# The Purple Dress explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by O. Henry.

## What happens

Maida, a salesgirl at the Beehive Store, saves for months to buy a tailor-made purple dress for the Thanksgiving dinner, hoping to impress Mr. Ramsay, the head clerk. Her friend Grace, who has bought a red dress, faces eviction for owing $4 in rent, and Maida gives her the money she had saved to pay the dressmaker. On Thanksgiving, Maida stays home, believing her dress unfinished, but later learns from the dressmaker, Schlegel, that she can pay later. She dons the purple dress and walks in the rain, where she encounters Mr. Ramsay, who admires her dress and her healthful spirit.

## Themes in this chapter

### Social Class and Wealth

The contrast between Maida's sacrifice for a dress and the indifference of wealthier shoppers highlights class disparities.

### Love and Romance

Maida's desire to impress Mr. Ramsay with her purple dress drives the plot, culminating in his admiration.

### Deception and Appearance vs. Reality

Maida pretends her dress is unfinished to avoid the dinner, while the purple dress becomes a symbol of her inner joy despite the storm.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown Narrator

The narrator describes the significance of the color purple and the lives of the store girls.

### Mr. Ramsay

Head clerk at the Beehive Store, health crank, and object of the girls' affections; he admires Maida's purple dress in the rain.

### Maida

The protagonist who saves for a purple dress, sacrifices her savings for Grace, and ultimately wears the dress in the rain.

### Grace

Maida's friend who buys a red dress, is evicted for unpaid rent, and receives Maida's $4.

### Old Bachman

Proprietor of the Beehive Store who hosts the Thanksgiving dinner.

### Schlegel

The tailor who makes Maida's purple dress and allows her to pay later.

## Key lines

> We are to consider the shade known as purple. It is a color justly in repute among the sons and daughters of man.

Let us think about the color purple, which is highly regarded by people everywhere.

_Opening reflection on the color purple's universal appeal._

> A starved heart must have one crumb during a year.

A heart that has been deprived of joy needs at least one small pleasure each year.

_Narrator's commentary on Maida's need for the purple dress._

> There is nothing more healthful and invigorating than braving the weather as you are doing.

Facing the elements as you are is the most healthful and refreshing thing you can do.

_Mr. Ramsay's approval of Maida walking in the rain._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-purple-dress
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_41_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters