# Enter the Heroine explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by Ring Lardner.

## What happens

Booth, while waiting for food in his hotel room, attempts to write a letter but is hindered by a broken typewriter key. A chambermaid enters and engages in a brief, humorous conversation about sickness and marriage. After she leaves, Booth tries to read one of the room's books but finds the author's dialogue style grating.

## Themes in this chapter

### Marriage and Gender Roles

Booth's comment about marriage regaining sanctity if husbands and wives were sick together touches on traditional views of marriage.

## Character check-ins

### Mr. Booth

Struggles with a broken typewriter key and engages in witty banter with the chambermaid.

## Key lines

> Marriage might regain something of its former sanctity, observed Booth, if husbands and wives were always both sick together.

Booth suggests that marriage would be more sacred if couples shared illnesses together.

_Reflects on the ideal of marital unity._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters/enter-the-heroine
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_62_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_62_se/chapters