STORY
2. 'A Respectable Woman'
by Kate Chopin
Summary
In
the beginning of the story, Mrs. Baroda was a little upset to learn that her
husband expected his friend, Gouvernail, to spend vacation to their farmhouse.
They had entertained a good deal during the winter; much of the time had also
been passed with heavy work and busy schedule. She was looking forward to a
period of unbroken rest now, and undisturbed of their private time. Gouvernail was
a man she had heard much of but never seen. He had been her husband’s college
friend, was now a journalist. She had unconsciously formed his image as tall,
slim, cynical, with eyeglasses, and his hands in his pockets. Gouvernail was
slim enough, but he didn't have the rest of the personality. And she rather
liked him when he first presented himself.
But
why she liked him she could not explain satisfactorily to herself when she
partly attempted to do so. She could discover in him none of those brilliant
and promising personalities which Gaston, her husband, had often assured her
that he possessed. On the contrary, he sat rather mute and receptive before her
chatty eagerness to make him feel at home and in face of Gaston’s frank and
wordy hospitality. His manner was as courteous toward her as the most exacting
woman could require; but he made no direct appeal to her approval or even
appreciate. Once settled at the plantation he seemed to like to sit on the
porch, smoking his cigar lazily and listening attentively to Gaston’s experience
as a sugar planter. He shows satisfaction in such living. He did not care about
fish and displayed no eagerness to go out and hunt when Gaston proposed doing
so.
Gouvernail’s
personality puzzled Mrs. Baroda, but she liked him. Indeed, he was a lovable,
inoffensive fellow. After a few days, when she could understand him no better
than at first, she gave over being puzzled and remained irritated. In this
mood, she left her husband and her guest, for the most part, alone together.
Then finding that Gouvernail took no manner of exception to her action, she went
for walks along the riverside.
One
day, being furious, she asked her husband about Gouvernail’s staying. Gaston replied
to her that he would stay for a week, and showed dissatisfaction of her
misbehavior though his friend didn't give her any trouble. She complained that
if he were more like others, then she would like and had to plan somewhat for
his comfort and enjoyment too. Gaston took his wife’s pretty face between his
hands and looked tenderly and laughingly into her troubled eyes. Gaston and Mr.
Baroda talked about the Gouvernail seriously and felt pity for him. He called
him the poor fellow, who is run down by overwork. That’s why he asked him here
to take a rest. She told her husband that he was not very interesting. She informed
him that she is going to the city in the morning to have her spring gowns
fitted. And returned when he left, up to then she would be at her aunt's home.
That
night she went and sat alone upon a bench that stood beneath a live oak tree at
the edge of the gravel walk. She had never known her thoughts or her intentions
to be so confused. She could gather nothing from them but the feeling of a
distinct necessity to leave her home in the morning. Mrs. Baroda heard
footsteps crunching the gravel; but could distinguish in the darkness only the
approaching red point of a lighted cigar. She knew it was Gouvernail, for her
husband did not smoke. She hoped to remain unnoticed, but her white gown
revealed her to him. He threw away his cigar and seated himself on the bench
beside her; without a suspicion that she might object to his presence.
He
gave her a scarf with which she sometimes enveloped her head and shoulders. She
accepted the scarf from him with a murmur of thanks and let it lie in her lap. He
talked about the night winds, but she made no reply because he did not address
her. Gouvernail was in no sense a timid man, for he was not a self-conscious
one. His periods of reserve were not constitutional, but the result of moods.
He talked of the old college days when he and Gaston had been a good deal to
each other; of the days of keen and blind ambitions and large intentions. Her
mind only vaguely grasped what he was saying. She was not thinking of his
words, only drinking in the tones of his voice. She wanted to reach out her
hand in the darkness and touch him with the sensitive tips of her fingers upon
the face or the lips. She wanted to draw close to him and whisper against his
cheek, she did not care what as she might have done if she had not been a
respectable woman. The stronger the desire grew to bring herself near him, the
further, in fact, did she draw away from him. As soon as she could do so
without an appearance of too great rudeness, she rose and left him there alone.
Mrs.
Baroda was willing to share this feeling with her husband, but she kept it secret.
Besides being a respectable woman, she was a very sensible one; and she knew
there are some battles in life which a human being must fight alone. When
Gaston arose in the morning, his wife had already departed. She did not return
till Gouvernail was gone from there. However, before the year ended, she
proposed, wholly to herself, to have Gouvernail visit them again. Her husband
was surprised and delighted with the suggestion coming from her. Gaston became
glad, and then laughingly, after pressing a long, tender kiss upon his lips, she
told him that this time she would be very nice to him.
