Ignazio Gardella

This passage describes two short stories by Edith Wharton that critique the stifling American society from which she distanced herself by moving to Paris. The first story, "The Other Two" (1904), follows Alice Waythorn who marries a wealthy lawyer and enters high society in New York. Her new husband accepts her previous marriage and business dealings with her second husband, creating an unusual trio that is eventually brought together by Alice's graceful charm. The second story, "Xingu" (1916), takes place in the small, wealthy town of Hillbridge, which imitates New York society. A group of women found a cultural club that claims to be up-to-date but whose discussions are reduced to meaningless chatter that masks underlying rivalries among the women. The only voice of dissent is Mrs. Roby, who admits she has not read most of the books discussed and often deviates from proper etiquette. It is no surprise that Mrs. Roby is eventually expelled from the unbreakable social circle.