The Custom of the Country

In July, Ralph and Undine are on their honeymoon in Italy. Ralph is captivated by the Italian air and is inspired to express his feelings through poetry. Undine, however, is annoyed by the heat. He realizes that Undine is also annoyed that she has spent so much alone time with him. He admits to himself, “For weeks it had hung on the edge of consciousness, but he had turned from it with the heart’s instinctive clinging to the unrealities by which it lives” (72). Ralph tries to excuse her behavior as owing to her upbringing in the Midwest, where he assumes she wasn’t taught to appreciate beauty and foreign experiences. However, Ralph is stressed about money; their funds are running low, and when they return to New York, the expectation is that Ralph will leave his law office and find a better-paying job. He lived frugally but didn’t realize how extravagant his new wife was. After trying to discuss finances with Undine and finding that she expects him to support the lifestyle she wants, Ralph is nervous to broach the subject again. Undine cries and insists that they go to Switzerland because she finds Italy boring.