Roman Fever

If you happen to be looking for drama, you would do better to read something by Edith Wharton than to watch, say, a modern soap opera. Here I could give a shout out to her novel Ethan Frome, but considering my location, the topic of discussion today is, of course, Roman Fever. No underpaid soap opera writer could come up with a premise this good and cover it in such an efficient manner.

Cue ridiculously dramatic opener music.

Enter Mrs. Slade.

She is a vibrant woman, dark, tall and beautiful.

Enter Mrs. Ansley.

She is paler, shorter, less vibrant than her opponent.

Outwardly the two may seem unevenly matched, yet they will duke it out like gladiators without ever leaving their chairs, and they will go for several rounds. How fitting that their chairs look out over the Colosseum from a rooftop restaurant above the Palatine and the Forum.

Cue majestic, sweeping footage of the Roman Forum. Cue majestic, sweeping music.

The Forum is an ideal setting for this particular story to take place. Rome is, after all, the city of amore. The history of the Forum itself, going back as far as the history of Rome itself, is rife with intrigue and drama. Mrs. Ansley thinks of the scene below her as “the great accumulated wreckage of passion and splendor at her feet.” This refers to the literal ruin she sees before her, as well as the remembered ruins of her past, and the past of her companion. Just as the Forum and the Colosseum still retain an air of majesty and dignity from a distance, at a glance Mrs. Ansley and Mrs. Slade look quite composed. Up close they are on the edge of ruin, each holding on to a secret that could tear the other down.

Undoubtedly both women can see the triumphal arches of Titus, Septimius Severus, and Constantine from their vantage point. This is the site where generals of old paraded their victories to the populous of ancient Rome, showing off the spoils of concluded battles, carting their shamed and defeated opponents through the streets to be seen by the triumphant victors. It is no coincidence then that both women end up revealing their own triumphs against each other in this setting.

Cue footage from a gladiatorial match.

Mrs. Slade lands the first blow, seeming to cripple her opponent. Things look very bad for Mrs. Ansley as her false memories crash around her. She is a broken woman, and all seems lost for her. Then suddenly, with three words, Mrs. Ansley, still injured, lands the ultimate blow, and the battle is over, leaving Mrs. Slade devastated in the heart of Rome.

Cue musical crescendo and clashing of cymbals.

Credits roll.

Cut.

For those of you who haven't read this story, you should do it.
http://classiclit.about.com/library/bl-etexts/ewharton/bl-ewhar-roman.htm