A Pair of Silk Stockings
“She smiled, just as if she had been asked to inspect a tiara of diamonds with the ultimate view of purchasing it. But she went on feeling the soft, sheeny luxurious things—with both hands now, holding them up to see them glisten, and to feel them serpent-like through her fingers.” (Chopin 65).
From the beginning, the short story reminded me of my parents. When we’re younger, a lot of things are easier. We have time to splurge, be a little selfish, and be a little reckless. But I look at my parents and see how time and commitments has changed the way they live life. Everything is appreciated with them, their decisions are a lot slower, and they rarely spend on themselves—there are just too many other cost to save up for. On the rare occasion though, my mom and I will go shopping together and she’ll splurge on a purchase that is all for her. Her face lights up, a smile reaches from ear to ear, and she sort of breathes in the chosen product as if it will somehow disappear. The passage above shows this usual cycle of life. I love how the main character, Mrs. Sommers, inspects and feels every part of the stockings and takes time to appreciate them. I feel like a lot of woman sacrifice a lot of time and money on helping others succeed, and forget their needs. It was nice to read how Mrs. Sommers treated herself. I think when you treat yourself every once in a while, everything else in your life goes a lot smoother.
The image of her using all her senses to capture the silk stockings relates to the rest of the story. Mrs. Sommers, like I think a lot of adults and parents, is thankful to have commitment, but longs for her young and commitment lacking past.
Daystar
“…but she saw diapers steaming on the line, a doll slumped behind the door” (Dove 300).
Like Chopin’s piece, Daystar made me think of adult commitment and yearning for a carefree past. I really liked how the poem was so real and what women especially go through as they grow up. Everyone gets more responsibility, as they get older. And I loved the poem, because who hasn’t looked forward to some alone time and daydreaming at some time in their life? Sometimes things are so hectic and busy, that an hour of doing nothing can be the most productive thing you do all day.
This line shows how the poem shows that the main character’s life is always on a green light. There is always something to do, something to pick up or clean (like the doll behind the door), and fix.
Why I Want A Wife
“And, of course, I want a wife who will not demand sexual attention when I am not in the mood for it. I want a wife who assumes the complete responsibility for birth control, because I do not want more children. I want a wife who will remain sexually faithful to me so that I do not have to clutter up my intellectual life with jealousies. And I want a wife who understands that my sexual needs may entail more than strict adherence to monogamy” (Syfers 376).
I thought the passage was really witty and also frustrating. It really highlights a list the stereotypes of women that are still going on today. I think the world has definitely made progress on how women are portrayed, but in some ways, it has got worse. I chose the above passage, because it really did make me angry. I’ve had to many friends that have dated the guy with these views, and it’s disgusting. While there are amazing men in the world, it’s sad that our society can still be so counterproductive in terms of respecting women.
The passage really ties into the whole theme of the author’s writing. She shows how the stereotypes sometimes still associated with a wife or a female in general are similar to a slave role.
2 comments:
I liked what you said about Chopin and Dove's pieces being about adult committment. That is precisely what it is, and I too can relate to that through my growign up years and how my parents acted. My mom still only splurges every once in awhile, and only after taking care of everyone else. And my dad definitely has his own little oasis get away. It's funny how alike very different people can be.
I like the idea of adults yearning for a carefree past. I agree, it must be hard to devote your life to raising somebody else. That image really stood out to me too. I thought it was almost sad, because the woman has only an hour to herself, and even then she can't get away from motherhood.
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