The Other Two

The critic R. B. Lewis referred to Wharton’s “The Other Two” in Edith Wharton: A Biography as “the most nearly perfect short story Edith Wharton ever wrote and a model in the genre of the comedy of manners” (134). This “comedy of manners” satirizes society’s preoccupation with respectability through the character of Waythorn. He will do anything to avoid being mocked by society; he always wants to act properly while appearing to be completely at ease. It’s not easy for him to keep his emotions under control, especially as the situations in the story grow increasingly absurd. Like many of Wharton’s other novels and stories, the setting for “The Other Two” is upper-class New York society during the late 19th century. By telling the story entirely from the husband’s limited point of view, the author is able to skewer the values of this society, spotlighting the society’s obsession with social prestige as well as the social pressure on women to “excel” at marriage.

The story begins with Mr. Waythorn, who “waited for his wife to come down to dinner” (Part 1). The passivity of this pose marks Waythorn’s character throughout the story. The reader learns how pleased Mr. Waythorn is in his recent marriage to Alice Waythorn. Waythorn especially enjoys how she conforms to society’s idea of the perfect wife—she is physically pleasing, appropriately maternal, and active for her age, “fresh and elastic at an age when most women’s activities are growing slack or febrile” (Part 1). She is also confident and composed, in sharp contrast to Mr. Waythorn, who admits to having “somewhat unstable sensibilities” (Part 1).

These “unstable sensibilities” suggest that Mr. Waythorn might not be completely comfortable with Alice’s previous marriages. Yet despite the fact that society had “not yet adapted itself to the consequences of divorce” (Part 1), society still pronounces Alice blameless in these former marriages. Waythorn marvels at her ability to overcome obstacles and win the approval of society in her third marriage. 

While such abilities hint at great power, cunning, and foresight on the part of Alice Waythorn, the story never provides any insight into her thoughts. She is confined to being the “object” subjected to Waythorn’s gaze. Yet Wharton subverts this traditional power dynamic. For it is Alice who seems to have the power in these relationships, while Waythorn is characterized as stereotypically feminine: “He hated the womanish sensibility which made him suffer so acutely from the grotesque chances of life” (Part 3). The author fails to give him a first name, suggesting his unimportance, while Alice has multiple names (Alice Haskett, Alice Varick, Alice Waythorn).

Alice is able to determine what is needed from her in order to succeed in this society. She knows she must excel at pleasing men. By the end of the story, she is able to serve tea, with perfect ease and propriety, to all three of her smiling husbands.