Robert Ransom (The Pretext)

Mr. Robert Ransom is the husband of Mrs. Margaret Ransom and lives with her together in their house in Wentworth, the University City.

In the whole short story, Mr. Robert Ransom is described through the eyes and words of Mrs. Margaret Ransom so the reader cannot be sure if this is an objective or subjective or rather personal impression of him.

Mr. Robert Ransom works at Wentworth University and he is known “as the legal representative of the University.” (Lewis, 1968, p. 636) which means he is both a well-known and appreciated character at Wentworth. Moreover, he “had refused an offer of partnership in an eminent New York firm because he preferred the distinction of practicing in Wentworth” (Lewis, 1968, p. 636) which means he is happy with his occupation. He is described as a “thick and yet juiceless” (Lewis, 1968, p. 636) middle-aged man by his wife. He has a “wiry dust-colored beard” (Lewis, 1968, p. 636), “grayish stubble of hair”, a “sallow forehead” (Lewis, 1968, p. 645) and he wears “perpetual prince-nez” (Lewis, 1968, p. 636), a particular type of glasses. Furthermore, his back is described as “heavy, round-shouldered, yet a little pompous” (Lewis, 1968, p. 644) and that he dresses not that properly (Lewis, 1968, p. 644).

Mr. Robert Ransom seems like a rather friendly and loving, but at the same time boring husband, which is shown through some gestures (“Ransom laid a friendly hand on her arm” (Lewis 1968, p. 635)) and the phrases Mrs. Margaret Ransom uses to describe him. It is clear to the reader that Mrs. Margaret Ransom is not delighted with her marriage but it is not stated how Mr. Robert Ransom feels about it. The reader can only guess that he is quite content or even happy because he wants his wife to show up at the banquet or the speeches respectively (Lewis, 1968, p. 634 - 35). Furthermore, he does not notice the development of the relationship between his wife and his friend Guy Dawnish, which could be explained by the conservative rules which was predominant in the lives and marriages at that time (Kornetta, 1996, p. 198). That means that Mr. Robert Ransom is, as his wife, also influenced by the social convictions of Wentworth and could never think of his wife having an affair with a much younger man.

Sources:

Kornetta, R. (1996). Das Korsett im Kopf. Ehe und Ökonomie in den Kurzgeschichten Edith Whartons. Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang GmbH.

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