Alcoholism In Willa Cather's A Lost Lady

In the ninety years since the publication of Willa Cather’s A Lost Lady, critical readings have largely focused on Marian Forrester’s infidelity as paramount in her being “lost.” While Marian is certainly trapped within the male narrative, it is not solely Marian’s infidelities, but her apparent alcoholism, that results in Marian no longer fulfilling her assigned role. While adultery is considered morally reprehensible, it still falls within the narrative of the lascivious and weak female. The alcoholic woman, though, extends far outside accepted norms. Willa Cather’s narrative reflects this prevailing societal opinion by focusing on Marian’s infidelity while purposefully disregarding her alcoholism.

Inherent difficulties arise when engaging in the complex discussion surrounding why some people suffer from mental illness and others do not. While modern medicine now reports a link between genetics and biology as it pertains to alcoholism, this theory was pure speculation in the 1900s. Additionally, sociology has its own theories regarding the onset of alcoholism. Strained familial relations, crime, and poverty correlate with increased occurrence of alcoholism. Most of these arguments lie outside the realm of this essay. Indeed, this essay explores the cultural significance of a solitary literary figure who,

Some days after a blizzard has frozen them in, Niel stops by to check in on the wellbeing of the Forresters. At this juncture, Captain Forrester relays to Neil that Marian is suffering from headaches. When she does finally come downstairs to greet him, Neil notes, “He smelled a sharp odor of spirits. Was she ill, he wondered, or merely so bored that she had been trying to dull herself?” (Cather 61). This unspoken exchange amongst the characters reinforces the idea that while all are aware that alcohol is present, none are willing to openly acknowledge