Thesis statement:

In "Roman Fever " by Edith Wharton, jealousy, deceifulness, and

blind love were the main reasons that made the bad relationship
between Mrs. Grace Ansley and Mrs. Alida Slade .
1. The first thing that we caused the bad relationship between the two main
characters was the everlasting jealousy.
1.1

. In the relationship between two main characters, we can find easily

Mrs Slades jealousy for Mrs Ansley that, first of all, is about Mrs Ansleys
attraction.
(Nguyn Th Sao Mai)
1.2

. Mrs. Slade was richer than Mrs. Ansley but she was always jealous

with Ansleys life.

(Ha Ngc Ng)
1.3
. Mrs Sladehas always envied Barbaras brilliance and vivaciousness.
(H Th Hi Yn)
1.4

. Although Mrs. Slade got married to Delphin, she always felt jealous

with Delphins love for Mrs. Ansley.

(Nguyn Th Hng)
2. The deceitfulness was the second reason which caused the bad
relationship between Mrs. Grace Ansley and Mrs. Alida Slade.
2.1.

The relationship between Mrs. Ansley and Mrs.Slade had established

over a long period of friendship but this is deceitful friendship.

(Nguyn Th Ninh)
2.2.
After many years, the secret about a letter in the name of Delphin
written to Mrs Ansley was revealed to make the bad relationship between Mrs.
Grace Ansley and Mrs. Alida Slade become worse.
(Bi Th Thu)
2.3.

Although knowing the truth that Delphin was her close friends fiance,

Ansley still went to the Colosseum, slept him and had his baby.
1

(L Anh Th)
2.4.

Mrs. Grace Ansley got pregnant by Delphin but she get married to

Horace Ansley to cover her pregnant.

(Nguyn Th Nguyt)
3. The blind love was one of the main reason which made the bad
relationship between Mrs. Ansley and Mrs. Slade
3.1.

Ansley and Slade friendship was bad because of the blind love between

Ansley and Slade's most loved fiance - Delphin.

(Phm Nhu Giang)
3.2.

The blind love was a reason which made Mrs. Slade wrote a fake letter

in the name of Grace Delphin to luring Mrs. Ansley to the Colosseum as she wanted
to have Mrs. Grace killed by the deathly cold there.
(Nguyn Huyn Trang)
3.3.

Blind love of Ms Alade and Ms Ansley is worse and worse from they

were young, after marriage, until the death of Delphin.

(Trng Th Bch Trm)

Nguyn Th Sao Mai

**********
1.1 Mrs Ansley had the characteristics that made her more attractive than
Mrs Slade:
1.1.1 Mrs Ansley was more beautiful than Mrs Slade
1.1.2 Mrs Ansley owned the sweetness that made her more attractive than
Mrs Slade
1.1.3 Mrs Slade was envious of Mrs Ansleys quietness
1.1.4 Mrs Ansley had a strong personality in love
*********
1.1.1 Mrs Ansley was more beautiful than Mrs Slade:
In the relationship among women, it can be said that jealousy is usually exist. And
this was expressed in Roman Fever by Edith Wharton. First, Mrs Slade was jealous
of Mrs Ansleys beauty. In other words, she envied Mrs Ansley because Mrs Ansley
2

was more beautiful. For women, beauty was very important and it also was what
made them become jealous. And in Roman Fever, it was not difficult for us to
recognise this through Mrs Slades jealous thought for her friend, Mrs Ansley: Mrs
Delphin Slade, for instance, would have told herself, or anyone who asked her that
Mrs Horace Ansley, twenty five years ago, had been exquisitely lovely- no, you
wouldnt believe it, would you! though of course, still charming, distinguished
1.1.2 Mrs Ansley owned the sweetness that made her more attractive than
Mrs Slade:
Second, what made Mrs Slade extremely envied and terribly hated Mrs Ansley
was her sweetness that Mrs Slade did not have. For a woman, with beauty, what
made her more attractive in other peoples feeling was sweetness that drove people
around feel friendly and wanted to stay beside. About this characteristic, there were
not many details to support as well as the writer did not spend much on
describing,but through Mrs Ansleys words, we could feel the exist of his in Mrs
Ansley. For example, when talking about her daughter, Babs, through a simple
sentence: Babs is an angel too, we still feel the sweet and warm affection for her
daughter. Or via the sentence I never should have supposed you were senimental,
Alida that she spoke to Mrs Slade we could find Mrs Ansleys beautiful thought for
Mrs Slade. Although Mrs Ansley was not as intelligent and strong as Mrs Slade in
personality, she still made Mrs Slade always envious with her own attraction.
1.1.3 Mrs Slade was envious of Mrs Ansleys quietness:
Third, the characteristic that made Mrs Slade feel jealous to her friend was Mrs
Ansleys quietness. With beauty and sweetness, quietness made Mrs Ansley more
attractive than Mrs Slade.her quietness made people around feel easy and
comfortable when staying beside her. We could realise this through her words,
gesture, attitude and action. For example, tender words when talking with Mrs Slade,
moderate gestures in knitting and calm attitude as well as action when Mrs Slade tell
her the secret twenty-five years ago. Quietness is an exciting characteristic that made
Mrs Slade envious as well as readers feel more interested in Mrs Ansley.
3

