The Golden Honeymoon story
"The Golden Honeymoon" is the ninth installment of The American Short Story television anthology series produced by Learning in Focus and Sea Cliff Productions for the Public Broadcasting Service. This installment is based on the 1922 Ring Lardner short story of the same name. Synopsis: An elderly couple go to Florida to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary.
19 total · 9 major · 10 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| coping with a jealous lover | major | From Lucy's point of view Charley was letting his jealousy of Frank spoil their golden wedding anniversary vacation in Florida. Lucy often chastised Charley for attacking Frank. |
| husband and wife | major | Lucy and Charley's golden wedding anniversary was nearly spoiled by spending time with Lucy's ex-fiance and his wife. |
| inferiority complex | major | Charley was self-conscious on account that his wife's ex-lover had become more wealthy than he; to wit, Charley repeatedly made derogatory comments about Frank's being a veterinarian. Charley's insecurity was further exacerbated by Lucy wanting to spend a lot of time with Frank and Cora Hartsell. |
| old flames | major | Central to story was Lucy running into her ex-fiancé Frank while she and her husband were vacationing in Florida. |
| old-age love | major | Longtime married couple Lucy and Charley quarreled on their golden wedding anniversary holiday, but in the end they came to love one another more than ever. Lucy and Charley spoke often of their many years together as a couple. |
| reconciliation | major | The story concluded with Charley and Lucy apologizing for their parts in almost ruining their golden wedding anniversary and embraced, laughing. |
| remembering bygone days | major | Lucy and Frank, who were now elderly and married to other people, reflected fondly on the old days when they were young and in love. |
| reunion with a loved one | major | Central to story was Lucy running into her ex-fiancé Frank while she and her husband were vacationing in Florida. |
| romantic jealousy | major | Charley was jealous of Lucy's ex-fiancé, Frank. Cora was jealous of Lucy when Charley brought up Lucy and Frank's previous betrothal. |
| attitude of superiority | minor | Cora and Frank made clear that they thought themselves superior to Lucy and Charley in terms of wealth and social status. |