Incompatibilities by Edith Nesbit
The poem explores the theme of trust and love in a romantic relationship. The speaker expresses their desire to be trusted by their partner, but acknowledges that they don't yet have that trust. Despite this, the speaker claims to already love their partner, but believes that when they do gain their trust, their romantic feelings will fade.
By Edith Nesbit · First published 1914 · Genre: Romance, Drama, Historical Fiction · 133 words
First lines
IF you loved me I could trust you to your fancy's furthest bound While the sun shone and the wind blew, and the world went round, To the utmost of the meshes of the devil's strongest net . . .
If you loved me, if you loved me-but you do not love me yet!
I love you-and I cannot trust you further than the door! But winds and worlds and seasons change, and you will love me more And more-until I trust you, dear, as women do trust men- I shall trust you, I shall trust you, but I shall not love you then!
What this Textopian page supports
Incompatibilities is listed on Textopian as a short story by Edith Nesbit, dated 1914 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Edith Nesbit
- Date: 1914 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Romance, Drama, Historical Fiction, Social Critique
- Length: 133 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Incompatibilities by Edith Nesbit
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Incompatibilities?
- How does this short story by Edith Nesbit fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Romance first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Night And Morning Book I by Edward Bulwer Lytton
- A Few Diversions by Josephine Daskam Bacon
- Wedding Day by Edith Nesbit
- He Thinks Hes Wonderful by F. Scott Fitzgerald
- At Home by Anton Chekhov
- Miss Minnelys Management by Edward William Thomson
Genres
- Romance — The narrative primarily revolves around the romantic relationships between characters, with love and emotional bonds being central themes.
- Drama — The story contains elements of conflict, tension, and emotional upheaval, characteristic of the drama genre.
- Historical Fiction — The setting and context of the narrative are rooted in a specific historical period, with accurate and detailed depictions of the time.
- Social Critique — The narrative explores societal norms and critiques certain aspects of the society of the time.
Tags
Humor · Satire · Short Stories · Social Commentary · Marriage · Relationships · Family Dynamics · Victorian Era · British Literature · Wit · Irony · Dark Comedy