Gail Godwin A Sorrowful Woman

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The short story, “A Sorrowful Woman” was written by Gail Godwin in 1971. The story follows the misery of an unhappy housewife and her inability to fulfil her traditional role. The wife does not have any visible reason to be unhappy; however, she confines herself to her room and is repulsed by the thought of her family. She finds escape from her suffering in sleep, and at the end of the story commits suicide by overdosing on sleeping tonic. Although her husband was not abusive, the trapped situation which she experiences leads to her death as the victim of a toxic society.
Throughout the majority of our American history, women were not given many options as members of society. They were expected to be wives and caregivers. They were not expected to have any other role in society. Although some forward thinking women were seeking out social liberation during the time of this story, many still found themselves bound by their domestic duties. This is the case for the “wife and mother one too many times” (Godwin 39). She is utterly sickened by the thought of her husband and child and limits her contact with them. As the story develops, she cannot even bear the sight of them. Her husband is dismayed by this, but states that he understands, and tries to accommodate her wishes. Her husband …show more content…

She is an energetic and positive person and is able to bring some light into the lives of the husband and child. Although the wife does want to return to her former role, she remains jealous of the young girl, who embodies the characteristics that were expected of women. The nanny exhibits characteristics that the wife cannot maintain. The wife eventually persuades her husband to send the girl away, and he does so. “The girl upsets me, said the woman to her husband.” (Godwin 41) This rejection leaves her even farther away from her family, and she continues to distance

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