A pair of silk stockings by Kate Chopin. Analysis.

A Pair of Silk Stockings is a very realistic situation, because the story is not written in the romantic style it is written as life is. Not everyone gets a happy ending in their story. It is an enjoyable piece of literature because people can relate to Mrs. Sommers life. It is well defined story; Kate Chopin does not try to confuse the readers.

The setting in the story is not clear, but do believe that it takes place in a regular city. In which they have a shopping center, dining area, theater and a cable car. Mrs.Sommers is in a small shopping area or maybe walks down the street where there are stores. It states, “… she crossed straight over to the shoe department” (Chopin 440). This shows how she can easily go into different stores to shop for herself. Mrs.Sommers is now visiting different stores instead of regular clothing stores. Chopin wrote “There were books and magazines piled up in the window of a stall a few paces down the street” (441). This explains how Mrs. Sommers was starting to enlarge her shopping surrounding. Thus, it helps with the story’s theme by showing what stores and places she goes too When the story took place is not stated in the story. We believe that it takes place in between the early1900 and mid-1950’s. During the 1900’s, fifteen dollars was a large amount of money. Chopin wrote “. . . the way in which it stuffed and bulged her worn out porte-monnaie . . .” (437). This shows how Mrs. Sommers was not use to having this generous amount of money, and it made her feel important. By the clothes that they wear in the story, you can tell what century it was. The narrator says, “She would get caps for the boys and sailor hats for the girls” (Chopin 438). This explains how women and men wore different things in the 1900’s versus 2010. Therefore, clothes have a lot to do in “A Pair of Silk Stockings” because nice clothes meant that the person was wealthy but if they did not then they were viewed as middle class or poor. The Atmosphere and tone in the story is about Mrs. Sommers life, which has turned from motherly and caring, to egoistic and self-caring, and then back. At first she was portrayed as an adoring, caring, mother figure. Kate Chopin wrote “… little brood looking fresh and dainty and new for once in their lives excited her…” (438). This shows that Mrs.Sommers loves her family and she feels very proud about them. Now Mrs.Sommers is selfish she only cares about herself at this point in the story. The narrator stated, “There was still money in her and her next temptation . . .” (Chopin 442). This explains how Mrs.Sommers lets her emotions and temptations bait her into getting whatever she desired. Thus, Mrs.Sommers shows both sides of her in “A pair of Silk Stockings”. Mrs.Sommers is a believable character of her time, who acts like any other married woman wanting her freedom. Women of her century can easily relate and understand the troubles of a matrimonial commitment. In A Pair of Silk Stockings Mrs.Sommers is battling herself. Part of her is the protagonist because she is very caring, and only thinks about her children. She is portrayed as a round character in A Pair of Silk Stockings as part of her shows multiple traits. In the beginning when she finds fifteen dollars, Mrs.Sommers mind is already trying to figure out how to spend it. The narrator says “A dollar or two should be added to the price usually paid for Janie’s shoes, which would insure their lasting an appreciable time longer than they usually did”(Kate Chopin 437). Mrs. Sommers wants to give her children the things they need at a cheap price. The other part of her is the antagonist, who competes with the other half of Mrs. Sommers. The antagonist Mrs. Sommers is portrayed in having only one trait, making her a flat character. That one trait of her is being self-centered. Mrs. Sommers demonstrates this trait when she is being fitted for boots. The narrator states, “She wanted an excellent an stylish fit, she told the young fellow who served her, and she did not mind the difference of a dollar or two more in the price as long as she got what she desired” (Kate Chopin 440-441). Mrs. Sommers shows that she did not care of any consequences that the glove may bring as long as she got what she wanted. The major conflict of the story is displayed in many situations. Mrs. Sommers barely has time to take care of herself because she is too occupied with the needs of her family. While some neighbors of Mrs. Sommers remember the good old days of their past Mrs. Sommers wishes she could too but she does not have time to do so. The narrator states, “She had no free time—no second of time to devote to the past. The needs of the present absorbed her every faculty” (Chopin 438). The line on page four hundred thirty-eight clearly shows that her family occupies almost every minute of her life. Mrs. Sommers is exhausted of the tasks she must do for her family and just imagining what the future might bring scares her. Kate Chopin writes, “A vision of the future like some dim, gaunt monster sometimes appalled her, but luckily tomorrow never comes” (438). The gaunt monster Mrs. Sommers is scared of is the more jobs she must do for her family, the lessons she must teach her daughters of society and men, the time all that and more will take out of her time. She hopes that that day is far from the present. Selfish Mrs. Sommers feels that it is her time to enjoy and relax but caring Mrs. Sommers has her children always in mind. Both types of Mrs. Sommers are fighting each other for what they feel must be done. The minor conflict is demonstrated by luxurious objects and the rules of society. At the beginning of the story Mrs. Sommers finds fifteen dollars, to her it was a lot of money. The narrator writes, “It seemed to her a very large amount of money, and the way in which it stuffed and bulged her worn old porte-monnaie gave her a feeling of importance such as she had not enjoyed for years” (Chopin 437). It can be assumed that Mrs. Sommers is poor by the way she felt and it can also be assumed that she used to be wealthy in her bachelorette days. After buying boots, gloves and silk stockings Mrs. Sommers entered a fancy restaurant to take a snack. “She seated herself at of the present absorbed her every faculty” (Chopin 438). Back in those days it was not seen right for women to be seen alone anywhere. The view of society of a proper lady must always be accompanied by a man. Society pressures every citizen to shop so the economy will grow or by the proper etiquette of a gentlemen and lady. Symbolism is very important in a story; it gives the story subtle hidden elements to the themes. One symbol in this story is that the main character is married, which shows she has limited freedom to do what she wants to do. “Little Mrs. Sommers…” (Chopin 437). This quote shoes she is married by the “Mrs.” With her being married she may feel trapped and that she has no time for herself. In the stories title, there is a symbol. That symbol is the silk stockings. When she purchased the stockings it made her feel good, and she decided to keep indulging like when she purchased the gloves, boots, expensive magazines, going out to lunch, and going to the theatre. “Her stockings and well-fitted gloves had worked marvels in her bearing had given her a feeling of assurance and a sense of belonging to the well-dressed multitude” (Chopin online). In this quote, Mrs. Sommer’s really feels like a different person and likes it. In conclusion, Mrs.Sommers battled herself and society to please her temptations. Therefore, she is a devoted mother and trying to always do the responsible thing as a mother and wife. In conflict, it shows how Mrs. Sommers is struggling between trying to always do for her children and wanting to indulge into luxury. So she is constantly at a struggle with herself, on wanting to do the right thing and not to be selfish but when she found the fifteen dollars she decided to be selfish and indulge. This is fine because everyone needs time to indulge.