A Respectable Woman by Kate Chopin - Quiz

The main character in the story ‘A Respectable Woman’ is Mrs. Baroda. She is the protagonist of the story, and the narrative is driven by her evolving feelings and internal conflict.

However, as she spends more time with Gouvernail, she finds herself unexpectedly attracted to him. This attraction leads to an internal conflict within Mrs. Baroda as she struggles to reconcile her feelings with her identity as a "respectable woman."

In "A Respectable Woman" by Kate Chopin, Mrs. Baroda and Gouvernail are initially strangers to each other. Gouvernail is a friend of Mrs. Baroda's husband, and he comes to stay at their plantation.

The story ‘A Respectable Woman’ by Kate Chopin takes place on Gaston Baroda’s sugar plantation in Louisiana. The setting is indicative of the late 1800s, a time when such estates and plantation activities were common in the US.

Mrs. Baroda invites Gouvernail to stay at their house to provide company to her husband. She also tries to change Gouvernail’s solitary habits by inviting him to join her and her husband for meals and social activities. She is drawn to Gouvernail’s mysterious and reserved nature.

In "A Respectable Woman" by Kate Chopin, the story concludes with Mrs. Baroda continuing to hide her emotions. Mrs. Baroda chooses not to act on her feelings and maintains the facade of being a respectable woman, keeping her inner turmoil hidden.

Mrs. Baroda’s feelings towards Gouvernail’s presence in their house are complex. Initially, she is annoyed because she was looking forward to a period of unbroken rest and undisturbed tête-à-tête with her husband.

Mrs. Baroda grapples with conflicting emotions and desires stirred by the presence of Gouvernail in her house. While she feels a certain attraction and interest in Gouvernail, she also recognizes the societal expectations and norms that define her role as a respectable woman and wife. As a result, Mrs. Baroda decides to maintain her distance from Gouvernail, resisting any temptation to act on her feelings.

The story ‘A Respectable Woman’ by Kate Chopin primarily explores the theme of Societal Norms. It delves into the societal expectations of a ‘respectable woman’ during the time period and how the protagonist, Mrs. Baroda, navigates her unexpected feelings for Gouvernail, her husband’s friend, within the constraints of these norms. While the story does touch upon elements of friendship and marital fidelity, the overarching theme is societal norms and the internal conflict that can arise when those norms are challenged.

In "A Respectable Woman," as Mrs. Baroda grapples with her feelings and internal conflict stirred by Gouvernail's presence, her behavior towards her husband changes. She becomes more distant from her husband.