English 015 - Americans Abroad
Competition Abroad
Competition Abroad
Category: 1E: Twain, James, Wharton | Ben Ledue
As Americans travel to foreign places, they encounter a variety of emotional changes and experiences. A common sign of such emotions is a demonstration of their competitive side. In Mark Twain’s The Innocents Abroad, as well as in Edith Wharton’s Roman Fever, a competitive nature is revealed by Americans as they immerse themselves within foreign locations. Antagonism is aimed at everyone in Twain’s work, as he makes judgments and comparisons with nearly everyone he encounters. Wharton’s piece focuses strictly on inter-American competition. The jealousy and rivalries revealed within these works seem to expose a common competitive trait among Americans as they travel.
In her Roman Fever, Edith Wharton focuses strictly on the relationship and rivalry between two American widows. While they eat lunch at a Roman restaurant, Alida Slade and Grace Ansley reflect on how they would describe each other to another person. The women seem artificially complimentary, with apparent hesitancy to reveal their true feelings. It seems almost to be a competition of who can be more refined and eloquent in the other’s eyes. Wharton reveals that, “the two ladies, who had been intimate since childhood, reflected how little they knew each other” (751). Again, this exposes their antagonistic relationship. It seems as if, in fear of exposing their flaws, the women are unable to expose their real feelings and personality. This competition restricts any true friendship and fosters only jealousy. Wharton seems to encourage the competition by drawing few real distinctions between the two until late in the work.
The competition between Mrs. Ansley and Mrs. Slade seems to reveal itself when they reflect upon their children and own their own days in Rome as youth. The topic of their daughters exposes a distinct set of reactions from the women. While they both are proud of their children, Mrs. Ansley’s daughter Barbara seems to possess the flair and passion for life that both women seem to envy. Mrs. Slade encourages this opinion, explaining her feelings towards Babs, “I appreciate her. And perhaps envy you” (755). Mrs. Slade’s jealousy is directly stated here, and again, pushes the competition between the widows. The topic of their daughters leads the women to the heart of the tension between them; Mrs. Ansley’s sexual desire for the late Mr. Slade is the culmination of the rivalry between the two.
Mrs. Slade’s attempt to sicken Mrs. Ansley reveals just how extreme these women are willing to take the competition. Mrs. Slade explains her anger over Mrs. Ansley’s secret desire for Mr. Slade. She proclaims; “I’d found out-and I hated you” (759). Mrs. Ansley, however, is not without firepower of her own; informing Mrs. Slade that she did, in fact, have an affair with Mr. Slade. This inspires even more banter between the women, as Mrs. Slade states “Yes; I was beaten there. But…...after all, I had everything; I had him for twenty-five years” (762). This statement summarizes the tension between the women, a lifelong competition, for the same man, the same life, and superiority over the other. Mrs. Ansley, not to be outdone, delivers the knockout blow to Mrs. Slade, collapsing her memories, and perhaps more importantly, her apparent victory. She calmly replies “I had Barbara” (762). Barbara represents the ultimate victory between the two, for she carries a certain personality that both women desire, and is presumed to be the love child of the man they both desired as well. Wharton uses parallel desires to expose the intensity of the women’s rivalry, with each woman seeming to “win” individual aspects of the relationship. The women’s desire to be superior to the other prevents any friendship between the two, and leaves them both with regret.
Twain’s work seems to suggest not only a rivalry towards fellow Americans, but more of a general hostility towards everyone he meets while traveling. His statements regarding foreigners seem to be racist and based upon his ignorance. His references to the party’s doctor as a prophet and savior seem to express his feelings of superiority as an American. He observes the natives as they flock to the doctor, “they thought he was gifted like a god” (349). In his mind, being an American is reason alone to command their automatic adoration and respect. Rather than assisting the sick, Twain insults them, referring to the group as “a thankless and impassive race” (349) and again as “simple, superstitious, disease-tortured creatures” (349). Twain seems to view these people and their lifestyles as a challenge to American people, and he approaches the challenge with violence:
They sat in silence and with tireless patience watched our every motion with that vile, uncomplaining impoliteness which is so truly Indian and which makes a white man so nervous and uncomfortable and savage that he wants to exterminate the whole tribe. (348)
Here, Twain’s hostility reaches an extreme, almost genocidal, state. This demonstrates his hatred for anything unfamiliar to him. He is ignorant of the native’s ways, and this makes him very uncomfortable. Twain’s perceived challenge causes him discomfort and seems to spark his hostility and aggression.
Twain’s violent outbursts, however, are not limited to the natives. The criticism regarding his companions seems more out of embarrassment and a superiority complex. He expresses an apparent disgust with his companions’ appearance as they travel through the desert. He scolds their decisions to carry umbrellas and wear head-wraps:
…when one sees this outrageous picture exposed to the light of day, he is amazed that the gods don’t get out their thunderbolts and destroy them off the face of the earth...I wouldn’t let any such caravan go through a country of mine. (343)
This outburst seems to be out of embarrassment and once again, discomfort. It is apparent that Twain is very critical of the appearance that Americans convey as they travel to foreign places. Furthermore, he shows disgust for an American woman who cannot speak French “intruding with her vile English” (65). This displays Twain’s intense competitiveness as he travels, both with his fellow companions and with the people he comes across.
Edith Wharton’s work is strictly a one on one rivalry, while Twain’s piece reveals a general competitiveness. Both works display the truly American trait of competition. Foreign travel seems to expose Americans’ desire to be superior, and their eagerness to make judgments no matter what the cost. There is an apparent disregard for both friendship and courtesy as Americans travel. This is probably why foreigners presume all Americans to be arrogant. Twain’s work seems to expose a general ignorance and lack of appreciation for foreign peoples, as he degrades their appearance and lifestyles. Wharton’s piece shows a more individualized antagonism, with individual success and happiness coming at all costs. The characters switch to a competitive state without hesitation, and often without motive. Both pieces expose this flaw of Americans traveling abroad. This individual flaw may represent a larger trend of Americans placing themselves before others, no matter what the cost, with potentially disastrous consequences.
Posted by on October 02, 2003 at 01:38 PM