The story concerns two cousins, Laura and Janette, who consider two
offers of marriage extended to Laura. Though cousins, they represent two
different classes, one of privilege and the other of poverty. By
juxtaposing their class differences, Harper uses economic contrast to
suggest that gender perspectives are related to class consciousness. Laura feels she must marry or face the fate of becoming an
old maid. Janette, on the other hand, is unmarried and has forsaken
tradition to keep her independence and to pursue a writing career. In
this regard, Janette parallels Harper, who was unmarried when she
published the story.