1.1.4 Mrs Ansley had a strong personality in love:

Fourth, through the writers describe, we could imagine that Mrs Ansley was the
woman who had a slender and gentle beauty, yet behind this, there existed a strong
personality that was found in her love for Delphin Slade. Mrs Ansley was very
careful woman, especially about her health, but because of her love for Delphin
Slade, she went out home to come to the Colosseum, a very cold place, at a very cold
night. This could be very harmful to her life because, in the past, a poor girl caught
the fever and died

when she went out to the Forum after sunset to gather a

nightblooming flower for her sisters album. Mrs Ansley had heard already about the
story but she still went at that night. This characteristic made readers excited at Mrs
Ansley. ( 529 words)

Ha Ngc Ng
********
1.2. Ms. Alida Slade was one of two main characters in Roman Fever by
Edith Wharton and she always had jealousy with Ms. Grace Ansley. That was
also a reason caused the bad relationship between two women in Whartons
story.
1.2.1. Characterization (Ms. Slade)
1.2.2. Although Ms. Slade could be richer than Ms. Ansley, but she always
followed up and shown contempt for Ms. Ansleys life.
1.2.3. Mrs. Slade suffered from the deadly disease of jealously, a hardly
neglected in female avenger literature.
1.2.4. Their friendship was never close because of the rivalry between the two
main characters.
**********************
Ms. Alida Slade was one of two main characters in Roman Fever by Edith
Wharton and she always had jealousy with Ms. Grace Ansley. That was also a reason
caused the bad relationship between two women in Whartons story.
The first, Wharton portrayed a vigorous and strong woman higher in color, with
a small determined nose supported by vigorous black eyebrows, gave a goodhumored laugh Ms. Slade. And she was also a rich woman two American ladies
of ripe, her friend considered I never should have supposed you were sentimental,
4

Alida. She was a developing character in the sense that she changed as the reader
came to know more about her. At first, she appeared to be what she claimed to be: a
charming entertainer, a good hostess, and a vibrant person. Continuously, the wife of
a famous corporate lawyer, Ms. Slade found her married days filled with excitement
and adventure. She had always regarded herself (with a certain conjugal pride) as
his equal in social gifts, as contributing her full share to the making of the
exceptional couple. She also was very intelligent in society Ill cure him of
wondering said Mrs. Slade, stretching her hand toward a bag as discreetly opulent
looking as Mrs. Anlseys. She considered that money could solve difficult problems
in life.
The second, although she could be richer than Ms. Ansley, Ms. Slade always
followed up and shown contempt for Ms. Ansleys life. Mrs. Slade and Mrs. Ansley
had lived opposite each other actually as well as figuratively for years. And of
all the moving, buyings, travels, anniversaries, illness the tame chronicle of an
estimable pair. Little of it escaped Mrs. Slade. Mrs. Slade thought Mrs. Ansley was
too quiet and boring, not fit for high society. Actually, Mrs. Slade was more
concerned about society than about anyone else. In fact, the author writes that after
Mr. Slade passed away, being the Slade's widow was a dullish business. It is as if
Mrs. Slade married him for the social benefits he gave her and not for love. The
relationship between the two women is like a frenemy. They both dislike the other
but they act like polite friends.
The third, Mrs. Slade suffered from the deadly disease of jealously, a hardly
neglected in female avenger literature. She harbored an unending resentment for Mrs.
Ansley, her childhood friend, because of a romantic rivalry that occurred years prior.
When they had chance meet each other in Rome, she feigns friendship, all the while
knowing the terrible deed that she carried out against Mrs. Ansley years earlier. Yet
she feels her revenge-the falsifying of a love letter from her husband to Mrs. Ansleyis incomplete until Mrs. Ansley understands it was she that wrote it. Only then will
5

