Theme

The main theme addressed by Irwin Shaw in the short story “The Girls in Their Summer Dresses” is the theme of faulty relationships. Frances and Michael represent opposing ways of looking at the world and, eventually, their differences produce the conflict.

Faulty relationships

This theme is mostly illustrated by the differences between Frances and Michael. On the one hand, Frances is sad because she does not spend enough time with her husband and becomes excited at the idea of spending an entire day alone with him. On the other hand, Michael does not seem to reciprocate her feeling. Furthermore, he intently looks at other women and feels this is a natural thing to do, much to Frances’ frustration:

‘You always look at other women,’ Frances said. ‘Everywhere. Every damned place we go.’
‘No, darling,’ Michael said, ‘I look at everything. God gave me eyes and I look at women and men in subway excavations and moving pictures and the little flowers of the field. I casually inspect the universe.’ (ll. 45-49)

For Michael, looking at other women is a casual form of entertainment and something which offers him pleasure. He notices that his wife suffers because of this, yet he cannot help himself. Furthermore, he even tells her all about his girl-watching habit, unaware...