Literary Essay - "The Painted Door"

In some cases, one marries not for love, but for convenience. Sinclair Ross’s short story “The Painted Door” is about an unhappily married couple who struggle to make a living on an isolated farm. Ann, the lonely wife of John, is attracted to her husband’s friend Steven. Although the blame for her husband’s death is often placed on Ann, John is partly responsible for the tragic end of the story.

Ann is indecisive about her relationship with John. She considers disloyalty despite her hopes that he would return home to be with her. Ann criticizes John’s judgment to visit his father in the storm in order to “justify her rebellious thought, to prove John responsible for her unhappiness” (373). She uses this assumption as an excuse for her infidelity. Ann is judgmental of John’s appearance, wishing him to shave before leaving the house. John insists that “it’s only Steven”(368) and that he has seen him disheveled before. Though Ann realizes that John is an honest and dedicated man, her weaknesses cause her to fall to the temptation of her lust.

There is evidence that John is at fault for his own death. His possessive and obsessive attitude towards Ann causes her to feel trapped and alienated to the rest of the world. This seemingly selfish quality gives Ann the initiative to cheat, resulting in John’s hysterical trek through the storm. Ann feels that she is as important as [John’s] father” (367) and wishes that he would not leave her alone. Ann seems to crave John’s attention, or at least the attention of a companion. John fails to give to her what she desires most, and Ann begins to find no point in “trying to talk to a man who never talk[s]” (371).

Both parties share equal responsibility for the outcome of the situation. While John neglects Ann’s most prevalent emotional needs, Ann lets herself fall victim to her instability and to Steven. John’s death comes from the opposing views of both members of the relationship.