Eleanor Dorrance, née Welwood (Diagnosis)

Eleanor Welwood has been Paul Dorrance’s mistress for the last fifteen years.[i] At the time Dorrance proposes to her, her ex-husband, Horace Welwood, has already divorced her.

Paul Dorrance describes Eleanor’s body as pale and faded with nothing special in the face; [ii] however, over the course of the story it becomes clear that she is a brave and faithful woman over forty who cannot refuse her husband’s wishes. She always cares for him and comforts Paul in every situation - even when she is on her deathbed.

In some situations Paul Dorrance seems unappreciative, for instance, when he mutters “Sancta Simplicitas”[iii]. Describing her as “naïve” or “fatuous woman” only points out that he does not know her two faces.

Actually, her decision to trick Paul into the marriage by hiding the truth about the diagnosis was a rather clever method to reach her goal of marriage.

[i] Cf. Wharton, Edith; Robinson, Roxana (2007): The New York stories of Edith Wharton. New York, NY: New York Review Books (New York Review Books classics). p.386.

[ii] Cf. Ibid. p.395.

[iii] Ibid. p.389.