Mrs. Ansley truly suffer, for, as Mrs. Slade put it, "all these years the woman had
been living on that letter".
We soon see that this tension has always existed between the supposedly intimate
friends, as they sit in silence, each reflecting on their view of the other. The rivalry
prompted Mrs. Ansley, near the end of the story, to disclose that Delphin Slade was
the father of her daughter, Barbara. Alida Slade attempted to murder her rival Grace
Ansley. However, its Grace who wins triumphs at the Coliseum. Their friendship
was never close because of the rivalry between the two main characters.

H TH HI YN_11LT701239
***********
1.3 Another reason making the bad relationship between the two main
characters was envious of the daughters.
1.3.1 Mrs. Slade was envious of Barbaras brilliance and vivaciousness.
1.3.2 Mrs. Slade envied Mrs. Ansley because Jenny was always inferior to
Barbara.
1.3.3 It was easy to find a spice of envy in Mrs.Slades tone about Barbaras
beauty.
1.3.4 Mrs.Slade began to envy Mrs.Ansley for her daughters future.
**************************
Another reason making the bad relationship between the two main characters
was envious of the daughters. First of all, Mrs. Slade was envious of Barbaras
brilliance and vivaciousness. Although Mrs.Slade and Mrs. Ansley were friends for
a long time, they had not been honest with each other in their friendship. Mrs.Slade
always envied Mrs.Ansley for her daughter. Barbara Ansley was the gifted daughter
of Mrs.Ansley, and she was also friend of Mrs.Slades daughter. In Mrs.Slades
opinion , Mrs. Ansley had led a staid, uneventful life, but Mrs.Ansley had a dynamic
daughter. This maked Mrs Slade have a envious feeling; for example, she thought
that Funny where she got it. With those two nullities as parents. She said in
falsetto how two such exemplary characters as you and Horace had managed to
6

produce anything quite so dynamic. Accordingly, Mrs.slade also envied Mrs.

Ansley because Jenny was inferior to Barbara. Mrs.Slade sometimes halfenviously reflected; but Jenny, who was younger than her brilliant friend. Mrs .
Slade thought Jenny was such a perfect daughter the she needed no excessive
mothering, so she could not expose herself when she and Barbara went together. But
if Babs isnt out to catch that young aviator- the one whos a Marchese, Jenny has
no chance beside her, my poor Jenny as a foil. On Mrs. Slades mind, Jenny was
like an angle while Barbara was so dynamic; in addition, Barbara also inherited her
mothers good looks. She was active as well as beautiful. Her beauty extinguished
that of all others. Consequently, it was easy to find a spice of envy in Mrs.Slades
tone about Barbaras beauty though certainly Babs, according to the new
standars at any rate, was more effective - had more edge, as they say. It seemed that
she did not want to admit Barbaras good looks. She said, adding that as they say.
Mrs.Slade showed depression for Barbara was too brilliant, and Jenny would not be
able to get any chances. Barbara combined both vivaciousness and beauty. It would
be a heaven sent opportunity to prove herself . Barbara had satisfied the conditions
for making a bright future. Therefore, Mrs.Slade began to envy Mrs. Ansley for
her daughters future. Barbara would help Mrs. Ansley live in peace and happiness.
Mrs. Slade thought about that with a touch of asperity. what was there for her to
worry about! She knew that Bads would almost certainly come back engaged to the
extremely eligible Campolieri.

Mrs.Slade thought Mrs. Ansley will have a

comfortable living that anyone had always wanted shell sell the New York house,
and settle down near them in Rome, and never be in their way Shes much too
tactful. But shell have an excellent cook, and just the right people in for bridge and
cooktails. And a perfectly peaceful old age among her grandchildren. Indeed,
would Mrs.Slade never cure herself of envying Mrs.Ansley! She had begun too long
ago.Their friendship was undercut by the deeper, hostile feelings they had for each
other, feeling that they hardly dare to admit. Mrs. Slade always wondered why
Barbara was so brilliant with those two nullities as parents, but she really didnt
know who was her real father. Untill the end of this conversation, Mrs .Ansley
7

revealed to Mrs.Slade that Barbara was the daughter of Mrs.Slades late husband,
Delphin.
(532 words.)

