Editha

EDITHA (WILLIAM D. HOWELLS)

Editha is a young girl who encourages her fiancé to go to the Spanish-American war. She can’t understand why he dislikes the war so much,and actually they differ in every aspect concerning it. Editha has a strong sense of excessive patriotism: she doesn’t really care if the war is a good or a bad thing, shedoesn’t care if people are killed. She just wants George to be her hero, to deserve her love, and sending him to war is the best way to fulfil her wish. Editha writes a letter forhim in which she tells him she will never marry anyone else if he dies at war. George decides to go to war, and he is elected Captain. When he sees Editha again he is proud ofhis position, funny enough. Before leaving, he asks Editha to go to see his mother if something happens to him. It isn’t long before Editha is told that George has died. Shethen goes to see his mother, who expresses her disgust. She blames her for having sent George to war. In spite of that, in the Editha continues to believe in her ideals anddoesn’t really see the wrong the war can cause.
I think that the whole purpose of the story is emphasizing anti-patriotism. Editha thinks that if the government supports thewar, there’s no point in questioning its validity. She doesn’t care what George thinks, she just wants him to be her hero. She doesn’t cry when she sees him off, she doesn’t careif he dies. This makes me wonder if the love for your country justifies killing other people who love their country too. I don’t really think Editha loves George, she justwants something heroic to love. Anyways, she fails to control him when he finally dies. It is a very representative story, it shows the consequences of irrational patriotism.