Love, Poem 17: The Wife by Emily Dickinson shares the same theme of the wife who “dropped/ the playthings of her life/ to take the honorable work/ of woman and of wife” as “The Story of an Hour.” When Mrs. Mallard’s husband is thought to have passed in an accident, her immediate reaction is grief, but when given some time she comes to her senses. The “gold/ [that has] in using wore wore away” in “The Wife” parallels how, rather than going dull with grief, Mrs. Mallard’s eyes became keen and bright, picturing the years ahead of her with joyous disbelief. “As the sea/ develops pearl and weed” refers to how Mrs. Mallard had buried her emotions, her sense of awe and joy for the world, under layers much as an oyster buries a grain of sand in layers until nothing but a beautiful pearl is visible to the eye. She is exalted at the death of her husband, for as a widow she would have freedom from the “powerful will bending hers” (Chopin, 12).
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3 thoughts on “Attina Zhao Discussion 9”
I agree! I think both poems exemplify two woman negatively impacted by marriage. It enhances the importance of finding full independence in yourself before making that commitment, and how unfortunately that isn’t always a choice for women. Having that lack of choice effects the entirety of a women’s life and both these writings give two perspectives on those effects, all while proving how having that choice should be a right for everyone, and a decision that is taken seriously.
Attina, thank you for the good interpretations of some the more enigmatic lines of the Dickinson poem. The “gold” that in using wears away refers to the tarnishing of the early glow people often experience in the early stages of romantic life. The poem suggests that this turn to boredom and tiredness must never be spoken of. And yes, the woman is the only one who knows of her unhappiness because she keeps it buried in a place as deep as the ocean. The pearl in the oyster is a reference to the depth of this silence.
Hello Attina!
I think you made some excellent points drawing parallels between the two readings. Your discussion post is well composed and thought provoking, thank you so much for that!