The Desires od Claude in

Claude and Enid’s marriage almost never took place because Enid was not sure what she wanted to do with her life. When Claude asked if she would marry him she replied, “I don’t believe it would be for the best, Claude. My mind is full of other plans. Marriage is for most girls, but not all” (Cather 1061-1062). Enid had such devotion for Claude while he was sick, one would have thought that Enid would have jumped at the chance to marry Claude. Instead, she tells him that she is unsure. Still, Claude convinces her that she would be doing the right thing if she were to marry him. Claude soon discovers on their wedding night that Enid is not the caring, loving woman that she came across as when she said, “would you mind getting a berth somewhere out in the car tonight? The porter says they are not all taken. I’m not feeling well. Sleep will do me more good than anything else. Good- night” (Cather 1092). Enid was so unsure about Claude that she would not even let Claude stay in the same room as her on their wedding night. The fact that the two of them did not consummate their marriage right away brings on some awkward sexual encounters between the couple.

Mrs. Wheeler moved her hands around Claude as if he were something that she secretly desired and Claude seemed very accepting of her advances as gives her a kiss before he leaves. However, he sadly shares his most passionate moment with his mother before he goes off to be killed in the war. Claude is shown more affection from his mother than his wife, Enid, shows him on their wedding night.

An unmarried safe woman that Claude becomes somewhat attached to is Mahailey. Claude liked her for a few reasons; first of all he liked Mahailey because she became enthralled with him and gave him attention that no one in his family ever did. He came in his uniform and “she was so dazzled by it that all the time Claude was at home she never once managed to examine it in detail. Before she got past his putters, her powers of observation were befogged by excitement, and her wits began to jump about like monkeys in a cage” (Cather 1137). Cather does a great job in this scene to show the kind of attention that Mahailey gave Claude. The reader can almost feel her excitement as Claude walks into the room. Claude liked the attention and also seemed to like her mother-like qualities. Mahailey values different things in her life and “her simplicity protecting her from the corrupting society about her. Unlike Ralph, who strives ‘to keep up with the bristling march of invention’ by indiscriminately buying whatever is new, Mahailey values things that have their own personal history. The kitchen table, her rolling pin, her butcher knife were ‘objects that after they had been mended, acquired a new value in her eyes’” (Rosowski). The Mahailey’s simplicity was one of the traits that attracted Claude. Her age made her a safe woman because Claude could never have had a real relationship with a woman of her age. Even though Claude liked Mahailey’s mother-like qualities and simplicity, no one could meet the standards that Claude upheld for his women than his own mother.

Even though Claude ignores the telltale signs given to him by Gladys he still tries to look after her throughout the story. In fact, Claude ironically gives Gladys advice on relationships. He says, “Gladys, I wish I could feel sure you’d never marry my brother. I know the advantages, but they wouldn’t make it up to you. That sort of a--- compromise would make you awfully unhappy. I know” (Cather 1142). This scene takes place long after Claude and Enid have been married and long after Claude has made it apparent that he was constrained by hi marriage. It is apparent from the advice that he gives to Gladys that he does not want her to make the same mistake that he made by marrying his brother. In this scene he also feels angry because his family would let Bayliss, (who seems to do no wrong

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