A Respectable Woman || Summary + Question Answer

Summary

The story “A Respectable Woman” is written by Kate Chopin, an American novelist and short story writer. She is famous for female writing. This story is structured around the character of Mrs Baroda and her inner conflict as she finds herself attracted to her husband’s friend. The conflict follows the pattern of classical fiction and moves from exposition to rising action and then to climax and resolution.

This story begins with Mrs Baroda who is upset (sad) to know that her husband’s friend Gouvernail is intending (planning) to spend a week or two at their plantation as she had planned to take a rest and spend time with each other because

they were very busy during that time. She had never met Gouvernail before despite knowing that her husband and Gouvernail were very good friends and she had heard about him much and now he is journalist. At first she had a mental image of him as a tall, slim cynical man, which she dislikes but when she meets him who is neither tall nor cynical; she discovers that she likes him. She doesn’t know why she likes him despite the fact that he doesn’t appear intelligent and exciting. He is simply quiet and kind. He makes no effort to impress her in any way and enjoys sitting on the Portico (entrance) listening Gaston describing sugar plantation although he dislikes fishing and hunting. She finds him puzzling yet charming and inoffensive. She doesn’t like to spend time with him in the beginning but later she starts accompanying him on walks. She expects him to be more interesting and lively.

When her husband ‘Gaston’ informs her that Gouvernail is willing to stay one more week, she becomes very unhappy where as her husband gets delighted. He says that he doesn’t expect a commotion (disorder) over his visit and that he just wants a break from his busy life.

That night she sits alone on bench outside getting confused and puzzled and willing to leave the plantation, having told her husband that she might go to the city in the morning to live with her aunt. Meanwhile Gouvernail notices her and he goes and sits next to her, unaware of her discomfort with his presence. Gouvernail, on behalf of Gaston, gives her a scarf and he talks about the night weather and he also tells her about his childhood. She is drawn to his voice more than his words and she considers drawing him closer despite her resistance because she is a respectable woman. Eventually she leaves there. She wants to tell her husband about his behavior but she realizes that she must deal with her emotion and problem herself. Next day she goes to city and doesn’t return until he is gone. Gaston requests him to return next summer but she doesn’t like that. Later she changes her mind and negative perception about Gouvernail and she wishes him visit there again. She says that she has overcome everything and she will treat him with more respect and dignity. This is how she settles down her problem and confines herself as a respectable woman.

 Understanding the text

Answer the following questions.

a. Why was Mrs. Baroda unhappy with the information about Gouvernail’s visit to their farm?

Answer: Mrs. Baroda was unhappy with the information about Gouvernail’s visit to their farm because she was looking forward to a period of unbroken rest and also that she wanted to have undisturbed private communication with her husband. The reason was that she, with her husband, was quite busy during the winter. Much of her time had been passed in various forms of mild dissipation.

b. How was Gouvernail different from Mrs. Baroda’s expectation?

Answer: Mrs. Baroda had formed an image of Gouvernail in her mind as tall, slim, cynical; with eyeglasses, and his hands in his pockets but he was different from her expectation. He was slim enough, but he wasn’t very tall nor very cynical, neither did he wear glasses nor carry his hands in his pockets.

 

c. How does Mrs. Baroda compare Gouvernail with her husband?

Answer: Mrs. Baroda compares Gouvernail with her husband in terms of frankness. Her husband, Mr. Gaston was frank and chatty but Gouvernail was an introvert sort of man. He was not friendly, frank and funny. He was not interactive. He would sit rather mute and receptive.

d. Why and how did Mrs. Baroda try to change Gouvernail’s solitary habits?

Answer: Mrs. Baroda tried to change Gouvernail solitary habits because she wanted him to be frank and friendly and to let him feel cozy at home with them. She tried to change his such habits by accompanying him in his idle strolls to the mill and walks along the farm. 

e. How does Gaston disagree with his wife on Gouvernail’s character?

Ans. Gaston disagrees with her wife on Gouvernail’s character by saying to his wife that she was taking Gouvernail seriously. He says that Gouvernail did no trouble to her and he didn’t like commotion.

f. Why is Gaston surprised with his wife’s expression towards the end of the story?

Answer: Gaston is surprised with his wife’s expression towards the end of the story because she had opposed the arrival of Gouvernail two times but at the end she herself proposed to have Gouvernail’s visit to them again. She assured that she would be very nice to him.

Reference to the context

a. What is the cause of conflict in Mrs. Baroda’s mind? What role does Mrs. Baroda ‘being a respectable woman’ play in the story?

