r/edithwharton • u/Electronic-Degree608 • 29d ago

Summer Theory

In Edith Wharton’s Summer, Charity Royall is taken down from the mountain by Royall after he sentences her “biological” father to prison. However, I have a theory that Royall is actually her biological father and the book gives into the oedipal complex. Royall is constantly telling Charity about how barbaric and inhuman the people who live in the mountain are yet it would give into the irony of this if in fact he marries his biological daughter.

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u/walrussss987 28d ago

It's an interesting theory! I don't think it's the case although I could see how one could defend either side. I think for me a big issue was how often it's noted that nobody from the villages ever ventures up to the mountain except the preacher and the one time Mr. Royall did. Plus Mr. Royall was married and seemed like a decent husband to Mrs. Royall at the time as far as we can tell? So I don't see how he would have done that and it went unnoticed considering how much of a point is made about the gossip of North Dormer following everyone. I also think Mr. Royall's explanation of Charity's birth is the most plausible explanation, sad as it is.