Nguyn Th Hng
***********
1.4. Although Mrs. Slade got married to Delphin, she always felt jealous with
Delphins love for Mrs. Ansley.

1.4.1.

Nguyn Th Ninh 10LT143

*************
2.1. The friendship between Mrs. Ansley and Mrs. Slade was a deceitful
friendship.
2.1.1. There were more and more that they have not told each other.
2.1.2. They had a label ready to attach to the others name.
2.1.3. They injured each other because of their personal interest.
********************
The relationship between Mrs. Ansley and Mrs.Slade have established over a
long period of friendship.They have practically grown up with together and they
think that they know pretty much everything about one another. But as the story
progresses, they realized that there is more and more that they have not told each
other.They have not met for a long time but when they met at Roman restaurant they
only looked at each other with a tinge of smiling embarrassment. They did not give a
greeting and then down on the outspread glories of the Palatine and the Forum with
9

the same expression of vague. Besides, Ansley have not told about the reason why
she married to Horace Ansley and Barbara and Jenney were half sisters with Slade.
Perhaps they did not know much more about each other.
They had been intimate since childhood but they had a label ready to attach to
the others name. Ansley never should have supposed Slade was sentimental. Slade,
for instance, would have told herself, or anyone who asked her, that Mrs.Ansley,
twenty five years ago, had been exquisitely lovely no, you would not believe it,
would you! Though, of course, still charming distinguishedWell, as a girl she had
been exquisite. Slade always wanted Barbara, Mrs. Ansley s daughter, the girl who is
as pretty and charming as her mother used to be. And she is a brilliant and effective
girl with more edge. She was feeling funny where Bab got it, with those two nullities
as parents. When they lived opposite each other, all the movings, buyings, travels
little of it escaped Mrs.Slade. She had grown bored and she begun to think: she
would rather live opposite a speakeasy for a change; at least one might see it raided
and it did the irreproachable no harm to laugh at them a little. Two ladies visualized
each other, each through the wrong end of her little telescope.
Ansley and Slade were intimate friends since childhood, but they turned out to
be love rivals. Moreover, their relationship is worse when the truth of the fake letter
is revealed. Although, Ansley knew Delphin was a Slades fianc but she was in love
with Delphin and answered the letter and they spent a romantic night together. At the
result, she was pregnant with him. It is unfair to do this with a friend. Mrs. Slade has
lived with jealous, envy, hate and fear. She afraid of losing Delphin, she decided to
write a fake letter in the name of him to lure Ansley to the Colosseum as she wanted
to have her killed by the deathly cold there. Ironically, she herself gave them a gold
opportunity to date each other because of Graces reply. They injured each other
because of their personal interest.

10

Bi Th Thu
***********
2.2. After many years, the secret about a letter in the name of Delphin written to
Mrs Ansley was revealed to make the bad relationship between Mrs. Grace Ansley
and Mrs. Alida Slade become worse.
2.2.1.
Both two women had deceifulness actions
Alida was deceiful Grace
Mrs. Ansley had a betrayal to Mrs. Slade
2.2.2. The letter from Delphin foretold its production of a future event
a friendship was increasingly worse
it was not only their friendship become worse but also their family could be
broken
2.2.3.

The fake letter affected their lives in a very big way

Mrs Slade accidentally helped indirectly her husband to have adultery
Mrs Ansley had Barbara with Delphin

2.2.4. The results of Mrs. Slade's actions were fairly repaid by her friend Mrs.
Ansley and her husband.

Mrs.Ansley wanted to meet her husband so she replied the letter

Her husband went to meet Mrs.Ansley

2.2.5. Their friendship was be dying and couldn't be saved.

The truth of letter was revealed and its consequence

The two friends became enemies and deceived each other in many years
********************

