A Sorrowful Women, Gail Godwin
As I read through the story I felt a sense of anger toward the woman. She did not treat her husband and son with the love and care they deserved. Her husband was receptive of all her needs and concerns. Despite all he did to satisfy her desires, she was stubborn in not reflecting that same affection. Her child was, well, a child and longed to be loved by his mother. I could not comprehend why the “sight of them made her so sad and sick.”
Godwin uses visual and tactile imagery in an attempt to portray the woman’s disgust to her role as a housewife. She had been a wife and a mother for supposedly too long and the brightness she might have once saw in her family turned to gray, mournful colors. Although well cared for by her husband, she gradually loses her well-being and sense of direction. She no longer accepts what she is or what she must do and basically gives up on life. She fires the ‘dynamic,’ full of joy babysitter possibly because she was jealous of her. She was jealous because the girl enjoyed and accepted her job – taking care of the family, providing food and entertainment. The girl had what the woman lacked – self-satisfaction and contentment. Once the girl was gone the woman moved into her white room, maybe because she longed to discover and take on the girl’s ability to cope with everyday life. Instead, the woman simply found herself in an empty, white room. The images outside of the window symbolized the outside world and the freedom she could have possibly had if she was not subject to taking care of her family. However, she was unable to view herself as part of such a world. She was simply filled with sorrow. At the end, it was as if she performed all her duties as a wife and a mother one last time before she gave up everything.
I was confused about the draught she was always so prompt to drinking every night. She was constantly making sure her husband left it out for her. She was never satisfied with anything except the draught she had to have. Could it possibly be a symbol of some sort?
This post is truly well written! You have re-capped and summarized this short and sad story to a tee! I am completely confused about the aspect of the draught as well. My idea of the imagery that the author is portraying is that maybe this drink is a human symbolism that amidst everyones darkest hour there is always an addiction or crutch that we cling onto in order to stay engaged. When all along this may be the very thing that will lead us deeper into the pit or even as far as death.
ReplyDeleteI love that you chose to write about this story! I honestly couldn't find anyone to comment on that wrote about this one so I admire that! You described the jealousy of the wife against the young babysitter so well! For some reason, I didn't pay much attention to the significance of the white room. I liked when you brought up the fact that the wife wanted to move into the room so as to absorb the innocent and beautiful life of the girl, but "Instead, the woman simply found herself in an empty, white room." SO well worded! Your comments really make me think more about the story.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately I am not too much help on the symbolism of the draught either. I do think Brittany's comment makes a lot of sense, and is a great observation. I can't help but feel that it has something to do with her aspiration to be helpful like the babysitter. Perhaps drinking herself to sleep was the only way to numb her hatred of her family; perhaps this was her way of taking care of her family, by staying out.