Men, Women, and Ghosts

"Men, Women, and Ghosts" by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps is a collection of stories from the late 1800s that dives into the lives of men and women dealing with love, home life, and the difficulties faced by women in a changing world, with a strong focus on their feelings. It all starts with the wedding tales of Harrie Bird and Dr. Myron Sharpe, which opens a window into the ups and downs of their relationship as they try to make their way through life. The first story gives us a peek into the happy but tricky start of Harrie's marriage to Dr. Sharpe, showing the happiness and dreams surrounding them. But, as the story goes on, it suggests some hidden problems in their marriage, like the stress of being parents and what society expects from them. The perfect picture of their early love clashes with the hard reality of their everyday problems; thus, invites readers to think about the hard parts of love, goals, and the places of men and women in the world.