Understanding the text
Answer the following questions.
a. Why was Mrs. Baroda not happy with the information about
Gouvernail’s visit to their farm?
In
the beginning of the story, Mrs. Baroda learns that her husband's friend
Gouvernail is going to spend some time at their plantation with them, she
becomes a little upset. After all, they had been busy all winter, and she had
hoped to use the time to relax and talk with her husband Gaston, have some
good time with him. She has never met Gouvernail, even though she is aware
that Gouvnernail and her husband were friends in college and that he is now a
successful journalist.
Mrs.
Baroda was not happy with the information about Gouvernail’s visit
to their farm since she had prepared a time of relaxation to spend some
time with her husband, Gaston Baroda, and have some rest from their stressful
lifestyle that would last throughout the whole winter season. In
addition, Mrs. Baroda was dissatisfied with the information as he was a
stranger for her as she had never met him before as well.
b. How was Gouvernail different from Mrs. Baroda’s
thinking?
She
was looking forward to a period of unbroken rest, and undisturbed private time
with her husband. And she informed that her husband expected his friend,
Gouvernail, to spend vacation to their farmhouse. She did not believe him to be
the clever or smart guy that her husband had told her about. To her, he seemed
to be an unattractive young man who was tall and skinny.
Gouvernail
was a man she had heard much of but never seen. He had been her husband’s
college friend, was now a journalist. She had unconsciously formed his image as
tall, slim, cynical, with eyeglasses, and his hands in his pockets. Gouvernail
was slim enough, but he didn't have the rest of the personality. Mrs. Baroda
first saw Gouvernail as confused and thought he is not that sociable and
interesting. Mrs. Baroda's expectations of Gouvernail were drastically different
from reality though she rather liked him by heart.
c. How does Mrs. Baroda compare the guest - Gouvernail with her
husband?
Gouvernail
was a man she had heard much of but never seen. And before her meeting with Gouvernail she
has a mental image of him as a tall, slender, and cynical guy. When, she
meets Gouvernail who is slim but neither tall nor cynical. Once settled at the
plantation Gouvernail seemed to like to sit on the porch, smoking his cigar
lazily and listening attentively to Gaston’s experience as a sugar planter. He
shows satisfaction in such living. He did not care to fish and displayed no
eagerness to go out and hunt when Gaston proposed doing so.
Mrs.
Baroda gets wondered that why she loves Gouvernail since he makes no special
effort to impress her. She does not recognize any of the good characteristics
mentioned by Gaston. She complained that if he were more like others, then
she would like and had to plan somewhat for his comfort and enjoyment too.
Gaston took his wife’s pretty face between his hands and looked tenderly and
laughingly into her troubled eyes. Mrs. Bardoa compares Gaouvernail, who was
not interesting, adaptive, friendly, and funny like her husband Gaston.
d. Why and how did Mrs. Baroda attempt to change Gouvernail’s
solitary habits?
Mrs.
Baroda attempted to change Gouvernail’s solitary habits because she liked Gouvernail
but could not explain satisfactorily to herself when she partly attempted to do
so. She could discover in him none of those brilliant and promising
personalities which Gaston, her husband, had often assured her that he
possessed. Mrs. Baroda wanted Gouvernail to be more open and talkative to her.
She wanted he should pay attention to her.
Mrs.
Baroda attempted to change Gouvernail’s solitary habits, being chatty eagerness
to make him feel at home and in face of Gaston’s frank and wordy hospitality
because he sat rather mute and receptive before her. His manner was as
courteous toward her as the most exacting woman could require; but he made no
direct appeal to her approval or even appreciate. She was chattier and less
rude to Gouvernail, which was part of her effort to change Gouvernail's lonely
tendencies.
e. How does Gaston not agree with his wife on Gouvernail’s
character?
Though
she liked Gouvernail but could not explain satisfactorily to herself. She could
discover in him none of those brilliant and promising personalities which
Gaston, her husband, had often assured her that he possessed. Mrs. Baroda
wanted Gouvernail to be more open and talkative to her. She wanted he should
pay attention to her. She complained that once settled at the plantation he seemed
to like to sit on the porch, smoking his cigar lazily and listening attentively
to Gaston’s experience as a sugar planter. He shows satisfaction in such
living. He did not care to fish and displayed no eagerness to go out and hunt
when Gaston proposed doing so.
But
Gaston disagrees with his wife on Gouvernail's Character, as she has reported
to him that Gouvernail was different than his description. He replies that
Gouvernail is a very good and respectable person, and she should not hate him.
