Bitter Irony

A rivalry between two women is a nasty thing. Women fight to kill in arguments. They will do anything to cut each other down just to get what they want in the end. The results are always an ugly thing to behold. The story, Roman Fever, is an ugly to behold. Two women, Mrs. Ansley and Mrs. Slade have been in a bitter rivalry for years. Why? In their younger years, the two women fought over a man named Delphin. Years ago, Mrs. Slade attempted to have Mrs. Ansley out of the way of an engagement by forging a letter under Delphin’s name. The plan was to make Grace think the young man stood her up at the Coliseum and get her sick with Roman Fever. But yet, the plan backfired Mrs. Ansley wrote back to her crush. The two ended up together at the Coliseum anyway. Here is where things get interesting. Mrs. Slade thinks that she has won when she says out of retaliation, “Yes; I was beaten there. But I oughtn’t to begrudge it to you. I suppose. At the end of all these years. After all, I had everything; I had him for twenty-five years. And you had nothing but that one letter that he didn’t write.” (Pg. 852) But then, Mrs. Ansley counters by saying, “I had Barbara,” (Pg. 852) That little statement screams to me, “Ah! But I have won in the end because I had him first and my daughter is living proof of that, B!” A rivalry between two women really is an ugly thing to behold!