Indian Summer · Question
How does Indian Summer develop the theme of Disillusionment and Regret?
Answer
Indian Summer by William Dean Howells develops Disillusionment and Regret across the chapters the companion marks for this theme.
Colville experiences profound disappointment with his past life in Des Vaches and his failed love affair, leading to a search for meaning and a recurring sense of regret about his choices and the passage of time.
Colville's return to Florence is marked by a sense of loss and disappointment; the familiar sights no longer evoke the same wonder, and he regrets selling his newspaper and leaving his former life.
Colville indulges in vain regrets about his past rejection and wonders if Mrs. Bowen still sees him as a pathetic figure.
Colville's past heartbreak with Jenny Milbury is discussed as a life-altering event; Imogene questions whether people ever get over such things, and Mrs. Bowen suggests men do, but the tone carries a sense of lingering regret.
Evidence in the book
- I
Colville's return to Florence is marked by a sense of loss and disappointment; the familiar sights no longer evoke the same wonder, and he regrets selling his newspaper and leaving his former life.
- III
Colville indulges in vain regrets about his past rejection and wonders if Mrs. Bowen still sees him as a pathetic figure.
- V
Colville's past heartbreak with Jenny Milbury is discussed as a life-altering event; Imogene questions whether people ever get over such things, and Mrs. Bowen suggests men do, but the tone carries a sense of lingering regret.
- VI
Colville's bitter reflections at the end of the chapter reveal his disillusionment with his return to Florence and regret over past romantic failures.
- VII
Colville's nostalgia for his own lost youth and his sense of being out of place in the Old World reflect a deeper disillusionment with his current life.
- Chapter XI
Colville feels flat and mean after his victory over Mrs. Bowen, and regrets his behavior.
- Chapter XII
Colville's aimless existence and regret over his actions with Mrs. Bowen dominate his thoughts.
- Chapter XIII
Colville and Waters discuss failure, the 'blossom of decay,' and the sense of missed direction in life. Imogene is consumed by regret over her treatment of Colville.
