Parasites (The Long Run)

When Halston Merrick arrived relatively at the end of his story about his relationship with Paulina Trant, the term “parasites” appears. Paulina tried to convince Halston of staying with her and let her leave his husband.

[…] No doubt there are such cases; but I don’t recognize either of us in those dismal figures. Why, to do it would be to admit that our life, yours and mine, is in the people about us and not in ourselves; that we’re parasites and not selfsustaining creatures; and that the lives we’re leading now are so brilliant, full and satisfying that what we should have to give up would surpass even the blessedness of being together! (Wharton 320).

Paulina tried to convince Halston of staying with her and within her argument she uses the metaphor of parasites.

Originally, the term “parasite” was used for humans: In Greek antiquity, a parasite was a selected sacrificial official who – representing the people – took part in sacrificial meals and thus received food and drink at the expense of the general public (Badenschier). Later, those who ingratiated themselves with rich people for a meal were also called parasites (Badenschier).

Nowadays, the word parasite is mainly used in its biological meaning: parasites are animals or plants that live in or on organism of another species and receive food from it (Badenschier). Since pathogenic bacteria and fungi live only at the expense of the host, they are also called parasites (Badenschier). So, parasites do not live with their host in a symbiosis that brings advantages to both sides, but they exploit their host (Badenschier).

For these reasons, the term “parasite” has a negative connotation. If a person is called a “parasite” it is not meant to be a compliment.

In the short story, Paulina uses the expression “[…] that we’re parasites […]” in order to underline her position. She tries to convince Halston Merrick by using this metaphor. She compares herself and him with parasites and not with self-determined independent people. This should prove her point of leaving her husband and stay with Halston. Their lives until now are not that wonderful that they cannot give them up.

To sum it up, “parasites” in this short story are not the animals or plants but is a reference to humans who do not live an independent life. And in some way, this is correct, because Halston Merrick lives a life which is dictated by society of the early 20th century, where a divorced woman is worth nothing.

Sources:

• Badenschier, Franziska. “Parasiten”. Westdeutscher Rundfunk Köln. 19. July 2019. Web. 02. Nov. 2019. <https://www.planet-wissen.de/gesellschaft/medizin/parasiten/index.html>

• Wharton, Edith. “The Long Run.” The Collected Short Stories of Edith Wharton. Volume II. Ed. Richard Warrington Baldwin Lewis. New York: A Charles Scribner´s Sons Book Macmillan Publishing Company, 1989. 301-324. Print.