The major themes of this Mary E. Wilkins Freeman story are honor, loyalty and self-sacrifice. A young engaged couple pledge to remain faithful to one another when the man asks for time before they marry to go away and make his fortune. Fourteen years later, he returns a rich man. Both have honoured the pledge, and they make wedding plans. Although circumstances have changed and each has a reason not to marry, neither will admit it out of respect for the other’s loyalty. An overheard conversation changes things. Other themes include choices and consequences, independence, solitude, gender roles, courage, identity.
In releasing Joe from his promise and resuming her “self-cloistered” life, Louisa re-defines her identity. Instead of being seen as loyal bride-to-be waiting to assume her “rightful” place in the world as a wife and mother, she asserts her independence and preparedness to defy convention. We already saw signs of this in her daily use of fine china. By freeing Joe and, in doing so, renouncing marriage and children, she has the freedom to continue to live happily in nun-like order and purity.
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