The Bostonians

Verena Tarrant is a young woman with a gift for public speaking that entrances all who hear her. She is innocent, naive, and under the control of others. Her father, mesmeric healer Dr. Tarrant, insists a spirit moves through her—a line Verena herself repeats, indicating how she is easily influenced. Her father’s method of preparing her to speak—he stands close with his hands on her head—likewise is an early sign that Verena’s behavior is malleable by others. Verena does not see that those around her exploit her. She is too “submissive and unworldly” (55) to see that her mother hopes a friendship with Olive will help her climb socially. When she discovers Olive paid her parents to let her live with them, Verena sees her as a kind benefactress. She also allows Mr. Pardon to convince her she will “wake up famous” (113) if she marries him, finding the idea “rather dazzling” (113). Verena is not at all “reflective” (65), using her gift because those around her tell her she should.

Basil and Olive compete for Verena’s attention, with Olive attempting to mold her into the perfect suffragist and Basil hoping to mold her into the ideal traditional woman. Verena is awed by Olive’s “authority” and “stronger will” (130) and rejects marriage proposals to avoid Olive’s disapproval.