Summary
-Kate Chopin
The story ‘A Respectable Woman’ has been written by Kate Chopin. Kate Chopin was an American novelist and short story writer. The language which she used in her stories and novels are full of sexual connotations. The short story revolves around the character of Mrs. Baroda and her inner conflict as she finds herself attracted to her husband’s friend Gouvernail.
When Mrs. Baroda learns that her husband’s friend Gouvernail is going to spend a week or two at their plantation, 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 Baroda, and have some good time with him. She has never met Gouvernail, despite the fact that she is aware that Gouvernail and her husband were friends in college and that he is now a successful journalist. Before the meeting Mrs. Badora has a mental image of him as a tall, slim, cynical, with eye-glasses, and his hands in his pockets. But a paradoxical thing happens after then. When she meets Gouvernail, who is slim but neither tall nor cynical. He is different from what she had expected, and her feelings towards him are complex.
Mrs. Baroda wonders why she loves Gouvernail since he makes no special effort to impress her in any other way. Similarly, she is unsure why she likes Gouvernail because she does not see all of his positive characteristics. He doesn’t appear intelligent, but in response to her excitement to welcome him and her husband’s hospitality, he is quiet and kind. He loves sitting on the field and listening to Gaston explain sugar plantation methods. He doesn’t seem very bright, but he is calm and polite.
Mrs. Baroda finds Gouvernail a little confusing, yet she also finds him charming and inoffensive. Unlike what she has heard from her husband, Gaston, she finds him much better than expected. At first, she leaves him alone with her husband, but as she works to overcome her nervousness, she begins to accompany him on walks. Her husband informs her that he will be staying another week and asks why she does not want him to. Gaston is delighted when she says that she wishes him to be more demanding.
Mrs. Baroda admits she expected Gouvernail to be more interesting. Gaston tells her he doesn’t anticipate any disturbance over his visit; he simply wants a break from his busy life. Later that night, she sits alone on a bench, feeling confused and contemplating leaving the plantation. She has already told her husband that she might head to the city in the morning to stay with her aunt.
She goes for the city the next morning and does not return until Gouvernail has left the city.
Gaston requests that Gouvernail return the next summer, but she rejects. She subsequently changes her mind, much to her husband’s surprise, who assures her that Gouvernail has not deserved her disapproval. She tells her husband, adding that she would now treat him with greater hospitality by kissing him and vows that she has “overcome everything”. In this way, the story ends.
Excercise
Question Answer
a. Why was Mrs. Baroda unhappy with the information about Gouvernail’s visit to their farm?
Mrs. Baroda was unhappy with the information about Gouvernail’s visit to their farm because she had planned a period of rest and tete-a-tete with her husband, especially after their busy winter.
b. How was Gouvernail different from Mrs. Baroda’s expectation?
Mrs. Baroda had imagined Gouvernail to be tall, thin, and cynical, with eyeglasses and hands often in his pockets. However, he didn’t fit this description. Despite her initial reservations, a conversation with him one night on her plantation, her dislike for him into a wish for connection with him.
c. How does Mrs. Baroda compare Gouvernail with her husband?
Mrs. Baroda compares Gouvernail as not interesting, adaptive, friendly, interactive, and funny like her husband Gaston.
d. Why and how did Mrs Baroda try to change Gouvernail’s solitary habits?
Mrs. Broda wanted to change his solitary habit because she wanted Gouvernail to be more open and talkative to her. Despite Mrs. Baroda’s efforts, Gouvernail ignored her. He enjoyed his lonely lifestyle and his preference for being alone.
Mrs. Baroda wanted to get him out of his solitary habits by joining him on his walk to the mill and the river.
e. How does Gaston disagree with his wife on Gouvernail’s character?
Gaston disagrees with his wife on Gouvernail’s Character by forwarding his opinions to her. She has reported to him that Gouvernail was not a friendly, talkative and interesting guy. He replies that Gouvernail is a very good and respectable person, He explains that he has many bright and outstanding qualities, but he has been disturbed by the work overload and she should not mistreat him.
f. Why is Gaston surprised with his wife’s expression towards the end of the story?
Gaston is surprised by his wife’s expression in the end because, the woman who was blaming Gouvernail for being less – sociable, non-interactive, self-centered, gloomy, unlikable earlier was later ready to welcome him again and be more hospitable.