The bad relationship between Mrs. Grace Ansley and Mrs. Alida Slade became
worse because both of them had deceifulness actions.Even in her youth, Alida was
11

jealous of Grace. The letter she forged from Delphin urging Grace to meet him at the
Coliseum was motivated solely by her insecurity about her relationship. Towards the
end, Mrs. Slade admited it was she who sent the letter. Mrs. Slade deceived Mrs.
Ansley thinking Delphin wanted to meet her. Mrs. Slade felt guilty that she ended
with Delphin as her husband and all Mrs. Ansley had was a fake letter until Mrs.
Ansley said I had Barbara". This was Mrs. Ansley betrayal to Mrs. Slade. She kept
the truth of Barbaras real father a secret for years, and when Mrs. Slade confessed
her deceit, Mrs. Ansley confessed her betrayal.
The letter from Delphin foretold its production of a future event. In this story,
a friendship that went wrong when Mrs. Slade had sent a fake letter to Mrs. Ansley
telling her it was written by Delphin, and that he wanted her to meet him at the
Colosseum after dark. Mrs. Slade wanted her to catch a bad pneumonia and pay for
her wrong of cheating. The whole plan turned around and bit her in the butt because
Mrs. Ansley had written a letter back to Delphin telling him she would be there. Then
Delphin went to meet her.That made the relationship be increasingly worse when the
truth of the letter was revealed after many years. It was not only their friendship
become worse but also their family could be broken. When the secret of the fake
letter was being revealed also when the actual face of two women and one man were
showed. They could confront with the risk of broken family because of their
deceifulness.
The fake letter affected their lives in a very big way. For years Mrs. Slade thought
her letter to the younger Mrs. Ansley lead to nothing permanent or life altering. It
was a fake note addressed to Mrs. Ansley from Mr. Slade. This small deception,
though seemingly ineffective, affected their lives in a very big way. Mrs Slade
accidentally helped indirectly her husband to have adultery. Mrs Ansley had Barbara
with Delphin.
The results of Mrs. Slade's actions were fairly repaid by her friend Mrs. Ansley
and her husband. Mrs.Ansley wanted to meet her husband so she replied the letter.
12

Her husband went to meet Mrs.Ansley. A letter sent by Mrs. Slade to Mrs. Ansley
resulted in the adultery of her husband. Moreover, Barbara, a daughter of Mrs.
Ansley, comes to be the daughter of Mrs. Slades husband. Mrs. Slade, who easily
made evil to others, did not think about possible consequences of her actions. Finally,
the results of her actions were fairly repaid by her friend Mrs. Ansley and her
husband.
Their friendship was be dying and couldn't be saved when the truth of letter was
revealed and its consequence.The two friends became enemies and deceived each
other in many years. They do not share sincere and honest relations. They are
haunted by deceifulness and jealousy to each others. The letter was also the reason
caused the bad relationship between Mrs. Grace Ansley and Mrs. Alida Slade

L Anh Th
************
2.3. Ms. Grace Ansley and Ms. Alida Slades friendship became bad because of
Ansleys deceitfulness in her sneaky relationship with Slades fianc, Delphin.
2.3.1. Ansley was still in contact with, Delphin; though he was her best friends
fiance.
2.3.2. Ansley went to the Colosseum to meet Delphin.
2.3.3. Ansley slept with Delphin.
2.3.4. Ansley had Delphins daughter, Barbara.
13

**************************
In the story Roman Fever by Edith Wharton, Mrs. Grace Ansleys deceitfulness
in her sneaky relationship with Mrs. Alida Slades fiance, Delphin was one of the
reasons caused the bad relationship between these two women.
The first deceitfulness was that Mrs. Ansley was still in contact with Delphin,
though he was her best friends fiance. Through this story, we all recognized Mrs.
Ansley and Slade were close friends and they were in love with the same man,
Delphin. However, he was Alidas fiance. Thus, Ansley still kept in touch with
Delphin was a deceitful action and the bad thing was Slade also knew about this.
Ms. Grace Ansley went to the Colosseum to meet Delphin was her second
deceitfulness. In fact, Alida Slade wrote a letter to Grace Ansley telling her to meet
Delphin in order to get rid of Grace by disappointing her with his absence. Alidas
intention in this case was definitely bad, but Graces action once again was
unacceptable. Even though how much her love for Delphin was, she should not come
to the Colosseum for a romantic meeting. In addition, as a best friend of Alida, Grace
had to stop her sneaky actions and should not think about Delphin any longer.
Unfortunately, she did not do that.
Mrs. Ansley slept with Delphin was her third deceifulness. She betrayed Slade by
having sexual relationship with her fiance. This led their relationship to become
worse and worse. In terms of moral concepts, I could not agree with her action. In
my view, even if they were not close friends, she should not do this. She ignored and
did not care whether the bad results might have from this action. What a good friend
like her! There were no excuses that I could make me think this action acceptable.
The last deceitfulness that I wanted to mention was Ansleys secret She had
Delphins daughter, Barbara.

