Rhoda had to see Farmer Lodge frequently as he was her employer, but she had to endure the pain of jealousy, and gossip when the new wife, Gertrude came home. Rhoda sent her son to see if Gertrude was prettier than Rhoda was. She was very jealous because when her son reported back to her he said of Gertrude “But she’s very pretty-very Infact she’s lovely.” Thoughts of Gertrude filled Rhodes mind to such an extent that she, “could raise a metal image of the unconscious Mrs Lodge that was realistic as a photograph.” Because she was really jealous of Gertrude, she built up anger and envy against her in her mind that lead to Rhoda having a dream in which an incubus in the form of Gertrude visited her, Rhoda hurts her physically by making her arm withered. This brought difficulties for her because Gertrude was prettier than she was. Rhoda had a dream in which an incubus of the form of Gertrude vailed to her, because she was really angry with Gertrude that she built up anger and envy against her. This brought difficulties towards her because she saw the finger marks on Gertrude’s arm. When Gertrude told her the exact time and date this happened she knew she had caused the injury. “Rhoda Brook felt like a guilty thing.” She had mixed emotions. Rhoda liked Gertrude and appreciated her kindness but was so jealous of her. Rhoda didn’t mind Gertrude being less attractive to her husband but she didn’t “which to inflict upon her physical pain.” She then had to face knowing and being with Gertrude while her arm was wrapped up, withered. She would have had to think about this all the time and probeley felt really embarrassed when with her.
Rhoda and Gertrude went to Conjuror Trendle. He was in those times the men that man was believed to a wizard knew everything. He said that he could show Gertrude who the person was that injured her. At this point of time Rhoda felt really nervous considering she was the one that actually did this to Gertrude, and that they had become best friends didn’t help. She had to face this fear of losing a friend and being alone once again with only she as company. Gertrude wanted to know who had done this to her so when conjuror Trendle told her there must have been an awakens in the room, the friction between Rhoda and Gertrude must have built up inside the room.
Rhoda, after that was so angry. Gertrude has found out about her committing the damage to Gertrudes arm, that her and her son ran away. This way she could start a new life with no Farmer Lodge and Gertrude and there was no other milkmaids around her, She could now start a new life and there she could build new friendships, relationships and start working in a new area. What didn’t help the matter, was that Rhoda’s son was arrested to arson, he was pleaded not guilty, and then he was put onto trial. At this point of time in the story Rhoda had to contact Farmer Lodge. This must have brought difficulties to her because she properly had to see Gertrude and also look at Farmer Lodge, she probley felt unwanted and needed help so desperately for her son that had built courage up to go and see him. When her son was found guilty and was arrested to be put to death. This was terrible time for Rhoda because she had lost her best friend Gertrude, her old husband; Farmer Lodge and now her son is next to go. She probley felt really lonely, and also she was proberly overwhelmed by the whole thing.
The only thing Rhoda could do was to find Gertrude and put her Withed arm on the boys neck. After a lot of persuading she did it and the boy was healed, at this point of time Rhoda exploded with emotions, she was happy that her son was alive and also sad because Rhoda was getting frailer.
After this incident Gertrude dies and then Farmer Lodge moves away, this proberly also make Rhoda sad that Gertrude had died but also happy because Farmer Lodge has moved away.
Farmer Lodge dies.
