A Respectable Woman

- Kate Chopin

In “A Respectable Woman”, Kate Chopin presents the theme of perception appearance, identity, desire
and freedom.

Mrs. Baroda is disappointed to hear that her husband’s friend Gouvernail is planning to spend a week or
two at their plantation. Since they had been busy all winter, she has planned a period of rest and
conversation with her husband Gatson. Mrs. Baroda has never met Gouvernail although she knows that he
and her husband had been friends at college and that he is now a journalist. She makes a picture in her
mind imagining him to be tall, slim and cynical with eyeglasses and his hands in his pockets. But when
she actually meets him, she finds him to be slim but he is not very tall and cynical; neither he wears
eyeglasses nor carries his hands in his pockets. She finds herself liking him at first glance. However, she
cannot understand why she likes Gouvernail even if she doesn’t find in him all the positive traits
described by her husband Gatson. He doesn’t seem brilliant but seems quiet and courteous in response to
eagerness to welcome him and her husband’s hospitality. He makes no particular attempt to impress her
and he enjoys sitting on the portico and listening to Gatson describing about sugar planting. He doesn’t
show interest to go fishing or hunting.

Although Gouvernail puzzles Mrs. Baroda, he is lovable and inoffensive. She leaves him alone with her
husband at first but soon accompanies him on walks as she tries to overcome his reticence (the quality of
reticence; reserve). Her husband tells her that he will stay for another week and asks why she doesn’t
wish him to stay. She responds that she prefers him to be more demanding (difficult, challenging) which
amuses Gatson. Gatson tells Mrs. Baroda that Gouvernail doesn’t expect commotion over his presence.
He simply wants for a break from his busy life although she says that she expected him to be more
interesting. Later that night, she herself sits on a bench feeling confused and willing to leave the
plantation for a while telling her husband that she might go to the city in the morning and stay with her
aunt. While she sits, Gouvernail comes and sits next to her not knowing her displeasure at his presence.

Gouvernail gives her a scarf on behalf of Gatson and murmurs about the night and his silence disappears
as he becomes talkative for the first time. He speaks to her of the old days and of his desire for a peaceful
existence. She doesn’t listen to his words much and thinks of drawing to him closer. She appears to be
interested to Gouvernail. However, she resists her urges to touch Gouvernail’s face with her fingers due
to her belief that she is a respectable woman. Eventually, she goes home leaving Gouvernail alone. Mrs.
Baroda wants to tell Gatson of her strange folly, but she realizes that she must handle her feelings herself.
Next morning, she leaves for the city and doesn’t return until Gouvernail departs from there. Gatson
wants Gouvernail to return the next summer but she refuses. She, later on, changes her mind and tells her
husband by delighting him that Gouvernail doesn’t deserve her dislike. She kisses her husband and tells
him that he has overcome everything and that she will now treat him nicely.
Kate Chopin, in this story, seems to be exploring the theme of desire and freedom. Despite the negative
attitude on Gouvernail and not wishing for him to visit again, Mrs. Baroda has changed her mind. Chopin
may be suggesting that Mrs. Baroda hasn’t only changed her mind towards Gouvernail but it is also
possible that she is no longer confined or restricted to society’s perception of what a respectable woman
is. It is possible that Mrs. Baroda has found freedom outside of societal norms. She has not only
overcome her own and society’s perception about a respectable woman but she is also ready to pursue a
relationship or affair with Gouvernail. Her departure from her home to visit her aunt Octavie while
Gouvernail is staying is significant. It is possible that Mrs. Baroda no longer wishes to be around
Gouvernail because of her own desire for him. Her desires are outside the societal norms. She is aware
that by following her desires she will only exclude herself from the society and she will not be viewed as
respectable woman. Kate Chopin also focuses on the theme of identity. Mrs. Baroda is restricted to
society’s opinion of what a respectable woman is. Chopin explores the society’s beliefs on the role of a
woman. Mrs. Baroda to have feeling or desire for a man who is not her husband indicates that she may
not be happy in her marriage and she is trapped to Gatson. It may be that Chopin is disregarding the
institution of marriage suggesting that it hampers a woman’s freedom.