The Heart of Arethusa

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

23856

Title

The Heart of Arethusa

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Set in a meticulously ordered farm, this novel follows the spirited Arethusa, whose red hair and storm-loving nature clash with her strict aunts. Her life changes dramatically when her father, Ross Worthington, returns from Italy with a wealthy new wife, promising a reunion that challenges the family's rigid traditions.

Summary up to 500 words

In Frances Barton Fox's *The Heart of Arethusa*, the narrative unfolds within the rigidly ordered world of the Redfield Farm, ruled by three great-aunts: the precise Miss Eliza, the gentle invalid Miss Asenath, and the anxious Miss Letitia. At the center of this structured existence is Arethusa Redfield, a tall, red-haired girl defined by her romantic imagination and deep devotion to her father, Ross Worthington, who has been absent for eighteen years. The story begins with a dramatic storm that Arethusa joyfully embraces, defying her aunts' commands to stay indoors. This scene establishes the central conflict between the farm's practical, duty-bound atmosphere and Arethusa's wild, idealistic spirit. The plot accelerates with the arrival of a letter revealing that Ross has married a beautiful woman named Elinor in Florence and is returning to America. Contrary to expectations of resentment, Arethusa reacts with ecstatic gratitude, viewing the new wife as the agent of her long-awaited reunion. The narrative explores themes of romantic idealism versus practical duty, particularly through the subplot involving Miss Eliza's persistent pressure for Arethusa to marry Timothy Jarvis, a neighbor and childhood acquaintance. Arethusa vehemently refuses, citing her lack of love for him and her disdain for his name, despite the aunts' belief that the marriage would unite the farms and secure her future. The novel delves into the tension between individual desire and familial expectation. Arethusa's love for her father is not based on memory, as she has none, but on a vivid fantasy created by stories and a photograph, elevating him to a heroic status. The arrival of the new wife introduces the unpredictable forces of romance into the family's structured world. Through vivid descriptions of the farm's landscape and the distinct personalities of its inhabitants, the text builds toward the inevitable collision of tradition with change. The story highlights the nature of love, distinguishing between the societal obligation to marry for stability and the personal necessity of marrying for affection, ultimately portraying Arethusa's unwavering commitment to her own heart's desires against the backdrop of a life governed by habit and expectation.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Fiction
• Young Women