The Scarlet Car

Richard Harding Davis’s The Scarlet Car follows Winthrop and Beatrice Forbes as they set out for the football game between Harvard and Yale, with the outing shaped by their personal circumstances and the expectations of the era. Winthrop is drawn to Beatrice, but her engagement to Ernest Peabody complicates his feelings, adding jealousy and tension as the day’s plans form. Peabody’s insistence on how Beatrice should be involved heightens the friction within the group, while rivalries and social pressures lend extra weight to their interactions. As they travel together in the “scarlet car,” mechanical troubles and other unexpected setbacks interrupt their route, creating a mix of strain, humor, and opportunities for the characters to reveal themselves.