Interpreting the Self-Awakening in A Pair of Silk Stockings from a Beauvoir Feminist Perspective

Abstract

Kate Chopin is a distinguished literary figure of the late 19th century, renowned for her profound feminist literary works. Among them, A Pair of Silk Stockings stands out as one of her most celebrated short stories. It narrates the tale of Mrs. Sommers, who unexpectedly comes into a small sum of money and embarks on a series of luxurious expenditures, exploring personal desires and self-identity. Chopin delves into the conflicts between family responsibilities and personal aspirations that women of the late 19th century faced, as well as how societal expectations of female roles triggered their deep-seated troubles and struggles. This paper aims to evaluate Mrs. Sommers’ psychological journey using the feminist theories of Simone de Beauvoir, especially the concepts of “the Other,” “self-deception,” and “women’s socialization,” to determine whether she achieves genuine self-awakening or remains in a state of being “awakened but not enlightened.” By examining the constraints of family and socialization, internal desires versus self-deception, societal positioning and “the Other,” along with the awakening of consciousness and the return to reality, this article tries to reveal the complex psychological states and social contradictions Mrs. Sommers navigates between her personal desires and societal expectations. With such a new theoretical perspective, it elucidates the relationship between the protagonist’s internal conflicts, identity, and behavioral choices, while further illustrating the living conditions, consumer culture, women’s self-realization, and their socio-cultural background at the end of the 19th century.

Keywords: Kate Chopin, Simone de Beauvoir, feminist theory, self-deception, the Other

DOI: 10.7176/JLLL/101-04

Publication date: April 30^th 2024