- This piece of literature was very astonishing to me at first. Godwin starts out preparing the reader for a sorrowful setting of this women's life, as she explains the cold dark season of winter. But on the other extreme one might quickly glance at her life, a kind gentle husband, and a beautiful three year old boy and conclude that she is pleased with the life that she lives. Too quickly however does the reader begin to see that the life she is living is overwhelming to her and she can no longer cope. The element of the sorrowful woman escaping her so called "life" to the white room to claim an endless opportunity of roles that she may make her own are still unsatisfying to her and eventually lead her to withdraw from her family further and step back from the world outside her window. This piece made me generally think about how quickly this culture that we live in expects each person to conform to the duties of what is in front of them. This is unfortunate and in the case of this short story, we see that after all of the stress and strain that she endures searching for meaning to her life ultimately leads to her departure from this earth.
- The symbolism present in this story help to shape what Godwin was trying to portray through the protagonist. Throughout the text a repetitious theme is presented when the husband replies to the sorrowful woman and says "i understand these things". This not only simplifies the words so that he does not overwhelm her but it is an example of the husband standing in where she cannot cope and measure up to in order to keep the household in unity. By addressing "these things" I recognize that he is giving her the freedom to find out who she is within her, despite the role that she has already been elected through the choices that she has made through marriage and childbearing. He is allowing her to step aside to figure out who she is. This theme is unrealistic in the real world, to have the luxury to shut away every responsibility and to focus on what makes one happy without any responsibilities. But it is recognizable that the author may be bringing to life the underlying issue that todays society impressed upon people and their decisions, specifically housewives, and expects them to all be the same. Godwin is not to be mistaken here though, as to abandon the things that are in front of a person in order to soul search, but instead one may take the character advice and step back from the pressures that one may inflict on ones self and take life from a perspective that only stepping back and breathing may imply.
- As I read this short story, one common theme came to my mind and arose as a perplexing question. What "symbolically" or literally is the author trying to get across with the nightly draught that she drank?
Friday, January 28, 2011
SSRJ #1 Godwin
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I think that the nightly draught was used to symbolize the severity of this woman’s illness. In the beginning of the story the draught is used to help her calm down and sleep, but you can see that it becomes an addiction by the end. It makes you wonder if the addiction for the draught is what ended-up killing her.
ReplyDeleteThe question you pose at the end of your SSRJ#1 is an interesting one. I found myself wondering the same thing. As I read the story I kept thinking the "nightly draught" may have been some kind of poison. I thought the significance of the “nightly draught” would be explained later in the story. However, we now know that it is left up to the readers to interpret its meaning and significance. I believe it was simply another way for the protagonist to escape from her woes. It also served as yet another detail showing us how patient, kind, and supportive her husband truly was to her.
ReplyDeleteI think it's really neat that you decided to comment on this story. I think the nightly draught was used to represent an underlying sickness that the author did not mention, just hinted at. I think there was more than the woman's need to drink and be irresponsible going on in this story. I think the idea that she would have times of strength and need to fulfill some of her duties as a mother and wife, shows that her seclusion may have been due to something else.
ReplyDeleteI think the draught is also used to show the husbands devotion to his wife's wellness, in the beginning. It later proves to be the only thing she looks forward to, but that could be for some other reason than addiction, in my opinion.
Very interesting comparisons about the sorrowful woman and women in today's society. I had the exact same inquiry about the draught the wife always made sure to have. Upon reading other comments I surmised that the draught very well might symbolize how the woman's illness progresses. Her needs increase because she does not get any better. Throughout the story I was always so confused about how the woman can despise her life and what she had. Such an amazing husband and child are quite rare. Many men nowadays would have sadly left her instead of going through the trouble of taking on her responsibilities. It was a very unique and interesting story.
ReplyDeleteFrom my interpretation the nightly draught signified the mother/wife's detachment from her family and life in general. Throughout the story the woman was never content with her life. Whenever she gained more freedom from her responsibilities with her husband and child, the sleeping draught became more of a prominent/important part of her life. Such as when she asked to no longer see her family and just communicate through notes, the story says "She heard him in the kitchen where he mixed the draught in batches now to last a week at a time, storing it in a corner of the cupboard" (pg. 42). When she detached herself from her family she began to attach or to rely on the draught for comfort and it became the only thing she looked forward to.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, the sleeping draught was two things, a symbol of detachment and a symbol of once last attachment. She was detached in that it made her go to sleep, shut down for the night, and no longer communicate with anything or anyone. At the same time it was one thing that stayed the same throughout her illness, the only thing that lasted until the woman's death. And up to that point it might have been a reminder to her of how her husband was still taking care of her even though she had withdrawn from the family completely.
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