The Well of Loneliness

Mary is a poor orphan from Wales who spent most of her life working, unpaid, as a relative’s chauffeur. She felt trapped in her small town, and after she got wind of the Breakspeare Unit through a parson, it was only a matter of time before she was accepted. She made a very strenuous journey from Wales to France in the middle of World War I, proving wrong Mrs. Breakspeare’s worries that she might be too weak a candidate for the job. Stephen finds herself falling for Mary, reaching out to touch her on impulse. Stephen feels guilty about her feelings but doesn’t see why she should deny herself this friend. They spend significant time together and frequently talk through the night.

Stephen’s unit moves into an abandoned castle once the Germans get too close for comfort. Many of the women are getting injured and are upset. In the close quarters, everyone is annoyed with one another, and what they previously enjoyed they now only endure. One day, Mrs. Breakspeare asks to speak privately with Stephen. She tells Stephen that Mary has become too emotionally dependent on Stephen and that they need to stop riding together. She tells Stephen she can’t have this sort of attachment in her unit and then refers to Stephen as her highly valued “second in command” (262). While Stephen is worried for Mary’s safety now that she won’t be able to protect her, she says she understands and will adjust her schedule accordingly.

The threat of violence increases daily as the Germans grow desperate. Stephen worries about Mary constantly since the other women are not as skilled drivers as Stephen. Now that they have less time together, they appreciate even more the time they do spend together. Stephen continues to receive loving letters from Puddle filled with rare gifts, as well as letters of a less emotive nature from her mother. She learns from Anna that Roger was killed trying to save a fellow soldier. She sees this as his one noble act.

As the Americans join the war, things intensify. Stephen and Mary witness many gruesome, life-changing sights. Stephen thinks constantly of Mary and her safety. Stephen’s face is hit by a piece of shell, tearing open her cheek and leaving her with “an honorable scar” (265). Stephen is awarded a bronze Croix de Guerre for her service. That same day, she and Mary walk hand in hand. Mary looks up at Stephen in tears and begs her not to leave her once the war is over. Surprised, Stephen agrees to stay with Mary after the war. 

Seemingly out of nowhere, the fighting stops, and silence settles over the unit. A man announces that the Armistice has been signed. Some are jubilant, while some are too damaged at this point to celebrate. Stephen and Mary remain with their unit until the unit moves on to Germany. Many of the women feel a bit restless, knowing the adventure is over.

Mary and Stephen come home to a well-orchestrated celebration put on by Stephen’s servant family, which has been keeping house for her in her absence. Stephen shows Mary Mary’s bedroom, and then they sit by the fire together, feeling tentative. Mary puts her hand on Stephen’s knee, but Stephen ignores this and instead suggests they go on vacation. Mary is concerned that going on vacation will hamper Stephen’s writing, but Stephen insists it will only help. Stephen then takes Mary’s hand and explains her plan to send Mary to Mary’s cousin’s while she visits Morton. She says they will reunite in London and then leave on vacation. Mary then tells Stephen about some of her hopes and dreams for the future, and Stephen agrees to help them come true.

Stephen receives a letter from Brockett asking if she is “in love” and reprimanding her for ignoring Valérie. After reading the letter, she tells Mary to go to bed, since she is worried that Mary is unhealthy. Mary asks for a kiss, and Stephen kisses her on the cheek. After Mary goes to bed, Stephen tries to write letters and work on her novel, but all she can do is sit and think about Mary. She feels she might be hurting Mary by getting involved with her. She knows she can’t give her a child, but she can give her love and security. She decides she cannot physically cement the relationship until she is sure Mary is healthy both physically and mentally. Stephen does not want to take advantage of her. Stephen decides she must tell her that the world will hate Mary if Mary decides to stay with Stephen. This thought causes Stephen to “tremble.”

At Morton, Stephen tells Puddle and Anna that Mary needs her help and will be staying with her and helping her type her manuscripts. This arouses Puddle’s suspicion. That evening Stephen seeks out Puddle for a private conversation. Puddle asks about Mary, and Stephen shows her a picture. They talk about how Mary is 10 years younger than Stephen and how she needs financial help. Puddle suspects that Stephen is not telling her everything, as Stephen seems “unhappy.” Stephen then asks if Puddle is going to go back to Paris or stay at Morton while she and Mary go on vacation. This hurts Puddle, as she realizes how “dull and tired” she has become (275). Her life feels empty as she realizes not even Stephen needs her anymore. She tells Stephen that she plans to stay at Morton permanently; in Anna’s old age, she says, she is more useful an aide to Anna than to Stephen. Stephen thanks Puddle for her service and “after nearly eighteen years of life together” they part ways (276).

The place where Stephen and Mary vacation, the Villa Del Ciprés in Orotava, is extremely old and untended but has a beautiful sprawling garden. Stephen and Mary arrive at the Villa Del Ciprés and joke about its sparse furnishings. They then meet the waitstaff, consisting of Concha, Esmerelda, and Ramon.

In the evening, Mary and Stephen stand outside enjoying the wide expanse of stars and smells. Mary confesses that she feels like Stephen is a “long way away” (280). Stephen makes a joke of it, and they go inside and head to their separate beds full of a “very great sadness” (280).

Mary has gotten healthier but also unhappier. Stephen and Mary often ride into the mountains or sit in their garden listening to local beggars sing Spanish tunes. Mary often tries to get close to Stephen at these times, but Stephen always avoids her advances. Stephen is full of anxiety about having to explain to Mary the cost their relationship will probably exact from Mary if Mary decides to commit to it. Stephen feels Mary’s youth will eventually keep them apart. Stephen and Mary grow further apart as Stephen more forcefully rejects Mary’s attempts at intimacy.

When Mary can no longer take Stephen’s behavior, she confronts her and says she is returning to England because Stephen has grown to “hate” her. Stephen then tells her that the world will hate Mary if Mary chooses to love Stephen. Mary starts, to cry so Stephen says she understands that she is asking “too much.” Mary says she doesn’t care if the world hates her as long as Stephen loves her. Stephen starts to kiss her, and they finally spend the night together. 

Stephen and Mary fall deeply in love and are finally at ease with each other and the world. Their gardener and guide, the young Pedro, falls in love with Mary. He can’t stand to see Mary and Stephen together, so he isolates himself from their activities. Stephen tries to temper his love with money, but it’s no use: He is smitten.

Stephen and Mary try to soak in every detail of Orotava before they leave for Paris. They feel more confident than ever of both their right to love and their right to exist in the world.