The Little Wife - Book Report/Review Example

Set in an imaginary place in Alabama called Reedyville, The Little Wife, is a lyrical account of the human afflictions. It is reasonably a thespian start when Joe learns of his wife’s sickness. When he receives the telegram and is told that it was waiting for him for two hours, he is not only unable to overcome the news of his wife’s ill-health but also the fact that he was laughing away sharing old stories with the buyer when it must have been waiting for him. This disbelief creates a sense of guilt even in the reader but with an aspect of accusation for Joe.

March describes the moment of the arrival of the second telegram rather dramatically. Joe feels “weak and slightly nauseated” while the unopened telegram is clenched in his hand (March 1935). The suspense gets on the reader's nerves while March allows Joe’s situation to settle in. He hides his fears but he is noticeable by the brakeman who inquires if he is doing fine. March’s candid style and the illusory precision of theme give the story an edge over any other writer of his time.

He is capable of reflecting the emotions of a heart-wrenched man who is resisting discovering the truth knowing that it may be a strong possibility. As he sees Mrs. Thompkins dressed in black on the other side of the fence, he is still in the denial phase. He waves at her vivaciously acting against his will, trying his best to win cards with nature. March portrays a one-sided picture of a man struggling to reach out to his soul mate who is going to deliver him a child soon. He shows how nature has its own course to take despite all the planning Joe and Bessie had done for the occasion.

This is true of everyday disappointments one has to face in one’s life. March did justice with the plot by depicting a real-life caricature of human sorrow and pain.