The story is told from the third person perspective, which means that the reader is not privy to the thoughts or feelings of the characters, and views the plot as the events reveal themselves. This point of view is effective for this story, because of the almost clinical relationship between Eleanor and Charles. Their intellectual pursuits definitely take priority over passion, so it is fitting that the reader sees only facts and not emotions.

The time period in which the story takes place, the late nineteenth century, was an important one for the burgeoning women's rights issues in America. Eleanor is a contemporary woman for the time, well aware of her own worth. She marries Charles for companionship and mutual intellectual pursuits. At the beginning of the story, the author makes it very clear that Eleanor is uncomfortable with the wedding announcement in the newspaper...