"The Wife of his Youth" by Charles W. Chestnut seemed like it was a satire on the Blue Vein Society. The society seemed very shallow. The members did not limit membership to skin color but thought that members with lighter skin just happened to have higher standards and intellect than those of a darker skin color. Membership was supposed to be based on social standing but everyone knows that it is not called the Blue Vein Society just for an interesting name. The Blue Vein Society is just another form of segregation in society. They see themselves as more dominant and intellectual than those of a darker color. If America just got through with the Civil War and slavery, why are they offering to separate their race even more? The Blue Vein Society was agreeing with the “white power” mindset and not even standing up for their race. The main character of the short story, who is also a prominent leader in the Blue Vein Society tells a complete lie at the end to make him seem like a better person than he actually is. The Ball was to announce his love and request to marry a younger lady he has fell in love with. Instead he says how this old lost woman was his ‘long lost love’ and how they got separated in their youth. In my opinion taking care of the old woman would be the right thing to do, instead of claiming the man she is looking for is him! I don’t even know how I would be feeling if I was the younger woman who he was supposed to marry. Mr. Ryder’s action displays the shallow mindset of the Blue Vein Society.
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