Tony Monroy

American Literature

Dr. Lasseter

A Journey vs. Death in the Desert

26 October, 2007

Le Désert Mystérieux

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Both Edith Wharton and Willa Cather In their short stories, “A Journey”

and “Death in the Desert”, explore the characters of men and women

through their actions toward one another in relationships. “A Journey”

introduces the negative character of selfishness through the actions of

the Woman, which results in the woman’s madness and assumed death

at the end of the story. On the other hand, Edith Wharton in “Death in

the Desert” presents the positive character of selflessness through the

actions of Everett that, results in comfort for the dying Katherine. When

compared these characters contrast one another. Whereas the Woman

from “A Journey” demonstrates selfishness through the treatment of her

husband and their relationship, Everett, from “Death in the Desert”,

exemplifies selflessness through his treatment of Katherine and their

relationship.

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Although the Woman from “A Journey” demonstrates selfishness through

her reaction to her husband’s illness, Everett exemplifies selflessness

through the fact that he is able to see beyond Katherine’s illness and

gives her the care that she needs. An example of the Women’s selfish

behavior is the Woman’s reaction towards her husband’s appearance

because she should love him no matter how he appears, but instead the

Woman shows repulsion towards her husband and is even afraid of

touching her husband’s skin. “ He frightened her: his sunken

expressionless face seemed that of a stranger…her hand avoided his

damp soft skin…It frightened her to feel that this was the man she

loved” (246). However, Everett does not fear Katherine’s touch even

though her body has atrophied. “He had not reckoned the ravages of a

long illness. The long, loose folds of her white gown had been especially

designed to conceal the sharp outline of her emaciated body, but the

stamp of her disease was there; simple and ugly and obtrusive, a pitiless

fact that could not be disguised or evaded…She held his hand longer

than the usual as she greeted him” (271,277). Although Katherine has

atrophied in appearance Everett recognizes her need and cares for her.

Equally important is that Everett’s dedication to Katherine results in her

dying a death of comfort even though this dedication requires the

sacrifice of Everett’s time and money. One can consider Everett’s

sacrifice towards Katherine as the ultimate example of a selfless action.

“Everett’s week in Cheyenne stretched to three, except through the

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thing he dreaded… he resolutely postponed his business engagements…

You’ve (Everett) put in three weeks of this sort of thing, haven’t you... I

(Everett) stayed because I wanted to be with you, that’s all. I have never

cared about other women since I met with you…You are part of my

destiny and I could not leave you if I could” (282). The selfless actions

that Everett performs comfort Katherine in the end, but the fear of her

husband’s appearance result in Woman missing her husband’s death.

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The Woman demonstrates selfishness through herforcing herself to sleep

when her husband might need her, which results in the Woman sleeping

through the moment of her husband’s death. In Contrast, Everett

exemplifies selflessness because he remains at Katherine’s side up to

her death. For example, although her husband could die at any moment,

the Woman chose to ignore checking up on him and fell asleep leaving

her husband to die alone “She lay down and tried to sleep. . . . Had she

not heard him move…What made her think of such things? It was merely

a familiar tendency of an overtired mind…the sheer inability to endure

her fears a moment longer made her put them from her with an effort

from her whole sound tired body. She turned on her side and slept”

(248). The Woman selfishly concerns herself with her exhaustion and

consequently does not listen to hear reasonable fears that he might

need her. Conversely, Everett remains by Katherine’s bed providing her

comfort until sleep overcomes him, but he wakes up in time to witness

Katherine’s last moments of life. “ On the night of Adriance Hilgarde’s

opening concert in Paris, Everett sat by the bed in the ranch-house in

Wyoming, watching over the last battle that we have with the flesh

before we are done with it and free of it forever...Everett sat looking at

the sputtering night-lamp until it made his eyes ache. His head dropped

forward on the foot of the bed, and he sank into a heavy, distressful

slumber…He started and awoke. She (the nurse) screened the lamp with

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her hand. Everett saw that Katherine was awake and conscious” (283-

284).

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While the woman demonstrates selfishness by treating her relationship

as a relationship based upon her needs, Everett exemplifies selflessness

by treating his relationship as a relationship based upon Katherine’s

needs. An example is that the woman bases her relationship on the

belief that her husband would care for her and protect her. It is ironic

that she ends up caring and protecting him because his illness has

sapped his strength. “ The man she had married had been strong,

active, gently masterful: the male whose pleasure it is to clear a way

through the material obstructions of life; but now it was she who was the

protector, he who must be shielded from importunities and given his

drops or his beef juice…The routine of the sickroom bewildered her; this

punctual administering of medicine seemed as idle as some

uncomprehended religious mummery” (246). The Woman married for

the reason of having someone serve her every need. The fact that she

has to help others and not herself angers her. On the other hand, Everett

bases his relationship on the truth that Katherine needs company

because she will soon die and that he has harbored feelings for her ever

since childhood. “ Oh! Katherine Gaylord! Is it possible! Now it’s you who

have given me a turn. Why, I used to know her when I was a boy” (267).

Everett has always loved Katherine and he still loves her even though

she has atrophied. Everett has formed this relationship to comfort

Katherine as she passes away. Everett demonstrates selflessness

through his actions that make up his relationship with Katherine,

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however the Woman clearly only cares about herself because she wants

her husband to serve her.

Whereas the Woman from “A Journey” demonstrates selfishness through

the treatment of her husband and their relationship, Everett, from Death

in the Desert, exemplifies selflessness through his treatment of

Katherine and their relationship. The Woman from “A Journey”

demonstrates selfishness through her actions towards her husband in

several different ways. The woman feels repulsed by the morbid

appearance of her husband and she is even afraid to touch him.

Furthermore, the Woman forces herself to sleep even though falling

asleep contradicts her thoughts that he might need her. The Woman

cares more for her reputation and well-being than her husband.

Conversely, Everett, from ‘Death in the Desert”, exemplifies the

character of selflessness through his actions towards Katherine Gaylord.

Everett loves Katherine even though her body has atrophied and he

does not feel repulsed when she touches him. In addition, Everett

remains at Katherine’s side until death and he only falls asleep when he

becomes too tired to carry on. These actions reveal Everett’s character

to be a direct contrast of the Woman’s character.