Character Analysis Essay: Identity in A pair of silk stockings by Kate Chopin

Introduction

A pair of silk stockings is about a woman going on a little shopping spree, one afternoon, by herself (Chopin, 2015). The author mentions Mrs. Sommers had previously had high-class life before her marriage. This creates the sense that her family was undergoing a tumultuous financial moment. However, Chopin opines that because of the motherly feeling, she prioritized the livelihood of her children over herself. This paper discusses how she tries and forges a new identity and what she learns about identity.

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How Does the Main Character Try and Forge A New Identity?

From the onset, Mrs. Sommers is the main character; she is portrayed to have been born in a low-income family. Despite this, Chopin notes that she is a hardworking young lass and quite focused on her life. Although her impoverished neighbors are cognizant that Mrs. Sommers was wealthier and more successful, she is not egotistical, and she does not shy from hard work. She is quite engaged in completing her daily chores such that she has no time for her past life.

Also, according to Chopin (2015), Mrs. Sommers conjointly identifies herself as a mother, initially, instead of as a person. In the preamble of the story, Mrs. Sommers exhibits responsibility as she specifically identifies herself as a mother and wife. However, when she gained a small windfall of fifteen dollars, she begins to make decisions for herself. Further, within the story, the reader realizes that it is this sense of identity that is challenged once Mrs. Sommers defrayal of the fifteen bucks on her kids winds up the cash on herself. Moreover, it is conjointly attention-grabbing that there is no mention of an adult male Sommers within the story.

According to Chopin (2015), after evading her family responsibility, Mrs. Sommers prioritizes her yearnings and pursues her quest for personal fulfillment. Moreover, as she succumbs to the luring delights of being a consumer, she indulges in purchasing new apparel, expensive lunch, and theater trip as these made her feel important and belonging. This impulse shopping is a sign of her conquest over the patriarchal obligatory that required her to embrace the character of a perfect nineteenth-century woman. Moreover, it also reveals the unsuccessful nature of her resistance as she had a taste of freedom, jolly, and adventure. However, because of her shopping spree, all the fifteen dollars were spent, and she had to resume her boring domestic routine.

What Lessons About Identity Does He Or She Learn Along The Way?

First, Mrs. Sommers learns that Social Class and Belonging affect one’s identity. Mrs. Sommers gets the hard and challenging job of navigating America’s 19th century Puritanism and the moral judgment it reflects on the impoverished and riffraff woman like her (Chopin, 2015). Moreover, there is a crescendo social pressure bestowed on any woman to yield to the requirement of blossoming consumer culture. However, in the lenses of the author’s eyes, she explores the hyper-elitism of an American class structure that exhibited double moral standards but supporting expensive spending while expecting middle-class women to have a straight, selfless, and modest lives.

Secondly, Mrs. Sommers also realizes that other people’s perception influences how one is identified. For example, she tries to emulate America’s moral and social puzzles using her status as an outsider (Chopin, 2015). However, because she does not belong with her high-class neighbors, they realize and talk about her difference from them, the rich middle class, and the supper rich class world she admires. In this case, the protagonist’s worthiness is inextricably conjoined to external appearances.

Thirdly, Mrs. Sommers also learns that financial status can change one’s social identity. For instance, she became confident with the fifteen dollars she had because the money alleviates her spirit and changes her from a state of passivity to being very confident about her quest. According to Chopin (2015), Mrs. Sommers gets enjoyment by how the money was bulging from her purse. Moreover, because of the money, she felt important, which is indicative that the new financial possession boosted her self-esteem.

References

Chopin, K. (2015). A Pair of Silk Stockings. Penguin UK.