The Other Two

6.3 Edith Wharton                   “The Other Two”

Edith Wharton was born into a wealthy and privileged society and by no surprise she married into money.  Her childhood gave her the best education by tutors and she was taken for extended tours abroad.  Here is where she gained her love for European art and culture. Edith and her husband traveled a lot from America to Europe visiting relatives while living off their allowance provide by both of their families. After several years of marriage they divorced in which Edith was married again later on. She divorced again and later married her third husband.  Mr. and Mrs. Wharton are newlyweds that while on their honeymoon got cut short due to her daughter age tweleve became ill from Typhoid.  Mrs. Wharton’s daughter was from a previous marriage.  Her daughter usually visits her dad Mr. Haskett, once a week but due to illness he is asking to come to their home to see Lily.  Mr. Haskett just wants to have an active roll and see that Lily is doing well.  He uses laws as well as emotional appeal to ask for visits with his biological daughter.   The conversation discloses the complication that Alice has to deal with from her ex-husbands which causes a number of disputes and arguments between the newlyweds.  Mr. Wharton wasn’t thrilled at the idea of another man being in his home, but later grew to understand the reasons were wholesome and reasonable.  While dealing with these problems he also has to deal with the fact that he has taken over a business deal with her other ex-husband.  He lets these issues with her ex-husband’s worry him, but the more he is around he figures out that it doesn’t change his feelings for her. Her husband meeting and being around these other two men makes him realize why he really loves his wife.  Her first marriage caused Alice to appreciate what she has and brought out her kind nature.  The second marriage ended in infidelity which taught her to appreciate the marriage bond. In the end her husband realizes that because of her past she is everything he has ever wanted and he owes it all to her two ex-husbands for making his life so easy.