Dora+Williams

"Dora Williams" Read by: Viviana Cruz Photo by:` media type="custom" key="11172968" Dora Williams was a woman who at the end of her life liked money and nothing but money. Because she liked money she married multiple men for their fortunes. However, she wasn’t always like that. She implies that in Spoon River, Reuben Pantier, a guy she loved, rejected her. Because Dora Williams got dumped by Reuben Pantier, she became a “coquette” who sought power over men. She became a gold-digger and a ruthless person when she grew up. She learned to be a “coquette” because of her mother, Mrs. Williams, who knew how women can steal husbands, “The stealers of husbands/ Wear powder and trinkets, / and fashionable hats.”(Mrs. Williams/ lines 14-16) With this being said it could be possible Dora picked up on this because the guys she marries are old and they must’ve had a wife before Dora Williams, so using her youth and beauty she could’ve used this to steal them away. The effect of Reuben Pantier rejecting her when she was young, “When Reuben Pantier ran away and threw me/ I went to Springfield.” (Dora Williams/ lines 1-2) made a huge impact on her life as she grew up. Dora was devastated because he left her, but she didn’t want to feel that pain again, so she took interest in men for money not love. Dora Williams grew a ruthless reputation due to the fact that she was a gold-digger. “A gray-haired magnate/ Went mad about [her] ---so another fortune.” (Dora Williams/ lines 8-9) She didn’t care if you felt love her all she wanted was money and that’s what she got until her last moment on earth, “I wed Count Navigato, native of Genoa./ We went to Rome. He poisoned me, I think.” (Dora Williams/ lines 19-20) Dora Williams a “coquette”, ruthless, and gold-digging woman with all the pain and harm she cause upon those who fell in love with her, how could she not expect that? Work Cited Masters Edgar Lee. “Dora Williams” __Spoon River Anthology__ New York: Macmillan, 1946 71. (Page number) Masters Edgar Lee. “Mrs. Williams” __Spoon River Anthology__ New York: Macmillan, 1946 72. (Page number)