To Room Nineteen

“And so they married amid general rejoicing, and because of their foresight and their sense for what was probable, nothing was a surprise to them.” 

The narrator repeatedly emphasizes that the match between Susan and Matthew is ideal in all respects, at least by the social and cultural standards of the day. The caveat that “nothing was a surprise to them” indicates, however, that there are inherent drawbacks to such a conventional marriage, not least of which might be boredom or restlessness.

“And if one felt that it simply was not strong enough, important enough, to support it all, well whose fault was that? Certainly neither Susan’s not Matthew’s. It was in the nature of things.”

In a matter-of-fact tone, the narrator suggests that the couple’s love for each other—the “it” of the quotation above—may not be enough to compensate them fully for the sacrifices they make in order to create the ideal nuclear family. Though Susan and Matthew may see this as “natural,” the ironic tone of the story implies that there must be more to a meaningful life.

“(And there was the word faithful—stupid, all these words, stupid, belonging to a savage old world.)”

Perhaps because of the aforementioned lack of surprise in their marriage, Matthew seeks out a casual affair, which Susan attempts to take in stride. In her efforts to appear more enlightened and “modern,” she tries to jettison old-fashioned ideas about morality and fidelity. Still, she cannot help but experience some bitterness about his betrayal, and this leads to yet more questions regarding the purpose of their marriage and her commitment to it.