FREE ESSAY ON A PAIR OF SILK STOCKINGS

A PAIR OF SILK STOCKINGS

Kate Chopin again writes another short story with a way of getting the attention of the
reader in a short period of time. "A Pair of Silk Stockings" is based in early to mid
1900's in a average town. Shops, a theater and such lies in the center of town. The
author tells of a widowed mother that is not so well off, that discovers a sum of money
and is taken away in her own shopping spree and perhaps her own dreams.
Mrs. Sommers is a middle aged timid mother of a handful of children, and is apparently
not well to do anymore after her husband's death; Not that she probably ever was, but
more so than her luck would have it now. She is small framed with tattered old clothes,
as if she hasn't been able to purchase anything in quite awhile, nor would she knowing
how much she puts her children's needs in front of her own. She is a very thoughtful and
caring mother who always puts the children's needs ahead of her own.
Her children is the only thing that has consumed her mind in several years until the
unexpected sum of cash shows up. Even before Mrs. Mallard starts upon her shopping spree,
she prioritizes what to buy in her mind for her children, a dollar...(321). She knows
exactly what to buy and how much to spend on each since she knows the value of a bargain.

During her spree, she is lost in her own world and purchases items for herself instead of
her children. Her purchases included a new pair of silk stockings, fitted gloves, new
boots and two high priced magazines. Next, she is drawn to a restaurant that she has only
dreamily strolled by admiring everything about it, only to go inside for a quick bite,
which is typically out of the question for her. After her snack, she attends a play with
other "well to do" women who are only there to kill time, eat candy and display their
gaudy attire. She now, stands waiting for a cable car hoping that her dream will never
come to an end. Almost lost in the moment, she stares at the man sitting opposite her on
the cable car hoping that this ride would never end. Quite possibly, she was thinking of
how life would be with the stranger who sat across from her. She relived the years that
have all but passed her.
Eventually, Mrs. Sommers' trip does end but with no regrets. She has finally pampered
herself and lived the life of the women that she has only admired to this point. There
were no worries burdened upon her during this time, and she felt like a new woman again,
shopping for herself and not thinking about everything else, as usual.