Wharton

The Other Two
This was quite an odd reading for me. I didn’t really understand the concept behind the story. The conflict between the three husbands is an interesting knot woven within the story and the relationships that develop between them is something that was unexpected.
I think that Waythorn comes to realize that the wife could possibly be the one that is angelic. He begins to get to know the other two men that were in her life through situations that can’t be avoided. Waythorn realizes that Haskett is a great father. He cares for his child and has basically given up everything to be with her. He’s moved, given up shares in a company, and not lives in a shabby place just to be able to see her. And then he actually fights for her. He cares enough to run himself through hot coals just to see her. In Waythorn’s eyes this is what makes him admirable and likable. Then as Waythorn is conducting business with Varick he realizes that he likes him as well. Varick is genuinely nice to Waythorn and this helps to develop the relationship between the two. The business has forced one another together and made them trust one another.
I think that the main point of this story is the declining relationship between Mrs. Waythorn and Mr. Waythorn in contrast to the budding relationship between Mr. Waythorn, Varick, and Haskett. You see the “normal” relationship fail while the “odd” relationships flourish.
I really didn’t like this story. It held no interest to me. I feel as if the relationships need more depth to be fully comprehensible to me. It feels as if the story should be longer with a deeper plot to the story. Overall it wasn’t too terrible, just a little short and hurried.