Spoon River Anthology, Mrs. Purkapile summary
Mrs. Purkapile of 246 · 1 min to read the chapter
In Mrs. Purkapile, a wife describes her husband's year away and rejects his claim that pirates prevent him from writing, saying he meets Mrs. Williams instead. She pretends to believe his account but refuses divorce, treating his behavior as a scheme to escape marriage and defending her own character.
What happens
- Mrs. Purkapile's husband runs away and remains absent for a year.
- He returns with a story about pirates on Lake Michigan keeping him chained and unable to write.
- Mrs. Purkapile pretends to believe him but says she knows he meets the milliner, Mrs. Williams.
- She refuses to be pushed into divorce because she values her promises, marriage, and her own character.
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What to notice
Mrs. Purkapile’s insistence on binding commitments explains why she refuses divorce even while distrusting her husband.
Quick check
Why does Mrs. Purkapile refuse divorce?
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