Somerville Ross' story, “Phillipa's Fox Hunt” is set in Ireland. A recently married couple, Mr. and Mrs. Yeates, were described as adjusting to a new environment. The new location was characterized by new social activities not common in their previous residence. They had to learn new skills such as horseback riding and hunting. Mr Yeates, who narrated the story, described his life after marriage and how events had shaped his marriage. At first I could see an element of symbolism; a newly married couple will naturally start a new life and similarly in the story the couple ventured into a new society where almost everything was new just the same way two people get married to each other. The beginning of the story kept me in suspense: the opening sentence: «No one can accuse Filippa and me of getting married in a hurry» (Fox 1). This brought out the theme of love and marriage clearly. The narrator's selection of words said that the speaker did not regret his marriage. The narrator's defensive tone made me think that perhaps people had criticized his marriage. The theme of religion came up clearly in this story: “Philippa had what are known as High Church inclinations, and she took the matter seriously” (Fox 1). People in this context honor God by fasting. One lady, Julia, said she couldn't eat an egg on a fasting day. Mr. Yeates said his wife always had a gift for the church and that she greatly honored the elders of the church. These are indications of a society that cared about religion. The household was a gathering place where people met to eat, drink and socialize. The people in the story were also religious, as shown by Mrs. Knox as she prayed for her family. The narrator described that…the middle of the paper…that people see from the outside may not be the truth about a particular marriage, even though there may be some truth in it. Most weddings are celebrated in church. The newly married couple should maintain their faithfulness to God. Prayer and fasting are the main activities recommended for couples. The church, the maids and the altar are a symbol of sanctity in marriage and this still applies in life today. Church weddings are supported in society and people are proud to be associated with weddings. In conclusion, the story of Somerville and Ross "Phillipa's Fox Hunt" is a story of relevance in today's society, especially in marriage. Social activities and the roles of women and men in marriage are a topic of interest to many people our age. The story was written with a lot of thought. Works Cited Fox, Hunt. Philippa's fox hunt. Elfinspell and Web. June 15, 2011.