Kate Chopin's Short Stories Summary and Analysis of "A Pair of Silk Stockings". Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team. At the end of the story, she feels ''a powerful longing that the cable car would never stop anywhere, but go on and on with her forever,'' because she knows when she returns home she has to go back to being the dutiful mother and wife, the ''little'' Mrs. Sommers. . Latest answer posted March 04, 2018 at 5:10:28 AM. She is self-sacrificing, but, like everyone, needs to indulge in herself sometimes. Another example of irony is Mrs. Sommerss practicality for her children, while her frivolous purchase of the stockings that certainly do not accompany her shoes certainly contradicts this frugality and conservative nature, as do her future purchases; She was fastidious. Mrs. Sommers, who has a knack for finding bargains, is sure that she can stretch the money far. She orders wine, lunch, dessert, and coffee, reading her magazines as she dines. Stein, Allen. The Story of an Hour "The Story of an Hour" was written by Kate Chopin, she uses irony to describe the oppressive and unhappy nature of marriage during her time. Papke, Mary E. Verging on the Abyss: The Social Fiction of Kate Chopin and Edith Wharton New York: Greenwood, 1990. The sensuous language surrounding the stockings connotes female sexuality, a concept that nineteenth-century society rejected as offensive and immoral. To me its always been a very feminist story of a woman who dared spend some unexpected money on a day of self-care that she deserved and was long overdue for. She is clearly quite stretched by her chores and duties because she is thrilled by the idea of reducing her workload a little. Instead, she has been lured into parting with her precious dollars by the fleeting thrill she receives with each purchase. Latest answer posted February 06, 2020 at 10:51:00 PM. Mrs. Sommers enjoys a newfound sense of self-confidence as she exerts the authority afforded to her through her spending power over the clerk. Shen, Dan. When the story was first published, many readers probably interpreted the story as one of selfishness, seeing Mrs. Sommers as a bad mother for spending the fifteen dollars on herself, rather than purchasing items for her children. The hint of youth is also juxtaposed with the previous mention of Plagie's obvious physical aging since her farewell to the past. When Ms. Sommers feels the stockings, they glide "serpentlike" through her fingers. Complete your free account to request a guide. Gouvernail was slim enough, but he wasnt very tall nor very cynical; neither did he wear eye-glasses nor carry his hands in his pockets. Little Mrs. Sommers unexpectedly acquires fifteen dollars, which seems like a large amount to her. Explain the five parts of the plot for "A Pair of Silk Stockings" by Kate Chopin. Latest answer posted April 17, 2019 at 7:37:23 PM. So it is ironic that Mrs. Sommers chooses to spend all of this money on luxuries for herself because her actions go against the character that has been portrayed thus far in the story. Latest answer posted May 04, 2020 at 1:44:50 AM. Should you save it? She wrote the short story in 1896; and it was first published on September 16, 1987 in Vogue. When she is surprised to find that she has fifteen dollars to spare, she starts thinking about how to spend it. Meanwhile, the militarized language likens Mrs. Sommers and her forthcoming shopping trip to a soldier preparing for battle. Taylor, Helen. This resource can be used for remote, hybrid, or in person learning. For, after she touches the silk stockings, the repressed desire to pamper herself a little surfaces. Irony, the discrepancy between appearances and reality, is present throughout "A Pair of Silk Stockings" by Kate Chopin . lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. Have you ever found yourself unexpectedly in possession of money and felt paralyzed with indecision about how to spend it? You can read the story and download it in our accurate, printable, and searchable PDF file, which is based on The Complete Works of Kate Chopin, edited by Per Seyersted (Baton Rouge: Louisiana State UP, 1969, 2006). Another example of irony is Mrs. Sommerss practicality for her children, while her frivolous purchase of the stockings that certainly do not accompany her shoes certainly contradicts this frugality and conservative nature, as do her future purchases; She was fastidious. Sometimes the options are so overwhelming that you end up not spending the money at all, or you spend it on something totally random. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class., Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account. After reading "The Story of an Hour", "Desiree's Baby" and "A Pair of Silk Stockings" by Kate Chopin, I believe the woman who achieved the most autonomy was Mrs. Sommers. Irony, the discrepancy between appearances and reality, is present throughout "A Pair of Silk Stockings" by Kate Chopin . A Pair of Silk Stockings As she braces herself to begin shopping, Mrs. Sommers accidentally brushes her hand against a pair of silk stockings . An additional fifteen dollars would not seem like a very large amount of money for her as it does for Mrs. Sommers. At the end of her indulgent afternoon of shopping, lunch, and a trip to the theater, Mrs. Sommers must leave to go home. As this excerpt suggests, when Mrs. Sommers decides to attend a play in "A Pair of Silk Stockings," she does not attend for the same reasons as those around her. Let us know your assignment type and we'll make sure to get you exactly the kind of answer you need. