Summary of the Story "A Respectable Woman"
Full Summary
The story "A Respectable Woman" by Kate Chopin is about Mrs. Baroda, a married woman who feels confused and attracted to her husband Gaston's friend, Gouvernail. At first, she is upset when she hears Gouvernail will visit because she wants peace and rest. She imagines him to be unpleasant but when she meets him, he is quiet and different from what she expected.
Mrs. Baroda starts to like Gouvernail, even feeling a strong desire to be close to him, but she holds back because she wants to be a "respectable woman" and stay loyal to her husband. She knows she cannot act on her feelings because society expects her to behave properly. Feeling confused, she leaves to stay with her aunt until Gouvernail leaves.
Later, she returns home and surprisingly suggests inviting Gouvernail back, saying she has overcome her feelings. The story shows the struggle between personal emotions and social rules, and how Mrs. Baroda deals with her hidden desires while trying to follow what is expected of her.
In simple words, it's about a woman who faces a tough inner conflict between what she feels and what society wants her to do, showing how complicated human emotions can be. Mrs. Baroda learns to control her feelings and keep her respect, but the story leaves it a bit unclear how much she has truly changed. This reflects the challenges many people face when their feelings go against social norms.