The Old Wives’ Tale · Chapter
II: Supper explained
Sophia and Gerald have spent the day at Versailles and dine at Sylvain's, a famous Parisian supper-room.
What happens
Sophia and Gerald have spent the day at Versailles and dine at Sylvain's, a famous Parisian supper-room. Gerald, proud and slightly drunk, insists on a carriage ride through the Bois. Sophia wears her first French costume, but feels overwhelmed by the opulence and the self-assured Parisian women. After Gerald abandons her at the restaurant, Monsieur Chirac escorts her home. Alone in the hotel room, Sophia bitterly reflects on Gerald's folly and her own choices, feeling trapped and disillusioned.
Themes in this chapter
Fate and the Irreversibility of Choices
Sophia reflects on her past decisions—the folly of her elopement and her relationship with Gerald—and feels trapped, realizing she cannot return to her former life.
Provincial Life vs. Worldly Experience
Sophia's provincial background clashes with the sophisticated, corrupt world of Paris. She feels out of place among the self-assured Parisian women and struggles to reconcile her upbringing with her new surroundings.
Female Identity and Independence
Sophia's dependence on Gerald is starkly highlighted; she is 'rapt away from her own world' and must accept his injustice. Her internal conflict reveals a nascent sense of disillusionment and self-awareness.
Characters to notice
- Sophia Baines
Sophia is overwhelmed by Parisian luxury and the behavior of Gerald. She feels disillusioned and trapped, reflecting on her past decisions and the folly of her elopement.
- Gerald Scales
Gerald is proud, drunk, and careless. He abandons Sophia at the restaurant and later lies about his bleeding lip, adopting a magisterial tone to deflect blame.
- Monsieur Chirac
Chirac gallantly escorts Sophia home after Gerald abandons her, displaying manners that Sophia finds more wonderful than any she had imagined.
- Constance Baines
Mentioned in Sophia's thoughts as part of her past life in the Square with her mother and Constance.
- Mrs. Baines
Mentioned in Sophia's reflections on her former life in the Square.
Key passages
“Alone in the bedroom she was a wise and a disillusioned woman, wiser than any of those dolls in the restaurant.”
In solitude, Sophia felt she had gained a clear, bitter understanding of her situation, surpassing the superficiality of the women she had seen at dinner.
Highlights Sophia's moment of disillusionment and self-awareness.
“She thought of the Square and of her life there with her mother and Constance. Never would her pride allow her to return to that life, not even if the worst happened to her that could happen.”
She recalled her old life in St. Luke's Square but resolved that her pride would prevent her from ever going back, no matter how dire her circumstances became.
Emphasizes the theme of irreversible choices and Sophia's pride.
“He was an imbecile. That he should have allowed himself to get tipsy was bad enough, but that he should have exposed her to the horrible situation from which Chirac had extricated her, was unspeakably disgraceful.”
Sophia thought Gerald was a fool for getting drunk and for putting her in a terrible position that Chirac had to rescue her from.
Shows Sophia's growing contempt for Gerald's irresponsibility.