David Harum · Chapter
David's Tale of Matrimony explained
David Harum shares with John Lenox the story of his marriage to a widow who kept a boarding house, detailing the initial happiness, the gradual onset of jealousy and domestic strife, and the eventual deterioration of their relationship.
What happens
David Harum shares with John Lenox the story of his marriage to a widow who kept a boarding house, detailing the initial happiness, the gradual onset of jealousy and domestic strife, and the eventual deterioration of their relationship.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Marriage
David's account of his marriage illustrates the complexities of love, companionship, and the challenges of domestic life, including jealousy and misunderstanding.
Ambition and Contentment
David reflects on his youthful ambition and the contentment he initially found in marriage, which later gave way to dissatisfaction and strife.
Characters to notice
- David Harum
David recounts his marriage to a widow, describing his youthful naivety, the early joys, and the growing jealousy and domestic turmoil.
- John Lenox
John listens attentively to David's story, offering occasional comments and prompting David to continue his narrative.
- Aunt Polly
Mentioned as having told John that David is a widower; David notes he hasn't discussed his marriage much with her.
- Mrs. Bixbee
Referred to as Polly, who informed John about David's widower status; David briefly digresses about her deceased husband Jim Bixbee.
Key passages
“Mon day mor nin’ I mar ried me a wife , Think in’ to lead a more contented life ; Fid dlin’ an’ danc in’ the ’ was played , To see how un happy poor I was made .”
On Monday morning I married a wife, hoping to lead a more contented life; but fiddling and dancing were played to see how unhappy I was made.
David sings a folk song about the disillusionment of marriage, setting the tone for his own story.
“I hain’t never cared to say much about it to Polly,”
I have never wanted to talk much about it to Polly.
David indicates his reluctance to discuss his marriage with Aunt Polly.
“She was a widdo’ at the time, an’ kep’ the boardin’ house where I was livin’.”
She was a widow at the time and kept the boarding house where I was living.
David describes the circumstances of meeting his wife.
“I got to thinkin’ that the state of matrimony was a putty good institution.”
I began to think that marriage was a pretty good institution.
David reflects on his early positive view of marriage.
“She grudged me even to look at a picture paper; an’ one day when we happened to be walkin’ together she showed feelin’ about one o’ them wooden Injun women outside a cigar store.”
She begrudged me even looking at a picture paper, and one day she showed jealousy about a wooden Indian woman outside a cigar store.
David illustrates his wife's extreme jealousy.