Even Slade married to Delphin, Ansley had his

daughter and kept her secret twenty five years. Having not only slept with Delphin,
but also given birth to his daughter; this truth absolutely made their bad relationship
could not be improved. Ms. Ansley was totally a deceitful woman with her twentyfive- year- secret. Her lie made many people including Ms. Alida Slade, Delphin, her
14

husband and even her daughter to become puppets and I wondered how she could
keep that for such a long time.
In conclusion, I wanted to emphasize again Ansleys deceitfulness was one of the
main reasons which made her friendship with Slade become bad. There were many
lies hidden and most of them were by Ansley. For any reasons, if I were Alida Slade,
I did not want to make a friend with a person like her because her deceitfulness
caused their bad friendship.
Total: 463 words.

Nguyn Th Nguyt
****************
2.4. Mrs. Grace Ansley got pregnant by Delphin but she got married to
Horace Ansley to cover her pregnant.
2.4.1. She wanted to hide from people her faults.
2.4.2. She was a victim of circumstances.
2.4.3. She did not want Delphin to meet the awkward situation in choosing
between Alida and her.
2.4.4. She did not to bring her parents into disrepute.
2.4.5. She did not want to offend Alida.
************************
Mrs. Grace Ansley got pregnant by Delphin but she got married to Horace Ansley
to cover her pregnant. In fact, after Mrs. Grace Ansley had received a letter from
Delphin Slade inviting her to meet him one night at the Colosseum, she had replied
to the letter and met him. She had a daughter with him after their love meeting, but
she has kept it a secret because of many reasons.
-The firstly, she wanted to hide from people her faults. She had been ill after
her late-night sight-seeing and she was married to Horace Ansley two months
15

afterward. People were rather surprised and did not know the reason - they
wondered at its being done so quickly. Even Alida though she knew the reason why
Grace was married to Horace Ansley so quickly: I had an idea you did it out of
pique. Therefore, she hidden from people her fault to avoid censure and biased
against her.
The second, she was a victim of circumstances. In the 19th and 20th century,
society did not accept pregnant women before marriage. Womens place in society
were limited such as: not working out, being dependent, nursing home, no job.etc.
They were dependent on their parents, husbands and children. She had known she
did not observe the law, so she has concealed her pregnant from everybody. If she
revealed about that she got pregnant by Delphin, she would be condemned to death.
-The third, she did not want Delphin to meet the awkward situation in
choosing between Alida and her. Although Grace knew Delphin was Alida's fiance,
she still loved Delphin and accepted to meet him. They spent a romantic night
together. After that, she was pregnant, so Babs was Delphins bastard. She knew she
was pregnant and cared for that memory but she did not talk with him about that
and ask him about marriage because of her love for him.
-The next reason, she did not to bring her parents into disrepute. As soon as
she could get out of bed, her mother rushed her off to Florence and married her.
Although she did not want, under the circumstances, she agreed to according to her
parents plan. Moreover, she did not want to be doubted of her pregnant by Delphin.
If everyone knew about that, they would dishonor her family and parents. Her
parents could not sit down under a stream of abuse.
- The finally, she did not want to offend Alida. They were intimate friends since
childhood, they both came from the same social class and had successful husbands,
but they turned out to be love rivals. Grace always felt half-guilty, whereas Alida had
lived with jealous, envy, hate and fear. To Alida, Grace always had something she
didnt. She knew Alida has always been envious of her, so she only let it out at the
last minute when Alida wanted to humiliate her. Her reaction was understandable
16

because it was not revenge but self-defence. Moreover, their relationship was worse
when the truth of the fake letter and the fact Barbara is her daughter with Delphin
were revealed.
(517 words)

Phm Nhu Giang

*****************
3.1. Ansley and Slade friendship was bad because of the blind love between
Ansley and Slade's most loved fiance - Delphin.
3.1.1.

