What's-His-Name

"What's-His-Name" by George Barr McCutcheon is a poignant story from the early 1900s focused on Harvey, a man wrestling with his sense of self next to his famous actress wife, Nellie Duluth. He grapples with feeling like just "What's-His-Name", overshadowed by Nellie's glittering career and public adoration. The story begins in the heart of New York City, with Harvey feeling out of place amidst Broadway's hustle, longing for the simplicity of their past life in a small town. He contrasts his ordinary routine with Nellie's extraordinary spotlight, exploring the growing distance between them and his own feelings of not measuring up. This sets the scene for a story that looks at love, identity, and how society judges a person's importance.