Betrayal

Betrayal is a theme in several of the short stories in this collection. The first clear theme of betrayal appears in the story, 'Really, Doesn't Crime Pay?' In this story, the narrator trusts her lover with her private writings, taking from him the encouragement she has not been able to get from her husband. However, this lover takes this trust and crushes it when he uses the stories and ideas as his own, publishing them under his own name. The narrator is deeply disappointed in his actions, but instead of punishing him, the narrator takes out her anger on her husband, Ruel, by attempting to cut his head off.

Betrayal is also a theme in Her Sweet Jerome. Mrs. Washington has married a man she deeply admires and believes she can convince to love her despite his indifference toward her. As time goes by, Mrs. Washington becomes...