Answer: The cause of conflict in Mrs. Baroda’s mind is her attraction towards Gouvernail and the spousal discipline. Being a respectable woman, Mrs. Baroda controls her feeling and lets the social norms win. She was so attracted to her husband’s friend Gouvernail, she wanted to touch his face, lips with her sensitive fingers but she doesn’t do that and controls herself being a respectable woman.

b. Sketch the character of Gouvernail and contrast it with Gaston.

Answer: Gouvernail is the Mr. Baroda’s college friend. He comes to spend a week or two in his friends’ sugar plantation. He is a slim and attractive man. He doesn’t wear eyeglasses. He is so lovable and inoffensive. He is introvert. He is a silent guy and loves peace and solitude. He is neither frank nor too chatty. He loves to sit on portico and enjoy the cool air with cigar. He accepts what Baroda couple give. He doesn’t demand anything. He lacks sociability.

 On the other hand, Mr. Baroda is so frank and chatty. Mr. Baroda does not smoke. He is extrovert and sociable.

c. Why does Mrs. Baroda not disclose her feelings towards Gouvernail to her husband?

Answer:  Mrs. Baroda happens to be attracted to Gouvernail, the guest. She does not disclose her feelings to her husband because she is sensible towards her life. She knows, “There are some battles in life which a human being must fight alone.” If she discloses her feelings towards Gouvernail to her husband, it may create a serious problem. Generally, a husband never likes his wife being attracted to another man. Many husbands have given divorce to their wives after knowing that they are attracted towards other man. Moreover, if she reveals her feelings, the friendship of Mr. Baroda and Gouvernail may be weak.

d. The last three sentences of the story bring a kind of twist. After reading these three sentences, how do you analyze Mrs. Baroda’s attitude towards Gouvernail?

Answer: The last three sentences of the story bring a kind of twist. Mrs. Baroda likes Gouvernail but due to the fear of society and fear of loss of her respect, she doesn’t want Gouvernail to come in their house. But last, she herself proposed openly that Gouvernail should visit them again. She said to her husband, “I have overcome everything! You will see. This time I shall be very nice to him”. After reading these three sentences, I analyze that she has overcome the fear of society. And now, she will not control herself and will flow with her emotion. She will do everything what her heart wants to do with Gouvernail. If I analyze from another perspective, I infer that she has overcome her feelings and emotions towards Gouvernail and will be normal to him. She won’t be irritant at all.

Reference beyond the text

a. The entry of an outsider into a family has been a recurring subject in both literature and films. 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 direct fault of anyone. Anton’s Chekhov’s story ‘About Love’ is a story on this subject.

Answer: The story of “About Love” has been written by a Russian writer Anton Chekhov. “About Love” is a story about love affairs. Here in this story, the third love story somewhat reflects the same ideas as seen in the story of Kate Chopin’s “A Respectable Woman”.

The third story has presented the love story of the major character Alyohin and Anna Allexevnia, the wife Dimitry Luganovich.

When Alyohin is elected for honorary justice of the peace, he has to go to town for work. There he meets another judge whose name is Dimitry Luganovich. Once he goes to the house of Luganovich to have dinner. Anna falls in love with him at the first sight. But she doesn’t express. On the other side, Alyohin also starts liking her. He also keeps it secret. He starts meeting with her time to time. They pass time together for hours. They share gifts. They go to the theatre and also share their joys and sorrows. Their moral and social obligations stop them to express their love openly. As a result, Anna suffers from mental tiredness. Finally, the Luganovich family has to move. Alyohin goes to say goodbye to Anna inside the train. When their eyes meet for the last time, both cry and hug each other. Alyohin kisses Anna and expresses his deep love. Finally, both separate from each other because Anna is leaving for Crimea for her treatment.

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.

Ans. It is needless to say that everyone’s expectation is of a happy life which is possible only when there is the entry of a good person in life. Obviously, such expectation meets through marriage. Marriage is a sacred relationship between two people. Simply, it is the union of two people that creates a family tie and carries legal, social or religious rights and responsibilities. It is a lifetime decision. It is a lifelong relationship.

If I get pressure from my family members for getting married, I would like to get the traits in my future wife. Firstly, she ought to be behavioral. She has to be of good manner and discipline. She must be down-to-earth. She should not be rude. She should be smiling. Secondly, she must be lovable and caring. She must love and care for all my family members. Thirdly, she must be beautiful not only from her physical appearance but also from her heart. She should be outstanding in performing the role in the family. Fourthly, she must be a responsible and respectable wife. She must know her responsibilities towards family and spend her life being a respectable wife. Fifthly, she must be educated and know the way of educating others. She must have the quality of making others realize the importance of education in life. Sixthly, she should be a practical lady. She should have patience on work load. She should lead the family to the ideal one.