Spoon River Anthology, Mrs. Kessler summary
Mrs. Kessler of 246 · 1 min to read the chapter
In Mrs. Kessler, a laundress supports her family while her husband collects a pension, discusses politics, and reads, and she learns about people's circumstances through their washing. Her account broadens from worn cloth and stubborn stains to Life as a laundress, ending with dead faces that remind her of freshly finished laundry.
What happens
- Mr. Kessler receives an army pension and spends time discussing politics or reading while Mrs. Kessler earns the family's support.
- Her laundry work reveals private information and signs of people's changing fortunes.
- She describes wear, stains, and running colors that resist repair or cleaning, sometimes bringing blame upon her.
- She calls Life a laundress that knows the secrets held by household linen.
- At every Spoon River funeral she attends, the dead person's face reminds her of finished laundry.
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How does Mrs. Kessler support her family?
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