A New England Nun
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| "A New England Nun and Other Stories" | |
| Author | Mary Eleanor Wilkins Freeman |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Short story |
| Publisher | Aegypan |
| Media type | |
| Publication date | 1891 |
"A New England Nun" is a short story written by Mary Eleanor Wilkins Freeman in 1891.
[edit] Plot summary
"A New England Nun" is the story of Louisa Ellis, a woman who has lived alone for many years. Louisa is somewhat of an eccentric, as she likes to keep her house meticuluosly clean, wear multiple aprons, and eat from her nicest china everyday. She has an old dog named Caesar who she feels must be kept chained up because he bit a neighbor fourteen years ago as a puppy. Louisa promised Joe Dagget fifteen years ago that she would marry him when he returned from his fortune-hunting adventures in Australia, and now that he has returned it is time for her to fulfill her promise. When Joe arrives, however, it becomes obvious that Louisa sees him as a disruption of the life that she has made for herself. When Joe arrives, Louisa attempts to have a conversation with him, but is distracted when he tracks dirt on the floor, re-arranges her books, and accidentally knocks things over. The two have a cool and slightly awkward conversation when Louisa inquires after Joe's mother's health and Joe tells Louisa that Lily Dyer has been taking care of her. Clearly, she is only planning on marrying Joe because she promised that she would, since it would mean that Louisa would have to give up the life that she has made for herself.
Later that night, as Louisa is enjoying a moon-lit stroll, she happens to over hear a conversation between Joe Dagget and Lily Dyer, a girl who has been caring for Joe's mother. Through this conversation, Louisa learns that Joe and Lily have been seeing each other in the short time that Joe has been back, and that Joe is in love with Lily but refuses to break his promise to Louisa. Lily supports Joe's decision, and though Joe encourages her to find someone else, Lily says, "I'll never marry any other man as long as I live."
The next day, when Joe comes to visit, Louisa releases Joe from his promise without letting him know that she is aware of his relationship with Lily. Joe and Louisa then part tenderly, and Louisa is left alone to pursue her own eccentric lifestyle.
[edit] Major themes
The last line of the story, "Louisa sat, prayerfully numbering her days, like an uncloistered nun" does two things to symbolize the Catholicism. First, "prayerfully numbering her days" alludes to a rosary. This, in addition to the phrase "an uncloistered nun," helps the reader create an image of Louisa as a Catholic nun. Since nuns are celibate, solitary, and very disciplined by choice (like Louisa), this image works well.