He told her that Gouvernail did not deserve her unreasonable dislike at the end
as well.
f. Why is Gaston surprised by his wife’s expression towards the
end of the story?
At
the end of the story, that night, she went and sat alone upon a bench that
stood beneath a live oak tree at the edge of the gravel walk. Gouvernail came
and resided close to her. He talked about so many things but her mind only
vaguely grasped what he was saying. Then she has a strong desire to touch and
love him in the night. As soon as she could do so without an appearance of too
great rudeness, she rose and left him there alone. Mrs. Baroda hid this feeling
with her husband and kept it secret. She assured herself that there are some
battles in life which a human being must fight alone.
But
around a year later, she proposed, wholly to herself, to have Gouvernail visit
them again. Her husband was surprised and delighted with the suggestion coming
from her. The woman who was blaming Gouverneil for being less-sociable, less-interactive,
self-centered, dull, and nasty earlier was later ready to welcome him again and
promise to be more hospitable. This promise made Gaston glad. Mrs.
Baroda's expression towards the end of the story indicates the sign of extramarital
affairs, which might destroy her family.
Reference to the context
a. What is the reason of conflict in Mrs. Baroda’s mind? What
role does Mrs. Baroda ‘being a respectable woman’ play in this
story?
The
reason for the conflict in Mrs. Baroda’s mind is mainly due to being ignored. In
the beginning of the story, Mrs. Baroda was a little upset due to the guest.
Gouvernail, who is coming to spend vacation at their farmhouse. She was looking
forward to a period of unbroken rest now, and undisturbed their private time
after long and busy schedule.
Gouvernail
was a man she had heard much of but never seen. He had been her husband’s
college friend, was now a journalist. She had unconsciously formed his image as
tall, slim, cynical, with eyeglasses, and his hands in his pockets. Gouvernail
was slim enough, but he didn't have the rest of the personality. And she rather
liked him when he first presented himself.
She
could discover in him none of those brilliant and promising personalities which
Gaston, her husband, had often assured her that he possessed. On the contrary,
he sat rather mute and receptive before her chatty eagerness to make him feel
at home and in face of Gaston’s frank and wordy hospitality. His manner was as
courteous toward her as the most exacting woman could require; but he made no
direct appeal to her approval or even appreciate.
At
the end of the story, that night, she went and sat alone upon a bench that
stood beneath a live oak tree at the edge of the gravel walk. Gouvernail came
and resided close to her. He talked about so many things, but her mind only
vaguely grasped what he was saying. Then she has a strong desire to touch and
love him in the night. As soon as she could do so without an appearance of too
great rudeness, she rose and left him there alone. Mrs. Baroda hid this feeling
with her husband and kept it secret. She assured herself that there are some
battles in life which a human being must fight alone. Here, Mrs.
Baroda ‘being a respectable woman’ dominated her inner wild desires very
successfully. She protected her pride of being a woman. The feeling
of being a respectable woman controls her desire and remained disciplined.
But
around a year later, she proposed, wholly to herself, to have Gouvernail visit
them again. Though, we can't say that she left her tag as being a respectable
woman. She wanted to correct her weakness by facing it directly. If not, Mrs.
Baroda's intention of having extramarital affairs in the story, might destroy
her family.
b. Sketch the character of Gouvernail and contrast it with
Gaston.
Gouvernail
was a man that Mrs. Baroda had heard much of but never seen. He had been her
husband’s college friend, was now a journalist. She had unconsciously formed
his image as tall, slim, cynical, with eyeglasses, and his hands in his
pockets. Gouvernail was slim enough, but he didn't have the rest of the personality.
He
has none of those brilliant and promising personalities which Gaston had often
assured Mrs. Baroda that he possessed. On the contrary, he sat rather mute and
receptive before her chatty eagerness to make him feel at home and in face of
Gaston’s frank and wordy hospitality. His manner was as courteous toward her as
the most exacting woman could require; but he made no direct appeal to her
approval or even appreciate. Once settled at the plantation he seemed to like
to sit on the porch, smoking his cigar lazily and listening attentively to
Gaston’s experience as a sugar planter. He shows satisfaction in such living.
He did not care to fish and displayed no eagerness to go out and hunt when
Gaston proposed doing so.
Gouvernail’s
personality puzzled Mrs. Baroda, but she liked him. Indeed, he was a lovable,
inoffensive fellow. After a few days, when she could understand him no better than
at first, she gave over being puzzled and remained irritated. In this mood, she
left her husband and her guest, for the most part, alone together. Then finding
that Gouvernail took no manner of exception to her action, she went for walks
along the riverside.
