Fidelity: A Novel

"Fidelity: A Novel" by Susan Glaspell is a story from the early 1900s that looks at tricky relationships and strong feelings. It mainly follows Ruth Holland, a young woman whose life is all mixed up with her friends and a romance that didn't work out, and Deane Franklin, her good friend who is dealing with his own feelings for Ruth while also thinking about what society expects from him. The book starts with a group of friends hanging out and talking about everyday things. Doctor Deane Franklin notices that the conversations keep changing direction, especially when Ruth's name comes up, which shows that there's some tension about why she's not there and why she's not really part of the community anymore. As Deane thinks back on old relationships and how people have changed, he starts to feel a mix of affection and unresolved issues related to Ruth's situation, suggesting that there are deeper emotional struggles to come as the story continues. These early conversations set the scene for a battle between what society thinks is right and what people really want, hinting at the complicated relationships that will develop as the story goes on.