The Lady with the Pet Dog

by Joyce Carol Oates

Start Free Trial

Student Question

In Oates' "The Lady with the Pet Dog," what mannerism does Anna notice about her lover at the gas station?

Quick answer:

In "The Lady with the Pet Dog," Anna notices her lover's mannerism of constantly moving his hands in rapid, conversational circles at the gas station. These gestures strike her as both aggressive and apologetic. This observation occurs as she feels nervous about the possibility of being abandoned, but upon seeing him talking with the attendant, she notes his age, the shape of his shoulders, and the "festive" color of his hair, reaffirming her love for him.

Expert Answers

An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

The woman’s lover drove her from Nantucket to Albany, New York. During the trip, her thoughts ranged widely. She sometimes felt shame, and she attributed to him an upcoming feeling of relief after he dropped her off. During the trip they are often silent, whereas in the first few days together, they'd laughed like children. She is aware of the contrast between the noises from the car and highway and the “interior silence” they both maintain. She even thinks that one of them should die.

But when they stop at a picnic area, the woman tells him that she does not want to go back, and there she is “nothing.” On the one hand, she feels that he is her savior; on the other hand, she knows “No person could save another.”

A few hours later, they come to a small city and stop at a gas station. As she comes back from the women’s rest room, she is nervous. It has occurred to her that he might have driven off and abandoned her. But he is standing there talking with the attendant. Assessing the appearance of her friend, she notes that he is the same age as her husband. She observes the shape of his shoulders and body and the thickness of his hair, which she thinks is a “festive” color.

The mannerism that draws her attention is his constantly moving hands:

... always those rapid conversational circles, going nowhere, gestures that were at once a little aggressive and apologetic.

When she puts her hand on his arm and he smiles at her, she feels a love for him about which she has no choice.

Get Ahead with eNotes

Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.

Get 48 Hours Free Access
Approved by eNotes Editorial