The Wife Of His Youth Summary

Woman’s Most Distinguishing Quality

St. Paul once said, “Three things will last forever--faith, hope, and love-- and the greatest of these is love.” Throughout history, the power of faith, hope, and love have repeatedly proved themselves to be unstoppable forces that can overcome any challenge, such as the loss of a loved one. In the story “The Wife of His Youth” written by Charles W. Chesnutt, the main character, Mr. Ryder, meets Liza, a woman from his past, whose loyalty and fidelity cause a change of character. At the beginning, Mr. Ryder is portrayed as a more shallow man who has more or less selfish reasons for marrying another woman named Molly Dixon. However, throughout the duration of an exchange he has with Liza, a part of his

past that had been tucked away is drawn out due to her striking nature. She reminds him of Sam, someone he has long since forgotten about: a man who is truly in love with an African American woman regardless of the societal pressure to be accepted within a white community. Liza’s high regard for the man she is in love with, someone who would never give up on finding her, draws out a part of Mr. Ryder that he abandoned after he escaped from the South.
Throughout the exposition of “The Wife of His Youth” Mr.

Ryder describes his love for Ms. Dixon, his soon-to-be fiancé. The details about her that he highlights are extremely apparent and seem to be only surface-deep qualities which ultimately will assist his escalation in the social stratum. For example, he shares how young, pale, and well educated she is. His infatuation with her physical characteristics, as well as the social advancement marrying her would give him, expose his ulterior motive which is to be fully accepted by the white community. Mr. Ryder believes that in order for the people of “mixed complexions” to be accepted “...[they] must do the best [they] can for [themselves] and those who are to follow [them]. Self-preservation is the first law of nature” (4). At this point in the story, he prioritizes self-preservation above loyalty. Through his dialogue and thoughts, it can also be inferred that Mr. Ryder’s only fidelity is to himself. Though not directly stated, it can be assumed that Mr. Ryder is mainly marrying Ms. Dixon for personal gain because of how he is portrayed by Chesnutt. His character lacks the sense of devotion that Sam, the man Mr. Ryder used to be, once had for Liza when they were both slaves. When his life depended on a “self-preservation” mindset in order to escape, it caused him to lose sight of who he is and the promise he had made to Liza to be faithful. When free in the North, Sam is lost and Mr. Ryder, a man of selfish

intentions, is formed. This character is the one who allows the incentives that come with being married to Ms. Dixon override his appreciation for fidelity and erase Sam from his thought.
Later in the story, Mr.

Ryder is reintroduced to Liza. As she talks with him, her sense of devotion and loyalty awakens a part of Mr. Ryder that he had since then locked away. The authenticity of her voice when she talks about Sam,leads Mr. Ryder to uncover the memory of a man Liza had once held so highly in her thought. When Mr. Ryder challenges Sam’s loyalty to Liza she responds with, “He would n’ marry no yuther ‘ooman ‘tel he foun’ out ‘bout me. I knows it” (9). Then she goes on to say, “Sam ain’ dat kin’er man. He wuz good ter me, Sam wuz…” (10) after Mr. Ryder asks if Sam would ever abandon her to be “in [a] world where he wouldn't care to have [her] find him” (10). Liza believes in Sam so much so that she travels around the country searching for him for twenty-five years. The love she expresses through her dedication is what persuades Mr. Ryder to look past himself and revives someone who he had hid deep down. Though he tried to suppress the memories of his past self, he was not able to ignore Liza’s faith in a man who was so in love that he promised to either risk his life in order to help her escape, or save up to buy her her freedom. The scene ends with him “gazing thoughtfully at the reflection of his own face” (11) after Liza leaves. Her encounter with him encourages him to reflect on who he is and the sacrifices he made in order to be where is

now.
In the closing of the story, Mr. Ryder finally allows himself to be in love again and starts to let go of conforming to the pressures of society to fit in. At the ball he threw for Ms. Dixon, his guests expect him to officially affirm his love for her and propose, ultimately resulting in a social escalation. As the last toast of the night, Mr. Ryder begins by talking about the relation between man and woman and says, “But perhaps the quality which most distinguishes woman is her fidelity and devotion to those she loves. History is full of examples, but has recorded none more striking than one which only today came under my notice” (12). He then goes on to retell Liza’s story to his captivated audience. This shows how impactful Liza’s previous interaction and story were to Mr. Ryder. This recognition of the importance that loyalty plays in love is what leads him to embrace the quality that Liza valued most in Sam and ultimately to acknowledge the wife of his youth. The authenticity of emotion expressed during the resolution of the story illustrates the meaning and significance fidelity has on Mr. Ryder. He finally lets go and allows himself to be vulnerable to the judgements of others in exchange for the faithfulness of another.
Throughout his character change, Mr. Ryder is exposed to a characteristic that he once viewed as a liability for his social reputation. He realizes that love is not something people use to advance in the social stratum, but something that can be expressed through devotion and dedication; love is not something used for personal gain, but is something that can be spread to all; love is not selfish, but something that never stops giving. Mr. Ryder’s encounter with Liza and her unwavering loyalty were how his character was able to fulfill his side of the promise that he had made so many years ago. They helped him remember who he is: a man who is truly in love with an African American woman.