Flowerless grass plots (The Pretext)

Even though the “prim flowerless grass plots” (Lewis, 1968, p. 637) do not have a special function in the short story and are only mentioned once, they have a strong metaphorical meaning. According to Butzer and Jacob (2008) a flower can be a symbol for a beloved one and for life (p. 50). In this case the flowers are missing which could mean that Mrs. Margaret Ransom has no love left for her husband and that she has no more life left in herself. This could be a hint for the outcome of the short story because she cannot escape from her boring and monotonous marriage and life at Wentworth.

Sources:

Butzer, G.; Jacob, J. (2008). MetzlerLexikon literarischer Symbole. Stuttgart: J.B. Metzler.

Lewis, R. W. B. (1968). The Collected Short Stories of Edith Wharton. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons.