A Sorrowful Woman Questions and Answers
A Sorrowful Woman
Analysis of Themes, Point of View, and the Protagonist's Problem in Gail Godwin's "A Sorrowful Woman"
In "A Sorrowful Woman" by Gail Godwin, the themes include the roles and expectations of women, marital dissatisfaction, and mental illness. The story is told from a third-person limited point of...
A Sorrowful Woman
Why is the woman in A Sorrowful Woman portrayed as sympathetic?
The woman is sympathetic to the reader because we realize she is sick and that her husband does not understand what is wrong. The woman’s husband tries to help her but he does not seek medical...
A Sorrowful Woman
In Gail Godwin's "A Sorrowful Woman", does the husband's response to his wife's behavior help or hurt her?
In "A Sorrowful Woman," the husband's response to his wife's behavior ultimately hurts her. By accommodating her avoidance of household duties and reinforcing her depressive episodes with care and...
A Sorrowful Woman
How does the author use symbolism to enhance the meaning of "A Sorrowful Woman"?
The story is a feminist tale. It uses symbols to communicate that the writer does not believe in the traditional roles for women: wife and mother. In this story, the woman withdraws from her expected...
A Sorrowful Woman
What would be a good thesis for "A Sorrowful Woman"?
One thesis could be that the woman takes on the role typically linked to men. A second thesis could contend that the short story is a fairytale pastiche. A third thesis might argue that it’s a...
A Sorrowful Woman
Why doesn't Gail Godwin name the wife, husband, or child in "A Sorrowful Woman?"
Gail Godwin's story entitled "A Sorrowful Woman" is a feminist story meant to exemplify the depression suffered by many women whose lives are spent solely as wives and mothers without any sense of...
A Sorrowful Woman
How do spring and winter seasons affect the narrative in "A Sorrowful Woman"?
The woman has a breakdown in the winter, retreats into her room and clothes herself in white. She returns to a premarital state. After spring comes, she resumes her life as wife and mother, but this...
A Sorrowful Woman
How can "A Sorrowful Woman" be seen as a sequel to "The Hand"?
"A Sorrowful Woman" is a short story that was written by Gail Godwin. It is published in the anthology Dream Children: Short Stories by Outstanding Women Writers of the Past and Present. The story is...