`Editha` by W.D. Howells

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William Dean Howells 's short story Editha ' expresses the grim realities of war amid the false but persistent attitude of some people to romanticize it in the name of an abstract but powerful concept called patriotism . The title character of the story is an idealistic young woman who pushes her man to enlist . Editha believes that fighting in the war would make George a hero and it would be her pride to be the wife of a man who fought for his country . She considers war

as a glorious thing that would liberate the oppressed - and her country , the great liberator . George , on the other hand , represents the other half of humanity : those who believe that war means breaking the peace of the world

Editha is confronted with the truth when George dies in the war and she faces George 's mother . Mrs . Greason tries to make Editha see behind her idealistic notions by lecturing the young woman about how , pared down to its most basic definition , was is simply about young men killing each other sons killing the sons of other mothers , and not fully comprehending the reasons for their violence , too , because they are only sent by their respective countries . Through the older woman , Howells makes the reader see through the romantic notions and pro-war sentiments of many people like Editha . She exposes the immaturity , naivety stupidity , and blindness of believing in war for the sake of patriotism .However , when George 's mother tries...