# David's Tale of Matrimony explained — David Harum > Chapter companion for David Harum by Edward Noyes Westcott. ## 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. ## Character check-ins ### 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 lines > 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._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/david_harum_se/chapters/xxxviii - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/david_harum_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/david_harum_se/chapters