The Wheel of Life

"The Wheel of Life" by Ellen Glasgow is a story based in the early 1900s that follows the life of Gerty Bridewell and the people around her as they deal with love, what society expects of them, and finding their own happiness through complicated relationships. The book looks at the emotional problems of the characters, especially Gerty, as she tries to be happy in her marriage with Perry Bridewell while also thinking about what she wants and her friendships, mainly her bond with Laura Wilde. The story starts with Gerty Bridewell waking up feeling unhappy, even though she is beautiful and married to a rich man; while lounging in bed, pondering her unhappiness and how marriage has not met her expectations, readers are taken into her thoughts about her friendships and her relationship with Laura Wilde. Then, her husband Perry enters, showing how their relationship adds to her unhappiness, and through their funny but also serious conversations, the reader understands their interactions and hints at deeper issues as Gerty begins to question where happiness truly lies for herself.