Though Landolfi titles his story [in Gogol's Wife and Other Stories] "Wedding Night," the groom is absent. Taking his place in the focus of the story, and in the young bride's imagination, is a chimney sweep. The story is traditionally structured. In the first section the scene and mood are set and an emotional conflict within the young bride is suggested. The second section, beginning with the chimney sweep disrobing and preparing to ascend and clean the kitchen chimney, presents the central action of the story—and the young bride's imaginative interpretation of it. The last section, after the bride flees the kitchen for the third time, presents a cluster of images and cryptic statements by the narrator which collectively suggest the resolution of the young bride's conflict. (p. 111)

The shyness and awkwardness of the first encounter between the bride and the chimney sweep evokes the traditional confrontation...