Evangeline Knapp

Lester Knapp

Evangeline is Lester's wife, and their relationship is strained by her domineering nature and his passive resistance.

Mattie Farnham

Evangeline employs Mattie as a household helper, but their interactions are marked by Evangeline's condescension and Mattie's quiet dignity.

Mattie Farnham

Evangeline employs Mattie as a household helper, but their interactions are marked by Evangeline's condescension and Mattie's quiet dignity.

Lester Knapp

Evangeline is Lester's wife, and their relationship is strained by her domineering nature and his passive resistance.

Mattie Farnham

Evangeline employs Mattie as a household helper, but their interactions are marked by Evangeline's condescension and Mattie's quiet dignity.

Lester Knapp

Evangeline is Lester's wife, and their relationship is strained by her domineering nature and his passive resistance.

I

Evangeline is depicted as the primary homemaker, struggling to maintain cleanliness and order in the face of her husband's neglect and the children's messes.

I

Scrubbing grease spots, answering the telephone, and frantically searching for Stephen.

II

Struggles with despair over Stephen's behavior and Lester's failure, but recommits to her children; manages the household with strict discipline and pride in her homemaking.

III

Attends the Ladies' Guild meeting, reveals her domestic burdens and passion for the nurse project, but defers to her duty to home and children.

IV

Evangeline rises early, manages the household, and confronts Stephen's behavior, while also showing care for Lester by mending his glove and reminding him of his soda-mints.

VI

Seen leaving the Guild meeting with Mrs. Anderson, spotting the fire, running to telephone the fire department, and later managing the crowd and firemen.

VIII

Evangeline applies for a job at the Emporium, revealing her past experience in her father's store. She is hired as a stock-girl in the Ladies' Cloak-and-Suit department and later returns Jerome's charitable check with a dignified refusal.

IX

Shows enthusiasm and insight in her new job at the Emporium, impressing Jerome Willing with her observations about salesmanship.

X

Enjoys breakfast downtown, reads Mrs. Willing's ad, reflects on family and work, excels at store duties, plays whist, devises a sales strategy for Mrs. Prouty.

XI

Mentioned as having forgotten about Teddy; her actions (washing Teddy) are the source of Stephen's fear.

XII

Working at Willing's; her absence from home is a key concern for Aunt Mattie.

XIV

Mentioned as working at the store and bringing Stephen small gifts; the doctor has ordered her not to do housework.

XV

Evangeline is referenced indirectly as the mother whose egg-breaking technique Helen imitates, and whose absence from Saturday chores is ensured by the weekly cleaning.

XVI

Returns home tired but fulfilled from her work at the store, bringing humor and joy to the family.

XVIII

Receives a promotion and feels a new sense of purpose and connection to the Willings' vision for the store.

XIX

Returns home excitedly to announce her promotion to head of a department at the Emporium with a salary of three thousand dollars a year; shares plans for the children's college fund and a Ford.

XX

Promoted to head of department; reflects on her marriage and her husband's character; becomes ill and seeks solitude in a church.

XXI

Mentioned as the breadwinner who sells goods; her trade-journals reflect the commercial ideology Lester despises.

XXII

Turns white at the doctor's words but responds with firmness, saying they must all do the best they can.