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1969, 2006. First of all, Chopin mentions that Mrs. Sommers had once experienced more luxury and comfort, before she got married. However, ironically, it is not for the children that she Start your 48-hour free trial to unlock this answer and thousands more. Google Drive folder. Bloom, Harold (ed. During the night, she thinks of a sensible . The reader therefore infers that Mrs. Sommers has an inner conflict regarding her position and responsibility as a family woman and her dreams and desires as a person. ''A Pair of Silk Stockings'' is a short story that was written by Kate Chopin. The irony, of course, is that Mrs. Sommers does not, in fact, act prudently at when she goes shopping. She thinks about all the necessities that her children require, and she makes a list of these items in her head as she plans her spending. What type of irony is in a pair of silk stockings? Instead, she quietly sacrifices her wants for her children's needs. At first glance, Mrs. Sommers seems shallow, as she is preoccupied with money and self-importance. What are the best ironyquotes used in "A Pair of Silk Stockings" ? Autonomy is defined as a self-governing community free from an external control or influence (Dictionary.com). She keeps her focus on Mrs. Sommers actions in a center city over a period of several hours, and she does not show us this characters life at homewith or without a husband. It describes how the woman spends the money. However, the admission that she is a woman of little means who has not felt significant or meaningful for many years paints her as a sympathetic character. 23 chapters | As a wife and mother, Mrs. Sommers is expected to give up her own wants and act, first and foremost, as a caretaker. Edna is certainly not poor. Did Lionel Richie sing a song called Lady? But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Mrs. Sommers is no longer used to spending money on herself. Her most well-known novel, The Awakening, was met with harsh criticism when it was first published, and people thought it was vulgar and morbid. The irony here is that herinitial attraction to. After a few days of reflection, she decides to use the money to purchase clothing for her children so . User: Define situational irony. It is safe to say there was no one present who bore quite the attitude which Mrs. Sommers did to her surroundings. Subverting the Male Gaze in the Public Sphere. Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. . She stops thinking about her children and her responsibilities and she starts acting. She listens to and acts on her own desires, proving to herself that she is an independent individual. Situational Irony Stuffing her old stockings in her bag, Mrs. Sommers makes a beeline for the shoe department. Unveiling Kate Chopin Jackson: UP of Mississippi, 1999. Latest answer posted April 17, 2019 at 7:37:23 PM. Nathalie's wry interpretation of her situation at the end of "The Kiss" suggests that the short story is essentially about the relative importance of the two forces that motivate marriage. Kate Chopin, Edith Wharton and Charlotte Perkins Gilman: Studies in Short Fiction New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. Like almost all of Chopin's work, ''A Pair of Silk Stockings'' is a feminist text. However, her external transformation, and the growing self-assurance it has brought her, culminates in her bold decision to enter the restaurant. PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. Seyersted, Per. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Independence: Mrs. Sommers seeks independence through her actions in the short story. ", Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs Questions and answers On the cable car, she experiences ''a powerful longing that the cable car would never stop anywhere, but go on and on with her forever.'' Consequently, the play acts for Mrs. Sommers as a return to her more affluent past, and the entire incident that begins with her purchase of silk stockings is tinted with melancholy because both the reader and Mrs. Sommers know that the effect cannot last. Sheer Luxury: Kate Chopins A Pair of Silk Stockings. In Cristina Giorcelli and Paula Rabinowitz, eds. Her intention to be economicaldevolves into an entire day of frivolity. So many women put themselves last and dont practice any self-care to the point that they end up exhausted and sick. In the short story, "A Pair of Silk Stockings", Kate Chopin demonstrates that the mind initially tries to act in a selfless. She smiled, just as if she had been asked to inspect a tiara of diamonds with the ultimate view of purchasing it. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. After this spontaneous shopping spree, she decides she needs to eat lunch. A flyer for a theater catches her eye, and she decides, with the money she has left, she will take herself to a movie, where she shares chocolates with a fellow audience member. Giorcelli, Cristina. 2 What are 2 Possible themes of A Pair of Silk Stockings? Note that she does not seek approval from men, but is rather more concerned with fitting in with fashionable women and, more broadly, the social class of the well-dressed multitude.. Tiara of diamonds with the previous mention of Plagie 's obvious physical aging her. Editorial team these cookies May affect your browsing experience the category `` Analytics '' like very... So many women put themselves last and dont practice any self-care to past... Work, `` a Pair of Silk Stockings she touches the Silk Stockings '' by Chopin. Wrote the Short story in 1896 ; and it was first published September. But opting out of some of these cookies May affect your browsing experience to a soldier preparing for.. 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Pdf downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every New one we publish s Short Stories and.
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