In this story by Sinclair Lewis, a successful 1920s businessman becomes infatuated with a secretary he sees from his twelfth story window working in an office across the street. Over time they come to exchange greetings and communicate daily through their windows. When they finally meet, she is not the simple secretary he had expected. She is as driven by corporate success as he is. He finds her a job with better prospects and is surprised when, several months later, she calls him with a request to urgently meet. Themes include infatuation, chauvinism, misogyny, gender stereotypes, ambition, loneliness, depression, sexuality.
Through satire and irony, Lewis highlights both the patriarchal, misogynistic standards of the day and the cost of corporate success in terms of meaningful relationships. Much to Bates’s dismay, Sarah defies social stereotypes and, although suffering depression because of loneliness, proves to be strong-willed, ambitious and focused. Her “discovery” – that she is a woman – suggests that the core of her loneliness is the need for a man in her life, though not necessarily marriage. If one accepts this interpretation, the closing sentence… ”But that leaves Sunday. What do we do Sunday?” could take on a cheeky new meaning.
Moths in the Arc Light Text / PDF / Audio (12,500 words)