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"A pair of silk stockings" by Kate Chopin

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Mariana Rios
Mariana Rios

Mrs. Sommers comes into $15, which she initially plans to spend on clothes for her children. However, when she sees a pair of silk stockings for sale, she is entranced and buys them instead of the children's clothes. Wearing the stockings, she treats herself to new boots, gloves, lunch at a nice restaurant, and a play. On the cable car ride home, she wishes she didn't have to return to her ordinary life as a housewife with little money.

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A pair of silk stockings Analysis
Kate Chopin February 8, 1850 August 22, 1904 From 1892 to 1895, she wrote short stories for both children and adults
Title A pair of silk stockings It refers to the fact that Mrs. Sommers feels that she is a completely different person after she puts the stockings on.
Plot The short story A pair of silk stockings is about a woman, Mrs. Sommers, who comes into the small fortune of 15 dollars. She decides to use the money to buy clothes for her children. The narrative suggests us that Mrs. Sommers had been a wealthy woman before her marriage, but now "needs of the present absorbed her every faculty." As she feels so tired, she rests at the counter where she finds a pair of silk stockings for sale and so she is entranced by their smoothness. "Not thinking at all," she disregards her plans of buying clothes for her children and instead spends her money and the rest of the afternoon for herself. She buys boots to go with her stockings, gets fitted for gloves, reads expensive magazines while lunching at a high-class restaurant, and ends her day in the theatre. After the play ends, she gets into the cable car to return home with "a poignant wish, a powerful longing that the cable car would never stop anywhere, but go on and on with her forever."
CLIMAX When she sees a pair of silk stocking and puts them on, everything changes for her. She stops thinking about her owns and starts thinking about herself. SETTING IN TIME AND PLACE It takes place after the Civil War in a city from the South. 1870s. POINT OF VIEW
Mrs. Sommers She is a conservative housewife with little income. She often thinks about her family and puts them before herself. When Mrs. Sommers first gets the money, she thinks about all of the wonderful things she would buy for her owns. But when she finds the pair of silk stockings and buys it, she becomes into a different person.
Themes Nostalgia: she wishes to return to her past life. Freedom: when she comes into the small fortune of 15 dollars. Identity: she identifies herself as mother rather than as an individual. Later she is challenged to decide between spending the money on her children or spending the money on herself. Materialism: she feels a different woman by buying things, like stockings, gloves and boots. Repression and the need for self-assertion: she feels oppressed because she has to worry about her family, so she cannot think about her. But when she starts to spend the money on herself, she feels gratified. Mood and atmosphere Desire, Eagerness Nostalgic Oppressive Quietness, fulfillment. Sense of freedom due to the moneys possession.
Symbolism The pair of silk stocking: it represents Mrs. Sommers selfish needs. Fifteen dollars: it stands for Mrs. Sommers confidence, self esteem. Restaurant and theater: they represent two places where rich people could enjoy. They be easily translated into higher class. She thought she was in a high class again. For a brief moment she is able to forget about her life and escape in a world which is very much different to the world she finds herself in. Cable car: it represents the passage back to her normal life.

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"A pair of silk stockings" by Kate Chopin

  • 1. A pair of silk stockings Analysis
  • 2. Kate Chopin February 8, 1850 August 22, 1904 From 1892 to 1895, she wrote short stories for both children and adults
  • 3. Title A pair of silk stockings It refers to the fact that Mrs. Sommers feels that she is a completely different person after she puts the stockings on.
  • 4. Plot The short story A pair of silk stockings is about a woman, Mrs. Sommers, who comes into the small fortune of 15 dollars. She decides to use the money to buy clothes for her children. The narrative suggests us that Mrs. Sommers had been a wealthy woman before her marriage, but now "needs of the present absorbed her every faculty." As she feels so tired, she rests at the counter where she finds a pair of silk stockings for sale and so she is entranced by their smoothness. "Not thinking at all," she disregards her plans of buying clothes for her children and instead spends her money and the rest of the afternoon for herself. She buys boots to go with her stockings, gets fitted for gloves, reads expensive magazines while lunching at a high-class restaurant, and ends her day in the theatre. After the play ends, she gets into the cable car to return home with "a poignant wish, a powerful longing that the cable car would never stop anywhere, but go on and on with her forever."
  • 5. CLIMAX When she sees a pair of silk stocking and puts them on, everything changes for her. She stops thinking about her owns and starts thinking about herself. SETTING IN TIME AND PLACE It takes place after the Civil War in a city from the South. 1870s. POINT OF VIEW
  • 6. Mrs. Sommers She is a conservative housewife with little income. She often thinks about her family and puts them before herself. When Mrs. Sommers first gets the money, she thinks about all of the wonderful things she would buy for her owns. But when she finds the pair of silk stockings and buys it, she becomes into a different person.
  • 7. Themes Nostalgia: she wishes to return to her past life. Freedom: when she comes into the small fortune of 15 dollars. Identity: she identifies herself as mother rather than as an individual. Later she is challenged to decide between spending the money on her children or spending the money on herself. Materialism: she feels a different woman by buying things, like stockings, gloves and boots. Repression and the need for self-assertion: she feels oppressed because she has to worry about her family, so she cannot think about her. But when she starts to spend the money on herself, she feels gratified. Mood and atmosphere Desire, Eagerness Nostalgic Oppressive Quietness, fulfillment. Sense of freedom due to the moneys possession.
  • 8. Symbolism The pair of silk stocking: it represents Mrs. Sommers selfish needs. Fifteen dollars: it stands for Mrs. Sommers confidence, self esteem. Restaurant and theater: they represent two places where rich people could enjoy. They be easily translated into higher class. She thought she was in a high class again. For a brief moment she is able to forget about her life and escape in a world which is very much different to the world she finds herself in. Cable car: it represents the passage back to her normal life.