Spoon River Anthology, Pauline Barrett summary
Pauline Barrett of 246 · 1 min to read the chapter
In Pauline Barrett, Pauline recounts an anniversary with her husband after almost a year of recovery from surgery, when their gestures of affection cannot conceal their sorrow. Alone that night, she looks into a mirror, hears a thought that rejects living partly dead, and implies that she takes her own life.
What happens
- Pauline describes surgery that leaves her feeling hollow and almost a year spent regaining strength.
- On their tenth wedding anniversary, she and her husband walk through a forest but avoid each other’s eyes.
- They discuss their surroundings to conceal their thoughts, and he gives her wild roses for their dinner.
- Her spirits fall at night, and her husband leaves her alone briefly, as he does when she is a bride.
- Looking into a mirror, Pauline hears a thought against living partly dead, acts on it, and asks whether her husband understands.
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What to notice
Pauline Barrett’s final question addresses her husband and leaves his understanding unresolved. It sharpens the distance between their shared affection and her private despair.
Quick check
What occasion brings Pauline and her husband into the forest together?
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