Love by Maxwell Bodenheim (1920)
The narrative explores the inner transformation of a woman, Mrs. Robert Calvin Taylor, as she experiences a profound awakening during a night filled with moonlight. Initially, she is surrounded by the superficiality of a social gathering, feeling disillusioned with her life and the people around her. The night becomes a metaphorical lover, offering her a sense of liberation from her societal roles and expectations. As she contemplates her existence, she sheds her identity and societal constraints, symbolized by her nakedness. This act of shedding leads her to a deeper understanding of herself, where she encounters a mysterious figure named Aesthetics. This figure represents the essence of beauty and creativity, revealing that her heart and mind have been freed from the illusions of love, fear, and material desires. Aesthetics explains that her willingness to embrace the night allowed her to uncover the deeper layers of her being, where emotions and thoughts can coexist harmoniously. The dialogue between Mrs. Taylor and Aesthetics highlights her journey from a life of superficiality to one of introspection and artistic awakening. However, this moment of enlightenment is interrupted by her husband, who finds her in a vulnerable state, suggesting a return to reality and the complexities of their relationship. The contrast between her spiritual awakening and her husband's concern for her physical state underscores the tension between societal expectations and personal fulfillment. The work delves into themes of identity, the nature of love, and the quest for deeper meaning in life, ultimately questioning the value of societal norms in the pursuit of true self-awareness and artistic expression.
By Maxwell Bodenheim · First published 1920 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Philosophical Fiction, Romance · 1,364 words
First lines
The night received the moonlight in the manner of a sophisticated braggart who slaps the face of an old, impassive man. Mrs. Robert Calvin Taylor observed this illusion and painted it upon one of the lanterns lighting a little party within her heart. The guests at the party, fat sophists and slatterns in gay, patched clothes, gathered around the lantern and felt relieved at the impersonal novelty of its decoration. If Mrs. Robert Calvin Taylor had been a philosopher or a scientist she would have changed the night to an unseen background, or a chemical diagram; she would have ignored the pleading of her heart for pictorial distraction. But since she was a society-woman, tired of sensual toys and a mental twilight, she welcomed the night as her first effectual lover. Sitting in the garden of her country home she could see the lighted windows of her crowded ballroom, and hear the saccharine pandemonium of a jazz orchestra. The noise reminded her of a middle-aged roué, snickering as he rolled his huge dice while gambling for a new mistress. She felt glad that her new lover, the night, did not seek to court her with such a blustering clatter.
What this Textopian page supports
Love is listed on Textopian as a short story by Maxwell Bodenheim, dated 1920 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Maxwell Bodenheim
- Date: 1920 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Philosophical Fiction, Romance, Symbolism, Modernist
- Length: 1,364 words
- Structure: 1 section, 13 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Love by Maxwell Bodenheim
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Love?
- How does this short story by Maxwell Bodenheim fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Literary Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Literary Fiction — The book explores deep themes of love, identity, and existential reflection through sophisticated prose and character introspection.
- Philosophical Fiction — The dialogue and interactions delve into philosophical concepts of aesthetics and the nature of love and self-awareness.
- Romance — The central theme revolves around love, albeit in a complex and abstract manner, focusing on emotional and intellectual connections.
- Symbolism — The narrative employs rich symbolism, particularly through the character of the night and the figure of Aesthetics, to convey deeper meanings.
Tags
Poetry · Romance · Literary Fiction · Symbolism · Free Verse · Modernist · Experimental · Emotional · Introspective · Philosophical · Existential · Psychological