Chapter 10 "Fern" Summary

The subject and namesake of "Fern" is a beautiful woman whose gaze is bold. The narrator begins by describing Fern's eyes, which encompass life and all of its experiences. He is in rapture of the shape of her nose, the curvature of her face and her open way of looking directly at people. Men often mistake fern's straightforward gaze; they believe she is willing to give herself to them. When Fern is younger, some men were close to her, but they do not find it enjoyable. Instead, they develop a feeling of obligation to fulfill that unnamable thing Fern searches for with her eyes.

Men continue to come to Fern for physical attention. At some point, she begins to turn them away. These men are left feeling confused and unsure about what she wants or what motivates her. People...