54 pages • 1 hour read

The Custom of the Country

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1913

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Summary

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-10

Chapters 11-20

Chapters 21-34

Chapters 35-46

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

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Discussion Questions

Symbols & Motifs

Material Wealth

Material goods are an important symbol in the novel. An example of symbolic material wealth is the string of pearls Peter gifts to Undine. To Undine, the necklace signifies luxury and wealth, but to others it represents her shocking betrayal of her husband and her immoral ways. Another example of this symbol are Raymond’s tapestries. To Undine, the tapestries are simply art worthy of selling and making a profit, but to Raymond, they symbolize French history and his family’s integrity. By buying the tapestries from Raymond’s family, Undine undermines his family’s integrity. For many characters, material wealth is unimportant in comparison to keeping wealth for the future. However, to Undine, material wealth symbolizes freedom and happiness. Because material wealth is symbolically tied to happiness, Undine can never be fully happy because there will always be another material thing or level of wealth to possess.

New York/Paris

These settings also function as symbols. New York represents the custom of opulent wealth. New Yorkers like to show off their wealth, and it’s the ticket through the door to society. Therefore, whether people are from “new money” or “old money,” if they have the financial means, they’re welcome to participate in finer society. Paris, however, represents the custom of community wealth. Money is less important than social connections in Paris; one can have little money but still be welcome in influential social circles. To Parisians, money is important in upholding their history and culture. Therefore, anyone who upholds history and culture is considered worthy of society. In New York, people can remake themselves and change the rules, while in Paris, people must follow the old traditions and adapt to Parisian sensibilities to be respected.

Dakota

Dakota symbolizes Western Expansion and female liberation. In the early 20th century, America was still in its formative stages. Many states weren’t yet part of the US, and Western Expansion was an important way to create community and establish new wealth. The West, popularly perceived as wild, with no rules and a plethora of dangerous Native American tribes, inspired romantic thoughts about building new lives and starting new chapters. However, the development of the West was a dangerous endeavor full of hardship. Nevertheless, freedom is associated with the West, both because of its scenery and because of its lack of rules. While New York has had centuries to develop its customs, the West is still newly constructing its codes and institutions. Dakota is a western state that women turn to when they need a divorce because its divorce laws are more moderate than in other states, giving women a liberating space where they can free themselves of their husbands.