Bargain of a Lifetime
In the nineteenth century, women were viewed as the caregivers of the home and fell into dutiful, routine lifestyles full of chaotic stress. With four children and a husband to take care of it is hard to find a day off as a mother .Mrs. Sommers in Kate Chopin’s, “A Pair of Silk Stockings” is the protagonist that carries the role and duties of a mother such as buying groceries, cleaning, and watching the kids. A typical day involves getting the best deals for her family and preserving as much money by using it sparingly on necessities only. However, she maintained to be content doing the opposite by spending it on valuable, new possessions. A common reading of Mrs. Sommers, women in this time, is that her actions are unjustifiable, …show more content…
She “knew the value of bargains” and used “speculation” when planning to spend her fifteen dollars for the family (152-153). She spent all night evaluating on how to spend the money and for what child, practically stressing over it. According to Martin’s analysis on this short story, she makes the point that as soon as Mrs. Sommers lays her hand on the silk stocking her deprivation is somewhat resolved (2006). Immediately after her altercation with the “luxurious things”, it made her “smile” and the feeling she had not felt in a while became stronger and stronger as the story continues (153). After this first purchase of the silk stockings, the pressure of being the perfect wife and mother diminishes as self-desire interferes with the protagonist. Although she could be using the money on necessities for her children, for the first time since she has got married, she experienced joy and …show more content…
According to Stein, a literary critic, when indulging herself she saw a glimpse of her “better days” before becoming Mrs. Sommers (152) (2008). He makes the point of saying by purchasing all the new items; she develops a new attitude (2008). The theme Chopin, the narrator, tries to embrace is the independence the married woman feels when she buys the best for herself. The theme throughout the story is freedom to personal desire needs to occur occasionally in this time, especially for women, because they had limited freedom, which sparked their curiosity to the unknown lifestyle of a day to themselves. In Mrs. Sommer’s case limited money and free time as well. She reached her ultimate high, breaking point, which caused her to react in a manner where thinking things through was not an option anymore. For most people, when they reach their maximum stress level, they lash out by doing something they know is wrong. In this case, spending all her money on “wants” instead of needs is the wrong. Her actions resemble that of human nature, which make them justifiable in
In the nineteenth century, women were viewed as the caregivers of the home and fell into dutiful, routine lifestyles full of chaotic stress. With four children and a husband to take care of it is hard to find a day off as a mother .Mrs. Sommers in Kate Chopin’s, “A Pair of Silk Stockings” is the protagonist that carries the role and duties of a mother such as buying groceries, cleaning, and watching the kids. A typical day involves getting the best deals for her family and preserving as much money by using it sparingly on necessities only. However, she maintained to be content doing the opposite by spending it on valuable, new possessions. A common reading of Mrs. Sommers, women in this time, is that her actions are unjustifiable, …show more content…
She “knew the value of bargains” and used “speculation” when planning to spend her fifteen dollars for the family (152-153). She spent all night evaluating on how to spend the money and for what child, practically stressing over it. According to Martin’s analysis on this short story, she makes the point that as soon as Mrs. Sommers lays her hand on the silk stocking her deprivation is somewhat resolved (2006). Immediately after her altercation with the “luxurious things”, it made her “smile” and the feeling she had not felt in a while became stronger and stronger as the story continues (153). After this first purchase of the silk stockings, the pressure of being the perfect wife and mother diminishes as self-desire interferes with the protagonist. Although she could be using the money on necessities for her children, for the first time since she has got married, she experienced joy and …show more content…
According to Stein, a literary critic, when indulging herself she saw a glimpse of her “better days” before becoming Mrs. Sommers (152) (2008). He makes the point of saying by purchasing all the new items; she develops a new attitude (2008). The theme Chopin, the narrator, tries to embrace is the independence the married woman feels when she buys the best for herself. The theme throughout the story is freedom to personal desire needs to occur occasionally in this time, especially for women, because they had limited freedom, which sparked their curiosity to the unknown lifestyle of a day to themselves. In Mrs. Sommer’s case limited money and free time as well. She reached her ultimate high, breaking point, which caused her to react in a manner where thinking things through was not an option anymore. For most people, when they reach their maximum stress level, they lash out by doing something they know is wrong. In this case, spending all her money on “wants” instead of needs is the wrong. Her actions resemble that of human nature, which make them justifiable in