Courtship
A courtship refers to a social rite, which is more or less regulated by laws, customs and traditions, in order for a young man to find a suitable bride and later wife. Since in traditional societies as well as in the upper classes of all societies, where marriage is also an alliance between families, the bridal show is associated with imposition and amounts to an exchange of social relations. 1
Interpretation of courtship regarding the short story “A Cup of Cold Water”
“Meanwhile his courtship was proceeding at an inverse ratio to his [Woburn] financial ventures. Miss Talcott was growing tender and he began to feel that the game was in his hands. The nearness of the goal exasperated him. She was not the girl to wait and he knew that it must be now or never.” 2
For Woburn to escape his dull life, and become a rich man he plans to marry Miss Talcott. She was his way out or rather his way in. He, by all means, wanted to be part of the upper class.
Therefore he had to invest in his courtship and spared no expenses. He spent a lot of time with Miss Talcott, taking her out and provide her with specific extravagances, which he could manage to afford for a little while.
After his debts began to pile up, he started to invest his patrimony. Which led him to borrow money from a friend. Eventually, everything collapses and he is sold out.
Even though Woburn is charmed by Miss Talcott, the motivation behind his courtship was never her, but rather the marriage itself. Woburn wanted to marry his way in and it did not matter who the bride was.
This is highlighted by the fact that Miss Talcott's first name is not mentioned once throughout the whole story. This leads to some sort of detachment, not only between the reader and Miss Talcott but especially between Woburn (of whom only his first name is communicated) and her.
This also enhances Woburn's encounter with Ruby Glenn and underlines his interested in her and the things which were troubling her mind. Woburn helped Ruby because it was the right thing to do and not because he would get something out of it in doing so.