The Conflict

The novel by David Graham Phillips centers on Jane Hastings, a young woman who returns home after years of education and travel. As she re-enters her community, she confronts the expectations placed on women, particularly the idea that her future should revolve around marriage and devoted domestic life. Jane feels uneasy with the narrow path offered to her and begins questioning what her existence should mean beyond conforming to social norms. Her interactions add to the strain: David Hull expresses his love and proposes marriage, but Jane reacts with discomfort, fearing that accepting the offer would require surrendering her own identity. Through her reflections on upbringing and the pressures around her, the story explores Jane’s search for purpose and the pull of more radical viewpoints associated with Victor Dorn.