An Ideal World Under "The Apple-Tree"
             Anyone would be intoxicated by the gentle, pure, and simple lifestyle of the Maddox family in Mary E. Wilkins Freeman's story "The Apple-Tree." This simplicity is contradicted by the demanding life and inhospitable attitude of another family, the Blakes, in the story. The atypical simplicity of the Maddoxes, which is reflected by the significant difference in characteristics between the two families, elucidates Freeman's intention to pursue and create an ideal world that somehow deviates from the general acceptance of what ideal is.
             The ideal world that Freeman creates in the story is centered around three crucial elements --- purity, simplicity and nature. Through portraying the distinctive characteristics of the Maddoxes, Freeman points out that her 'ideal world' is a world of nature and purity, poor yet satisfying, undemanding yet harmonious.
             There are numerous properties of Freeman's ideal world that may have conflicts with the generally accepted concept of ideal. For instance, plain and prudent style of living is one of the elements of the ideal world in the story. However, one would certainly not choose to live in a "sagging as to its roof and sills," dilapidated house as the Maddoxes do without re-polishing and decoration at all. Moreover, the scene of the baby of the Maddox family wailing pops up three times throughout the story, however, every time Adeline shows totally no intention to comfort the baby. This is certainly not a typical mother will do to her own baby. Besides, from people's point of view, the Maddoxes couple is an "irresponsible pair" because they fail to take good care of their children and even need assistance from others who "pitied the children." As a result, lack of love and responsibility to offspring are two elements that are missing in Freeman's ideal world.
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