We
get information about him through Mrs. Baroda's portrayal that he is a heavy
smoker. Gouvernail is an introverted type of guy, who does not talk much and
who is simply boring from the view of Mrs. Baroda, while Gaston is a sociable
and friendly guy. Gouvernail loves a peaceful lifestyle and is very receptive,
but Gaston is just the opposite to him. Gouvernail did not care to fish and
displayed no eagerness to go out and hunt when Gaston proposed doing so, it
shows that Gaston is extroverted in nature, but Gouvernail is introverted. Gouvernail
is a heavy smoker, but Gaston does not smoke at all.
c. Why does Mrs. Baroda not disclose her feelings towards
Gouvernail to her husband?
Mrs.
Baroda does not disclose her feelings towards Gouvernail to her husband because
she does not want to deviate from being a respectable woman. Being respectable
means living according to social norms or living our lives without regret. She was
willing to share this feeling with her husband, but she kept it secret. Besides
being a respectable woman, she was a very sensible one; and she knew there are
some battles in life which a human being must fight alone.
At
the end of the story, at night she went and sat alone upon a bench that stood
beneath a live oak tree at the edge of the gravel walk. She had never known her
thoughts or her intentions to be so confused. She could gather nothing from
them but the feeling of a distinct necessity to leave her home in the morning.
Mrs. Baroda heard footsteps crunching the gravel; but could distinguish in the
darkness only the approaching red point of a lighted cigar. She knew it was
Gouvernail, for her husband did not smoke. She hoped to remain unnoticed, but
her white gown revealed her to him. He threw away his cigar and seated himself on
the bench beside her; without a suspicion that she might object to his
presence.
He
brought scarf with which she sometimes enveloped her head and shoulders. She
accepted the scarf from him with a murmur of thanks and let it lie in her lap.
He talked about the night winds, but she made no reply because he did not
address her. Gouvernail was in no sense a timid man, for he was not a
self-conscious one. His periods of reserve were not constitutional, but the
result of moods. He talked of the old college days when he and Gaston had been
a good deal to each other; of the days of keen and blind ambitions and large
intentions. Her mind only vaguely grasped what he was saying. She was not
thinking of his words, only drinking in the tones of his voice. She wanted to
reach out her hand in the darkness and touch him with the sensitive tips of her
fingers upon the face or the lips. She wanted to draw close to him and whisper
against his cheek, she did not care what as she might have done if she had not
been a respectable woman. The stronger the desire grew to bring herself near
him, the further, in fact, did she draw away from him. As soon as she could do
so without an appearance of too great rudeness, she rose and left him there
alone.
Mrs.
Baroda was willing to share this attraction feeling towards Gouvernail with her
husband, but she kept it secret. Besides being a respectable woman, she was a
very sensible one; and she knew there are some battles in life which a human
being must fight alone.
This
is because Mrs. Baroda does not want to deviate from being a respectable woman.
Being respectable means living according to social norms or living our lives
without regret. That is why she does not disclose her feelings with his husband
even.
d. The last three sentences of the story make a kind of twist.
After reading these three sentences, how will you analyze Mrs. Baroda’s
attitude towards Gouvernail?
The
last three sentences of the story:
[However, before the year ended, she proposed, wholly
from herself, to have Gouvernail visit them again. Her husband was surprised
and delighted with the suggestion coming from her.
“I am glad, chereamie, to know that you have
finally overcome your dislike for him; truly he did not deserve it.”
“Oh,” she told him, laughingly, after pressing a long,
tender kiss upon his lips, “I have overcome everything! You will see. This time
I shall be very nice to him.”]
However,
before the year ended, she proposed, wholly to herself, to have Gouvernail
visit them again. Her husband was surprised and delighted with the suggestion
coming from her. Gaston became glad, and then laughingly, after pressing a
long, tender kiss upon his lips, she told him that this time she would be very
nice to him.
At
the end of the story Mrs. Baroda has collected the courage to prevail over her emotions.
She approaches her husband and makes a charmingly vague remark of being very
nice towards the guest. She informs him that she has overcome everything.
And he will find out soon enough. She is going to be extra kind to Gouvernail this
time.
Why
does Mrs. Baroda ask her husband to call Gouvernail on the plantation again
assuring him to be nice this time? Here is the twist, at the end of the story,
that night, she went and sat alone upon a bench that stood beneath a live oak
tree at the edge of the gravel walk. Gouvernail came and resided close to her.
