A Sorrowful Woman & Gender Role Essay Example

by a role related to gender. On the other hand the husband who is the antagonist abides by the marriage vows that he made to his wife and he stands by her in sickness and in health.

Although she has emotionally locked herself away and has tired of her many roles he is supportive and he acknowledges that she needs her space and time. He demonstrates his support in numerous ways, one being that he expresses that he wants her to feel free as well as by hiring a girl to help around the house with the chores. In doing so, he is clearly implying that he is aware of what is causing her spiritual deterioration and he is not selfish but rather a tough, open minded and a good man; a good man who cares for his wife in every possible way.His duty as a husband is the opposite of what is expected from a society that is confined by the rules of patriarchy, where one does not always see a man getting the house chores done nor taking on other responsibilities that pertain to women.

Unlike his wife he is not pitiful or selfish, but rather part of this world. He is not withdrawn. The husband’s role is clearly inverted in this story. Both couple is in sorrow because they are suffering the consequences of their lack of communication, more importantly they are both equally trapped in their role.He tries to meet her expectations by being a good husband, never once allowing himself to become desperate and never admitting that the situation he is dealing with has gone beyond his understanding; while she tries

to meet the duties that society expects and in doing so she sacrifices her happiness. In conclusion, A Sorrowful Woman allows us to see that not every marriage has a happy ending; It is the reality and the contrary of the illusion that the happy ending in all fairy tales have; where we all expect the princess to find her prince and live happily every after.

More importantly it is the reality and the contradiction of what the social system has encased through the Patriarchal doctrine. The husband in this story contradicts the role for patriarchy by taking over the chores of the house, something essential and common for women to do. Allowing us to see that men can do the chores without being the weaker sex and that masculine skills can still be valued but not above femininity; and without following the traditional female society that portrays the patriarchal role as the dominant.