent. Francis’s brush with death and encounters with Anne make him dissatisfied with the routine of their life, which often papers over harder truths that he is tired of repressing. The narrative reflects the internal conflicts faced by individuals in this generation as they navigated the tensions between personal desires, disillusionment, trauma, and social conformity.