"The Constant Wife" Characters Analysis

List of Characters

Role Identification

In "The Constant Wife," W. Somerset Maugham presents a cast of characters who play significant roles in shaping the story. The main character, Constance Middleton, takes center stage as the protagonist, while other characters such as John Middleton, Martha, Bernard Kersal, Marie-Louise Durham, Barbara Fawcett, and Mortimer Durham contribute to the progression of the narrative.

Character Descriptions

• Constance Middleton: Constance is a witty and intelligent woman in her thirties. She is described as beautiful and stylish, with a keen sense of fashion. Constance is well-educated and has a sharp tongue, often using her wit to navigate the complexities of her relationships.
• John Middleton: John is Constance's husband and a successful doctor. He is portrayed as somewhat conventional, lacking the same level of wit and intelligence as Constance. John is initially blindsided by Constance's actions and struggles to understand her desire for independence.
• Martha: Martha is Constance's mother and provides a contrasting view of marriage. She is a traditional woman who believes in upholding societal norms and expects Constance to do the same. Martha serves as a source of tension and moral conflict for Constance.
• Bernard Kersal: Bernard is Constance's lover, a charming and wealthy man. He is portrayed as a progressive thinker who supports Constance's desire for independence. Bernard serves as a catalyst for Constance's self-discovery and challenges the traditional roles of marriage and infidelity.
• Marie-Louise Durham: Marie-Louise is John's sister and a close friend of Constance. She is portrayed as a modern and independent woman who supports Constance's choices. Marie-Louise provides a contrast to the more traditional characters in the story.
• Barbara Fawcett: Barbara is Constance's sister, married to Mortimer Durham. She represents a more conventional and traditional view of marriage. Barbara serves as a foil to Constance, highlighting the differences in their perspectives on relationships.
• Mortimer Durham: Mortimer is Barbara's husband and Marie-Louise's brother-in-law. He is portrayed as a jovial and easy-going character, providing some comic relief in the story. Mortimer's role is primarily supportive of the other characters and their choices.

Character Traits

• Constance Middleton: Intelligent, witty, independent, stylish, unconventional.
• John Middleton: Conventional, traditional, naive, lacking in wit.
• Martha: Traditional, moralistic, judgmental.
• Bernard Kersal: Charming, wealthy, progressive, supportive.
• Marie-Louise Durham: Modern, independent, understanding.
• Barbara Fawcett: Conventional, traditional, conformist.
• Mortimer Durham: Jovial, easy-going, supportive.

Character Background

• Constance Middleton: Constance comes from a privileged background and has been married to John Middleton for several years. She had a successful career as a writer before her marriage, but her husband disapproved of her working. Constance's desire for independence and her unconventional views on marriage stem from her own experiences and observations.
• John Middleton: John is a successful doctor and comes from a respectable family. He has always been the breadwinner of the family and adheres to traditional gender roles. John's views on marriage are deeply influenced by societal expectations and his upbringing.
• Martha: Martha is an older woman who has lived her life according to societal norms. She believes in upholding traditional values and sees marriage as a duty rather than a choice. Martha's perspective is shaped by her own experiences and the societal expectations placed on women of her generation.
• Bernard Kersal: Bernard is a wealthy businessman who has had his share of extramarital affairs. He is attracted to Constance's intelligence and independence, which sets her apart from other women he has encountered. Bernard's background and experiences have shaped his progressive views on marriage and relationships.
• Marie-Louise Durham: Marie-Louise is a modern woman who has chosen to pursue her own career and independence. She supports Constance's desire for freedom and understands the limitations of traditional gender roles. Marie-Louise's background and experiences have influenced her progressive views.
• Barbara Fawcett: Barbara is a married woman who adheres to traditional gender roles and societal expectations. She believes in maintaining the status quo and is skeptical of Constance's choices. Barbara's background and conformity to societal norms shape her perspective on marriage.
• Mortimer Durham: Mortimer is a supportive husband who does not question societal norms. He goes along with his wife's views and is content with a more traditional approach to marriage. Mortimer's background and laid-back nature contribute to his acceptance of conventional roles.

Character Arcs

• Constance Middleton: Constance undergoes a significant character arc throughout the story. Initially, she appears to be a content and conventional wife. However, as the plot unfolds, Constance's desire for independence and her discovery of John's infidelity lead her to question societal expectations. She ultimately embraces her own independence and chooses to live life on her own terms.
• John Middleton: John's character arc is not as pronounced as Constance's, but he experiences some growth and self-reflection. He initially dismisses Constance's desires and fails to understand her perspective. However, as the story progresses, he begins to question his own actions and beliefs, ultimately leading to a reconciliation with Constance.
• Martha: Martha's character remains relatively static throughout the story. She represents the voice of traditional values and serves as a source of conflict for Constance. Martha's beliefs are challenged but not significantly altered by the events of the narrative.
• Bernard Kersal: Bernard's character arc is not as significant as Constance's, but he does experience some growth. He starts as a charming and supportive lover, encouraging Constance's independence. However, his own infidelity presents a moral conflict for Constance, and Bernard is forced to confront his own actions and beliefs.
• Marie-Louise Durham: Marie-Louise's character remains relatively consistent throughout the story. She serves as a supportive friend to Constance, offering guidance and understanding. Marie-Louise's role is primarily to provide a contrast to the more traditional characters and to reinforce Constance's choices.
• Barbara Fawcett: Barbara's character arc is limited, as she represents a more traditional view of marriage. She remains skeptical of Constance's choices and does not experience significant growth or change.
• Mortimer Durham: Mortimer's character remains relatively consistent throughout the story. He serves as a supportive husband to Barbara and a friend to Constance and John. Mortimer's role is primarily to provide comic relief and support for the other characters.

Relationships

• Constance and John Middleton: Constance and John's relationship is initially portrayed as conventional and content. However, as the story progresses, their marriage is tested by Constance's desire for independence and John's infidelity. Ultimately, they reconcile and choose to redefine their relationship based on mutual respect and understanding.
• Constance and Martha: Constance and Martha have a strained relationship due to their differing views on marriage and societal expectations. Martha represents the traditional values that Constance seeks to challenge, leading to conflicts between them.
• Constance and Bernard Kersal: Constance and Bernard's relationship is marked by their shared desire for independence and their extramarital affair. They provide each other with intellectual stimulation and support, challenging societal norms and expectations.
• Constance and Marie-Louise Durham: Constance and Marie-Louise have a close friendship based on their shared progressive views. Marie-Louise serves as a confidante and supporter of Constance's choices, providing understanding and guidance.
• Constance and Barbara Fawcett: Constance and Barbara's relationship is strained due to their differing views on marriage. Barbara represents the more traditional perspective, which contrasts with Constance's desire for independence.
• Marie-Louise Durham and Mortimer Durham: Marie-Louise and Mortimer have a supportive and easy-going relationship. They provide comic relief and serve as a contrast to the more complex dynamics of other relationships in the story.

Overall, "The Constant Wife" delves into the complexities of marriage, societal expectations, and the pursuit of personal happiness. The characters' relationships and character arcs explore themes of independence, fidelity, and the redefinition of traditional gender roles. Constance Middleton's journey towards self-discovery and her relationships with other characters drive the narrative, offering insights into the complexities of human nature and the pursuit of personal fulfillment.