Xingu
Xingu is a short story by Edith Wharton, written in the early 20th century, that satirizes the pretensions of an elite women's literary club. The narrative centers around the members of the 'Lunch Club' as they prepare to impress the esteemed author Osric Dane with their cultural knowledge. However, their discussions devolve into absurdity when they misinterpret 'Xingu' as a profound topic, only to discover it refers to a river in Brazil. Wharton critiques the superficiality of social clubs and the emptiness of their intellectual aspirations.
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“Oh, certainly, 'The Wings of Death' is not amusing," ventured Mrs. Leveret, whose manner of putting forth an opinion was like that of an obliging salesman with a variety of other styles to submit if his first selection does not suit.””
— Edith Wharton
“... it became clear to her observers that she was not quick at shifting her facial scenery. It was as though her countenance had so long been set in an expression of unchallenged superiority that the muscles had stiffened, and refused to obey her orders.””
— Edith Wharton
“A tremor of apprehension encircled the room. None of the ladies required any preparation to pronounce on a question of morals; but when they were called ethics it was different. The club, when fresh from the "Encyclopedia Brittanica," the "Reader's Handbook" or Smith's "Classical Dictionary," could deal confidently with any subject; but when taken unawares it had been known to define agnosticism as a heresy of the Early Church and Professor Froude as a distinguished histologist; and such minor members as Mrs. Leveret still secretly regarded ethics as something vaguely pagan.””
— Edith Wharton
“The desire to propitiate a divinity is generally in inverse ratio to its responsiveness,””
— Edith Wharton
“Such opinions as she had were imposing and substantial: her mind, like her house, was furnished with monumental "pieces" that were not meant to be disarranged.””
— Edith Wharton
“It was not that they felt themselves unequal to the task, but that their sense of the opportunity plunged them into the agreeable uncertainty of the lady who weighs the alternatives of a well-stocked wardrobe.””
— Edith Wharton
“Mrs. Plinth was almost as proud of her obligations as she was of her picture-gallery; she was in fact fond of implying that the one possession implied the other, and that only a woman of her wealth could afford to live up to a standard as high as that which she had set herself.””
— Edith Wharton
“Mrs. Ballinger is one of the ladies who pursue Culture in bands, as though it were dangerous to meet alone. To this end she had founded the Lunch Club, an association composed of herself and several other indomitable huntresses of erudition.””
— Edith Wharton