The friendship between Mrs.Ansley and Mrs.Slade was good

because they shared the same family background and they were neighbors.
3.1.2.
Ansley loved Delphin who was not only Slade's boyfriend but also
her fianc.
3.1.3.
The friendship was destroyed by the blind love.
3.1.4.
The relationship once again turned bad and could not be recovered
when Barbara's real identity was revealed
***********************
The friendship between Mrs.Ansley and Mrs.Slade was good because they shared
the same family background and they were neighbors. They grew up in Manhattan,
New York and they were childhood friends. When they were young ladies, once they
visited Roma and later they both got married. They had the sympathy for each others
because both of them now were widows. They met each other again in Roma by
chance but now, they were only supporting characters in their daughters' story. The
similarity in their fate drew them back together.
The friendship was destroyed by the blind love.
Ansley loved Delphin who was not only Slade's boyfriend but also her fianc.
Ansley was a gorgeous lady and Delphin was attracted by her beauty, charm and
kindness. Delphin had fallen head over heal for Ansley. The Ansley's deed was
terribly wrong because it was a selfish love. She seduced her childhood friend's
husband. Moreover, Slade and Delphin would get married in few weeks. Ansley's
17

act of replying the letter and having an affair with Delphin was a risk and wrong
action. She risked her health in the cold and Roman Fever as well as she was wrong
when she betrayed her friend- Slade. After that meeting, Ansley kept a secret for
herself that she had a baby as an outcome of her forbidden love.
The friendship was destroyed by the blind love. Standing in front of the romantic
of the ruin in Rome, Slade revealed the secret of the letter which was considered as a
success in her plan for separating Ansley and Delphin. In order to keep Delphin's
love, she did not mind to trick Ansley and she also said to her friend: "I horrify you".
It was a clear evidence to show that though everything happened in the past long
time ago as well as the friendship improved a bit, it could not settle the dispute
between the two. To Ansley, at first she tried to hide but later she cried and bursted
out. Her bursting out was because of the only letter that she had thought it was sent
from Delphin. Then, she revealed the secret meeting between her and Delphin in
Colloseum as well as she had replied that letter. Although Slade had been with
Delphin for 25 years, she was a lose one. Barbara was Delphin and Ansley's
daughter. The two women used the mistakes and tricks to fight each other. Finally,
the truth was revealed and both of them felt fully the jealous, the lie, the selfishness
and the betrayal.
The relationship once again turned bad and could not be recovered when
Barbara's real identity was revealed. From the beginning of the story we could see it
seemed that Slade always took over Ansley. However after the skeleton in the
cupboard was found, it helped Ansley won over Slade with a firm declaration "I had
Barbara,she said, and began to move ahead of Mrs. Slade toward the stairway.
Before that event, Ansley had showed a "sorry" attitude toward Slade and which
really made Slade felt hurt, Ansley was a very strong competitor. Thus, they would
never forgive each others. As a result, their friendship had no reason to keep
being. (526 words)

Full name: Nguyn Huyn Trang

Code: 10LT219
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*********************
3.2.

The blind love was a reason which made Mrs.Slade wrote a fake letter in
the name of Delphin to lure Mrs.Ansley to the Colosseum as she wanted to
have her killed by the deathly cold there.

3.2.1.

Mrs.Ansley has the passion of love.

3.2.2.

Mrs.Alida was jealous and envious of Grace

3.2.3.

Mrs.Slade and Mrs.Ansley have been rivals throughout their

longtime.
3.2.4.

Mrs.Alida always has fear feeling.

*****************

Intense passion in the forms of love, fear, vengefulness, enmity, and jealousy
poisons the relationship between Alida Slade and Grace Ansley. Although she knew
he was engaged to her friend, she still went to meet him at the Colosseum at deathy
cold night. As the result, she got pregnant. In addition, she married to Mr.Horace
Ansley, she still remembered him and still treasured the memory even if it was ash.
It was the only letter I ever had from him. She kept the image of him through her
daughter, Barbara, Delphin bastard. Ironically, Mrs.Ansley emerges as the more
passionate of two women. Although she seems to be involved in more mundane
activities, such as knitting and playing bridge her revelation of the night that she
spent with Delphin at the Colosseum demonstrates that she was capable of hidden
depths of passion. Living across the street from Delphin for twenty-five years and
raising his child suggest that she was capable of enduring love as well.
The tension continues to build between Alida and Grace, and Alida
became increasingly uncomfortable. It was obvious she still envies Grace and she
said that: I hated you, hated you. I knew you were in love with Delphin and I was
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afraid; afraid of you, of your sweetness. She wrote a fake letter in the name of
Delphin to lure Grace to the Colosseum and hoped Grace would catch cold and die
after that. For the next twenty-five years, Alida seethes with enmity for Grace while
pretending to be her friend. She also developed intense jealousy of Graces daughter,
Barbara, because of her obvious superiority to her own daughter, Jenny. She wonders
how two such exemplary characters as you and Horace had managed to produce
anything quite so dynamic.
Mrs Slade and Mrs Ansley have been rivals throughout their long
friendship. Sometimes this rivalry was expressed subtly, as when Mrs Ansley said
that the view upon the palatine ruins would always be the most beautiful view in the
world to me as if she alone was privy to the glories of Rome. Sometimes the rival
was expressed directly through the womens thoughts. For example, Mrs Slade
compares herself directly to Mrs Ansley. She believes that her widowhood was more
difficult than Mrs Ansleys widowhood, for she had led a full, active life as the wife
of an international corporate lawyer while Mrs Ansley and her husband were more of
museum specimens of old New York or in even less kind terms, nullities. The cause
of this barely acknowledged rivalry became clear as the story develops.
Fearing for losing him, Alida decided to wrote a fake letter in the name
of him to lure Grace to the Colosseum as she wanted to have her killer by the deathly
cold. Unfortunately, she herself gave them a wonderful chance to date each other
because of Graces reply. At the end of the story, the truth of the fake letter was
revealed by Mrs.Slade, and Babs was Delphins bastard.

