Celibates

"Celibates" by George Moore is a story that examines the lives of Mildred Lawson, John Norton, and Agnes Lahens as they cope with longing, what society expects from them, and what they want for themselves in an evolving world. It follows their choice to be celibate, either by choice or because of what's happening in their lives, and shows the emotional issues and deep thoughts that come with their incomplete existences. The book starts off with Mildred Lawson, who is dealing with being on her own and the pressure to get married. She thinks about her upcoming marriage to Alfred Stanby and feels trapped by it. She wants to be an artist and have a life that's more than just being a wife. Through her memories and wishes, readers understand how unhappy she is with what society wants from her, as she thinks about chasing her dreams in a world that usually limits women to traditional roles. Readers are invited to discover the conflict between what people want for themselves and what society expects, making it obvious that the story will have a lot of psychological depth and social commentary.