He talked about so many things but her mind only vaguely grasped what he was
saying. Then she has a strong desire to touch and love him in the night. As
soon as she could do so without an appearance of too great rudeness, she rose
and left him there alone. Mrs. Baroda hid this feeling with her husband and
kept it secret. She assured herself that there are some battles in life which a
human being must fight alone.
Here,
Mrs. Baroda ‘being a respectable woman’ dominated her inner wild desires
very successfully. She protected her pride of being a woman. The
feeling of being a respectable woman controls her desire and remained
disciplined. But around a year later, she proposed, wholly to herself, to have
Gouvernail visit them again. Though, we can't say that she left her tag as
being a respectable woman. She might want to correct her weakness by facing it
directly. If not, Mrs. Baroda's intention of having extramarital affairs in the
story might destroy her family.
Reference beyond the text
a. The entry of an outsider into a family has been a recurring
subject in both literature and movies. Narrate a story real or imaginative
where an outsider’s arrival destroys the intimate relationship between the
husband and the wife and causes break up in marital relationship without the direct mistake of anyone. Anton Chekhov’s story
‘About Love’ is the story on this subject.
In
'About Love' Russian writer Anton Chekhov presents three kinds of love
experiences through the main character Alyohin. The author tries to show that
love is different in every situation. Three stories are told to prove that love
is always different.
Alyohin
tells a story about Nikanor. Pelageya, who is a beautiful girl, loves Nikanor.
But Nikanor drinks and beats her. So, Pelageya does not want to marry Nikanor.
She only wants to live with him. But it is wrong for Nikanor to live together
before married.
Alyohin
tells a story about himself when he was studying at university. He loved a
girl. But she loved his money not him. Alyohin went to the University to study,
but he spent a lot of money to her than study. His father has handsome loan, so
he had to work hard in the farm to return it, because he wasn't found any job.
Alyohin was elected to be a judge. He had to go to town for a court case.
While
he was in town, he met Luganovich (40). Luganovich invited Alyohin to his house
for dinner. There he met Anna (22) a young and beautiful woman. She had two
children. Alyohin and Anna fell in love with each other. Every time that
Alyohin went to town he visited Anna. Sometimes they talked for a long time,
went theater together. He felt sorry for her because she didn't seem to be
satisfied with her married life. They never confessed their love to each other.
Alyohin was afraid that his love to Anna might ruin her family. She also
couldn't dare to start a new life. It creates dissatisfaction and she suffered
from mental tension.
At
last, Luganovich posted to another place. Anna had to go to Crimea for
treatment. Alyohin took her to the station. He got on the train with a
forgotten bag. Both were overcome by the strong emotion of love. They confessed
their love, kissed, embraced, wept and they separated forever.
b. Mrs. Baroda makes an expectation about Gouvernail even before
meeting him. Suppose you are a mature girl/boy and your family members are
giving you pressure for getting married. Write in about 200 words
describing what qualities you would like to get in your future
husband/wife.
As
Barnett Brickner said, "Success in marriage does not come merely through
finding the right mate, but through being the right mate." Despite the
above saying, people tried some qualities to find in their pair. Along the road
from cradle to grave many of us get married. So, in case of family pressure for
getting married, I would like to get the following qualities in my future
wife.
It
is very important to have a person we can always rely on. I want my wife to be
this person. She would be tightly connected with my life. My future wife should
be my best friend. I want to share all my troubles, sorrows, and dreams
with her. I want to have a good mother for my future children. She should be
warm-hearted, gentle, understanding, and sometimes strict with them. My wife
should be an elegant and good-looking woman. I want her to have smartness and
beauty combined. One of the main things that I admire in a woman is humbleness.
I
would also prefer to have a wife who is intelligent. She should be
sensible and reasonable. Husband and wife should be intellectually matched so
that they can understand each other. If you are dead tired after a long,
frustrating day at work, a loving wife who comforts you and listens to your
problems can really make a difference. So, a sympathetic, caring kind of woman
is the only one with whom I would make any commitments for marriage.
She
certainly has her shortcomings, but I do not pay much attention to them. I can
share all my troubles, sorrows, and dreams with her. She never hurts me, and I
will do my best not to lose her. I will make her happy with me forever.
With
such a woman, I will be encouraged to look at life in a happier and more
positive way. Above all other qualities, the perfect wife will be faithful. In
return, I will also promise my total loyalty and faithfulness to my future
wife. She must be someone who really believes in that marriage is made to
last 'till death do us part'.
Best of Luck
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