A respectable woman

Kate Chopin

A RESPECTABLE WOMAN

THERE ARE SOME BATTLES IN LIFE WHICH A HUMAN BEING MUST FIGHT ALONE.

Favourite Quote

MRS. BARODA (WIFE)

GOUVERNAIL JOURNALIST, A COLLEGE FRIEND OF MR.GASTON BARODA.

MR.GASTON BARODA. MRS. BARODA’S HUSBAND

CHARACTERS

Kate Chopin, e Katherine O’Flaherty (1851-1904). American novelist and short-story writer. The story ‘A Respectable Woman’ is taken out from her collection The Awakening and Other Short Stories. The language in her novels and short stories are full of sexual connotations and her novel The Awakening was criticized for its sexual frankness and the publishers had refrained from publishing it. Later after 1950, her works were reinterpreted and she was praised for depicting modern sensibility.

Chopin portrayed the life of an early nineteenth-century woman, named Miss Baroda, who struggled internally to control emotions and feelings for the husband’s best friend, Mr. Gouvernaill. The author depicted Mrs. Baroda as a courteous, well-mannered, and respectable women at the beginning of the story, who was disappointed to learn that her husband’s friend is coming over to spend a week or two at their plantation. She had heard of the man but have never seen him thereupon unconsciously picturing him as a tall, slim, cynical man with eyeglasses and hand in his pocket. She did not like the mental image, but when she met the slim but neither tall nor cynical Gouvernail, she finds that she actually likes him. Even though she discovered none of those brilliant and promising traits which Gaston, her husband told her, she herself couldn’t explain why she liked him. Gouvernail however makes no attempt to neither impress her nor direct appeal to her approval. Instead he enjoys sitting on the portico, smoking his cigar lazily and listeni to Gaston describing sugar planting. He did not like to fish or hunt. She leaves him alone with her husband for the most part but soon begins to accompany him on walks as she attempts to overcome his shyness.

SUMMARY

When she asks how long he’ll be staying he (her husband) tells her that he will stay for another week and asks why she does not wish him to stay. (the husband obviously didn’t know the liking she took on his friend and thought she asked the question because she want him gone). In responds she stated that she would prefer him to be more demanding (to be able to plan for his comfort and enjoyment just like for other guests), which amuses Gaston. Gaston tells Mrs. Baroda that Gouvernail does not expect a commotion over his presence and that he simply wishes for a break from his busy life, although she declares that she expected him to be more interesting. Later that night, she sits by herself on a bench, feeling confused and wanting to leave the plantation for a while, having told her husband that she might go to the city in the morning and stay with her aunt. While she sits, Gouvernail sees her and sits next to her, not knowing her uneasiness at his presence.

SUMMARY

Mrs. Baroda wants to tell Gaston of her strange folly, but she realizes sensibly that she must handle this feeling by herself. The next morning, she leaves for the city and does not return until Gouvernail departs. Gaston wants Gouvernail to return the next summer.Mrs Baroda refuses, but later changes her mind, delighting her husband.He tells her that Gouvernail did not deserve her dislike being oblivious to her feelings.She kisses her husband and tells him that she has "overcome everything" and that she will now treat him more nicely.

Gouvernail hands her a scarf on Gaston's behalf and murmurs about the night. The silence disappears as he becomes talkative for the first time. He speaks to her of the old days and of his desire for a peaceful existence. She does not listen to his words so much as she did with his voice. At that moment,she desired to draw him closer,reach out a hand in the darkness and touch him with the sensitive tips of her fingers upon the face or the lips. ,but being the respectable woman she was, resists her feelings. Eventually, she leaves, and Gouvernail remains behind, finishing his address to the night.

SUMMARY

Conclusion What do you think ?

Do you think she is is happy to have the friend come back because she has decided to cheat on her husband with him and shed her respectability or she is happy to have him back because she is over her unrespectable attraction and is proud that she has done so?

Central idea

This story gives one a look into the deep corners of the mind of a woman.

Narration

Written in third person, unknown narrator.

Settings

Conclusion/Question.

The story takes place on Gaston Baroda’s sugar plantation in Louisiana, apparently in the 1880s or early 1890s.

THANKS!

Bristi Prajapati.