Flaming Youth

"Flaming Youth" by Samuel Hopkins Adams is a story about Mona Fentriss, a woman stuck in a difficult, high-class marriage. Through Mona's experiences, the story looks at what it meant to be a woman in a time when things were changing, considering ideas such as freedom and figuring out what's important in life. At the start, the story shows Mona talking openly with her doctor, touching on challenges in her marriage, the pressures of being a mother, and what society expects. It quickly becomes clear that Mona feels trapped between what's expected of her and her wish for more excitement and independence. Her relationships with her husband, Ralph, and their kids show even more about the struggles women faced back then. The story kicks off in a lively setting full of parties and personal secrets, suggesting an interesting exploration of youth and wanting more out of life.