The Other Two by Edith Wharton
STORY SUMMARY
“The Other Two” is a satirical short story about marriage, divorce, and social change in early 20th-century New York society. The protagonist, Waythorn, is a successful businessman newly married to Alice, a woman who has been divorced twice before. At first, Waythorn is confident in his role as husband number three, but his comfort erodes as circumstances force him into repeated contact with Alice’s two ex-husbands, Mr. Haskett and Mr. Varick.
Mr. Haskett, the humble and earnest father of Alice’s daughter, Lily, insists on remaining involved in his child’s life. Mr. Varick, the suave and urbane second husband, becomes Waythorn’s business associate. As the story progresses, Waythorn grows increasingly uncomfortable with the presence of these men in his life and the realization that Alice has adapted herself— skillfully and strategically—to each of her former partners.
The story ends on an ironic note as Waythorn, resigned to his situation, reflects on the refined social performance of his wife serving tea to all three of her husbands. Her ease in managing the awkward dynamic underscores both her pragmatism and the shifting norms of marriage and female identity.
LITERARY ANALYSIS
Narrative Style and Perspective
The story is told in limited third-person point of view, closely aligned with Waythorn’s consciousness. This restricted lens allows readers to observe the subtle irony that Wharton embeds in Waythorn’s reactions—he sees himself as rational and sophisticated, but the narrative gently critiques his insecurity and possessiveness.
Themes
• Marriage, Divorce, and Social Change: Wharton examines how divorce, still controversial in her time, complicates traditional notions of marriage and identity. Alice’s previous marriages are not presented as moral failings, but as part of a social landscape increasingly shaped by negotiation, adaptation, and performance.
• Possession and Identity: Waythorn views Alice
as a kind of social acquisition—refined, graceful, and well-mannered. But the reappearance of her ex-husbands forces him to confront the fact that he does not fully “possess” her; her past continues to exist alongside her present.
• The Commodification of Women: Alice’s ability to shift roles to suit each husband suggests that she functions, in part, as a social commodity. Wharton explores the cost of this adaptability—Alice’s identity is constructed around male expectations rather than personal authenticity.
• Masculine Insecurity and Rivalry: Waythorn’s discomfort is less about moral outrage and more about ego. He is unsettled by the idea that his wife has a history he cannot control or erase. The story becomes a study in male competition and pride under a veneer of civility.
Characterization and Irony
• Alice Waythorn: Calm, polite, and socially adept, Alice is a master of emotional diplomacy. While she may appear passive, her ability to navigate complex male expectations reveals her as a pragmatic survivor in a male-dominated society.
• Mr. Haskett and Mr. Varick: Both ex-husbands are portrayed sympathetically. Has-
kett is earnest and devoted to his daughter; Varick is smooth and professional. Wharton uses them to contrast Waythorn’s inflated sense of superiority and to explore how class and personality affect perceptions of masculinity.
• Waythorn: Through subtle irony, Wharton reveals Waythorn’s internal conflict—his desire for a modern, cosmopolitan wife clashes with his discomfort over her independence and romantic history.
Realism and Social Commentary
True to Wharton’s realist style, “The Other Two” offers a restrained, intelligent critique of upper-class society. The story resists melodrama, instead highlighting the quiet tensions of marriage, status, and identity in a changing cultural moment.
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
1. How does Wharton use irony to comment on marriage and masculinity?
2. In what ways is Alice both empowered and limited by her role as a wife (and exwife)?
3. What does Waythorn’s discomfort reveal about gender expectations in early 20th-century society?
4. How might this story be read differently from a feminist perspective?