Summary of David Sedaris's Old Faithful

David Sedaris uses his article "Old Faithful" to talk about faithfulness in a relationship through stories about his own past and present relationships. He talks about the lack of fidelity of his last boyfriend and how after that relationship ended he looked for someone who shared his respect for fidelity. When he talks about his past boyfriend's infidelity though, he doesn't just talk about it directly, he talks about it through funny anecdotes such as when he is talking with his current boyfriend, Hugh, and they are comparing notes about their past boyfriends who were not monogamous. Sedaris quoted, "'Did he ever say he was going out for a hamburger and then—'

'—hook up with someone he’d met that afternoon on a bus? Yes!'" (Sedaris, 2). These funny anecdotes make the article interesting rather than simply writing that he was once with a boyfriend who was not faithful. He also brings in stories about other people such as his father and his odd statement to Sedaris at age 12. Sedaris remembers his father saying, "'I want you to know that I’ve never once cheated on your mother'" (Sedaris, 2) Then he speaks of his current relationship and the fidelity between him and his boyfriend. Using a funny story about his boil being lanced by his boyfriend he subtly talks about how it can be boring and somewhat scary to continue in a faithful relationship for what seems like forever. He ends the article by saying, “‘I know you’ll do it again if I need you to. We’re an elderly monogamous couple, and this is all part of the bargain.’

The thought of this kept Hugh awake that night, and still does. We go to bed and he stares toward the window as I sleep soundly beside him, my bandaged boil silently weeping onto the sheets” (Sedaris, 4).

Works Cited:

Sedaris, David. "Old Faithful: Testing the Limits of Love." The New Yorker 29 Nov. 2004: 4. Web. 5 Oct. 2010. <http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2004/11/29/041129fa_fact1?currentPage=1>.