Summer

Summer

• Genre: Fiction; novella; romance
• Originally Published: 1917
• Reading Level/Interest: College/Adult
• Structure/Length: 18 chapters; approximately 290 pages; approximately 5 hours, 33 minutes on audio
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: The novella follows Charity Royall, a young woman living in the small town of North Dormer. When she meets Lucius Harney, a visiting architect, her world is irrevocably changed. As Charity becomes infatuated with Lucius, she is confronted with societal expectations and her own desires. The central conflict revolves around Charity’s journey of self-discovery, her attempts to break free from her limited circumstances, and the challenges of navigating love and passion.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Themes of romance; social norms and expectations; possible incestuous undertones; allusions to abortions

Edith Wharton, Author

• Bio: Born 1862, died 1937; American novelist, short story writer, and designer; known for her exploration of upper-class society and the complexities of human relationships; showcases her skillful storytelling and nuanced characters in Summer (1917); was the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for The Age of Innocence (1920); delves into the themes of societal constraints, gender roles, and the human psyche in her writing
• Other Works: The Age of Innocence (1920); Ethan Frome (1911); The House of Mirth (1905); The Custom of the Country (1913); The Buccaneers (1938); Roman Fever and Other Stories (1964)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

• Coming of Age
• The Disparity Between Social Classes
• The Rights of Women

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Teaching Guide, students will:

• Develop an understanding of the historical and sociological contexts regarding the expectations of women in marriage as it relates to their autonomy in the public sphere, which impacts Charity’s character development.
• Analyze paired texts and other brief resources to make connections via the text’s themes of Coming of Age, The Disparity Between Social Classes, and The Rights of Women.
• Prepare for and participate in a debate regarding the plausibility of Charity’s decision at the end of the novel to marry Lawyer Royall in relation to her social status, based on textual details.