Trng Th Bch Trm

****************

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3.3. Blind love made the relationship between Mrs Slade and Mrs Ansley
were worse and worse from they were young, after they married, until Delphin
died and continued to their daughter grown up.
3.3.1. Blind love when they were young made the relationship between Mrs
Slade and Mrs Ansley was bad started.
3.3.2. Blind love when they were married made the relationship between
Mrs. Ansley and Mrs. Slade was bad.
3.3.3. Blind love when Mr Delphin died made the relationship between Mrs.
Ansley and Mrs. Slade was bad.
3.3.4. Blind love when their daughter grown up made the relationship
between Mrs. Ansley and Mrs. Slade was still bad.
Mrs. Ansley and Mrs. Slade had been relentless and unscrupulous, using
their bodies, their husbands, their daughters, and their lives of lies and
blindness as weapons to score on each other.
**************************
Blind love made the relationship between Mrs Slade and Mrs Ansley were worse
and worse from they were young, after they married, until Delphin died and
continued to their daughter grown up.
Fristly, Blind love when they were young made the relationship between Mrs
Slade and Mrs Ansley was bad started. Two main characters in the story Roman
Fever are Mrs Slade and Mrs Ansley who both loved the same man Mr Delphin.
However, they did not show their love to partner. Mrs Ansley loved Mr Delphin but
dare to say and Mr Delphin were not admitted that love. Mrs Ansley and Mr Delphin
had a secret meeting at Coliseum because of a letter of Mrs. Slade. Although, The
result was Mr Delphin married Mrs Slade without love.
Secondly, Blind love when they were married made the relationship between Mrs.
Ansley and Mrs. Slade was bad. Mrs. Ansley and Mrs. Slade are married to husbands
seemed very happy. Mrs. Slade and Mrs. Ansley had lived opposite each other
actually as well as figurativelyfor years. Although understanding her husband did
not love her, but Mrs. Slade still living together. Mrs. Slade did not have faith in his

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fiance. This was show that she was blind in love and do everything to be possessed
on regardless.
Nextly, Blind love when Mr Delphin died made the relationship between Mrs.
Ansley and Mrs. Slade was bad.A few years later their wedding, and not many
months apart, both ladies lost their husbands. Mrs. Slade had always regarded herself
as her husband equal in social gifts, as contributing her full share to the making of
the exceptional couple they were. She blind that Mr Delphin was only of her, not
realized that Mrs. Ansley not only slept with Delphin, but laso given birth to the
daughter.
After that, Blind love when their daughter grown up made the relationship
between Mrs. Ansley and Mrs. Slade was still bad. Now, each of Mrs. Ansley and
Mrs. Slade the modest appendage of a salient daughter. The similarity of their lot had
again drawn them together. Barbara was likely to become the fiance of a promising
bachelor. She muses that : Bads would almost certainly come back engaged to the
extremely eligible Campolieri. Twenty-five years before, Alida herself was engaged
to a promising bachelor. This promises to be more blind love in the future.
The central action of the story takes place in the Colosseum, a place where
gladiators fought. Mrs. Ansley and Mrs. Slade had been relentless and unscrupulous,
using their bodies, their husbands, their daughters, and their lives of lies and
blindness as weapons to score on each other.
(504 words)

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