Genre
Novel
Setting and Context
The book is set in 1913 century, New York.
Narrator and Point of View
Third-person narrative
Tone and Mood
Humorous, funny, satirical
Protagonist and Antagonist
The protagonist of the novel is Undine Spragg.
Major Conflict
The main conflict is that Undine is thirsty for material things, and most of her marriages end in divorce because she is not satisfied. The worst conflict is when she divorces Ralph after giving him a son she uses to blackmail him after divorce. Unfortunately, Ralph later dies due to pressure.
Climax
The climax comes after Undine has divorced from all her marriages and finally remarries Moffat's first husband. At least with Moffat, they understand each other with realistic expectations. Fortunately, this time around, Moffat is richer than the first time when they married.
Foreshadowing
Her lust for material things foreshadows Undine's divorce incidents throughout her life. She divorces all her husbands because they are not as rich as she expected.
Understatement
Undine's lust for material things is understated. Undine wants a life of luxury where she lives in a big city, goes shopping in malls and attends expensive parties.
Allusions
The story alludes to materialism in a marriage where one partner is after wealth.
Imagery
The imagery of materialism depicts sight, which aids readers to comprehend why Undine never settled in any of her marriage attempts. Undine wanted to marry because of money and nothing else. Therefore, all her marriages fail, and she goes back to square one.
Paradox
The main paradox is that Undine remarries Moffat after failing in all her marriages with different men she perceived to be rich. Initially, Undine divorced Moffat because he was not rich enough to provide for her luxury life. Satirically, at last, she comes back and gets remarried to him.
Parallelism
Undine’s marriage expectations parallel the actuality of daily life.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
N/A
Personification
Undine’s marriage expectations parallel the actuality of daily life.
