A Pair of Silk Stockings

by Kate Chopin

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A Pair of Silk Stockings

In Kate Chopin's "A Pair of Silk Stockings," Mrs. Sommers, once accustomed to a more affluent life, finds herself with an unexpected fifteen dollars. Initially planning to spend it on her children's...

14 educator answers

A Pair of Silk Stockings

The narrator of “A Pair of Silk Stockings” suggests that women go to see the afternoon plays for numerous reasons. In the audience with Mrs. Sommers are women in bright clothes who are there to pass...

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A Pair of Silk Stockings

In "A Pair of Silk Stockings," the setting reflects the constraints of a woman’s life in the late 19th century. The main conflict is internal, as Mrs. Sommers struggles between her responsibilities...

7 educator answers

A Pair of Silk Stockings

In "A Pair of Silk Stockings," symbols highlight Mrs. Sommers' internal conflict between past aspirations and present realities. The $15 symbolizes both her past "better times" and a fleeting glimpse...

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A Pair of Silk Stockings

Mrs. Sommers's lunch order reveals a stark contrast between her personal desires and her reality. Initially focused on her family's needs, her lunch choices reflect a shift towards personal...

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A Pair of Silk Stockings

The five parts of the plot in Kate Chopin's "A Pair of Silk Stockings" are: exposition, where Mrs. Sommers finds herself with an unexpected $15 and reflects on her past financial struggles; rising...

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A Pair of Silk Stockings

Each critical perspective on "A Pair of Silk Stockings" offers valuable insights. The feminist view highlights Mrs. Sommers' quest for personal identity beyond her roles as wife and mother. The...

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A Pair of Silk Stockings

Mrs. Sommers in Kate Chopin's "A Pair of Silk Stockings" is portrayed as a self-sacrificing mother who typically prioritizes her children's needs over her own. However, when she unexpectedly comes...

3 educator answers

A Pair of Silk Stockings

"A Pair of Silk Stockings" by Kate Chopin employs several literary elements, notably tone and symbolism. The sympathetic tone toward Mrs. Sommers highlights her struggles and exhaustion, making her...

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A Pair of Silk Stockings

In "A Pair of Silk Stockings," irony is evident as Mrs. Sommers, who initially plans to spend her windfall frugally on her children, indulges instead in personal luxuries. Despite being described as...

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A Pair of Silk Stockings

There are many examples of imagery in "A Pair of Silk Stockings," including, perhaps, the most significant one, which is the visual and tactile image of the stockings that Mrs. Sommers finds herself...

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A Pair of Silk Stockings

The overall messages conveyed in "A Pair of Silk Stockings" by Kate Chopin include the fleeting nature of personal indulgence and the conflict between self-care and familial responsibilities. The...

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A Pair of Silk Stockings

"A Pair of Silk Stockings" is an example of Realism. It focuses on the everyday concerns of a woman, Mrs. Sommers, who struggles with financial limitations while caring for her children. The story...

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A Pair of Silk Stockings

In Western culture, serpents often symbolize temptation, sin, and deceit, largely due to their association with the Devil in the Garden of Eden, where the serpent tempts Eve to sin. In "A Pair of...

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A Pair of Silk Stockings

Before shopping, Mrs. Sommers plans to spend the $15 on her children, buying them new clothes and shoes. She envisions her children looking fresh and new, which excites her. Her specific plans...

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A Pair of Silk Stockings

The last statement in "A Pair of Silk Stockings" reflects Mrs. Sommers' longing for escape from her monotonous and demanding life. After a day of indulgence, she wishes the cable car ride would...

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A Pair of Silk Stockings

Chopin's attitude toward Mrs. Sommers in "A Pair of Silk Stockings" is compassionate. She portrays Mrs. Sommers with respect and empathy, highlighting her careful financial planning and her deep care...

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A Pair of Silk Stockings

Both "A Pair of Silk Stockings" and "The Yellow Wallpaper" depict female protagonists struggling against patriarchal constraints. These characters represent the late 19th-century feminist...

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A Pair of Silk Stockings

The reader perceives that Mrs. Sommers, by spending money on herself, is experiencing a rare moment of personal indulgence and joy, which contrasts sharply with her usual life of financial restraint...

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A Pair of Silk Stockings

Foreshadowing in "A Pair of Silk Stockings" occurs when Mrs. Sommers, exhausted and in a daze, begins stroking silk stockings described as "serpentlike." This description hints at temptation, similar...

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A Pair of Silk Stockings

As Mrs. Sommers departs on the streetcar, she experiences a poignant yearning to prolong her escape from her usual life of deprivation and frugality. During her shopping trip, she indulges in...

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A Pair of Silk Stockings

The comparison of silk stockings to "a tiara of diamonds" in "A Pair of Silk Stockings" highlights their luxurious and elite nature. This imagery seduces Mrs. Sommers, leading her to indulge in a day...

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A Pair of Silk Stockings

The richness of detail in the descriptions of the silk stockings helps establish the sensual mood and physical beauty that Mrs. Sommers finds in them, a luxury which she is not accustomed to and...

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A Pair of Silk Stockings

The feminist interpretation of "A Pair of Silk Stockings" is supported as the story explores Mrs. Sommers' quest for personal freedom and identity, highlighting her temporary escape from a life of...

1 educator answer

A Pair of Silk Stockings

Irony is crucial in "A Pair of Silk Stockings" as it highlights Mrs. Sommers's inner conflict. Initially, she is depicted as prudent and responsible, planning to spend her unexpected windfall on her...

2 educator answers

A Pair of Silk Stockings

Initial reactions to "A Pair of Silk Stockings" were mixed. Published in Vogue, a magazine aimed at affluent young women, the story was appreciated by those who resonated with its forward-thinking...

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A Pair of Silk Stockings

Mrs. Sommers is initially described as judicious, as she plans to spend her unexpected windfall on necessities for her children. In the middle of the story, she becomes self-indulgent, indulging in...

1 educator answer

A Pair of Silk Stockings

In "A Pair of Silk Stockings," Mrs. Sommers initially prioritizes her children's needs when she unexpectedly acquires extra money. She carefully plans how to spend it on them. However, once at the...

1 educator answer

A Pair of Silk Stockings

"A Pair of Silk Stockings" illustrates Mrs. Sommers's longing for her pre-marriage life through her indulgence in personal luxuries. Burdened by motherhood and financial constraints, she often...

1 educator answer

A Pair of Silk Stockings

Mrs. Sommers' observation at the matinee highlights the allure and pitfalls of consumerism in contrast to her usual frugal lifestyle. Initially intending to spend her unexpected windfall responsibly,...

1 educator answer

A Pair of Silk Stockings

The narrator's interpretations reveal a deep empathy for Mrs. Sommers, reflecting their interest in highlighting her struggles and desires. By portraying Mrs. Sommers' careful budgeting and...

1 educator answer

A Pair of Silk Stockings

The use of "serpentlike" when Mrs. Sommers first feels the silk stockings highlights the seductive and tempting nature of luxury. This imagery parallels the biblical serpent that tempted Eve,...

1 educator answer

A Pair of Silk Stockings

The reader is made to care about Mrs. Sommers by the compassion Chopin conveys.

1 educator answer