A Respectable Woman

  • The protagonist Mrs. Baroda and her internal struggle as she becomes attracted to her husband's friend form the core of the short novel "A Respectable Woman." 
  • The conflict progresses from exposition to rising action to climax and resolution, following the structure of classical literature.
  • Mrs. Baroda is disappointed to hear that Gouvernail, a friend of her husband, plans to visit and stay at their plantation for a week or two. 
  • She had anticipated using this time to talk to her husband Gaston Baroda after a busy winter.
  • They had been having a lot of fun, and she had hoped for a respite, so she is disappointed by this. Although she had never met the man, she had heard nothing but positive things about Gouvernail.
  • She is aware that Gouvernail and her husband were friends in college and that he is now a journalist, but she has never met him.
  • She portrays and assumes Gouvernail to be tall, slim, cynical man, which makes her dislike him. 
  • However, after meeting Gouvernail, who is slim but neither tall nor cynical accidentally she comes to like him. 
  • She does not recognize all of Gouvernail's virtues and behavior, Mrs. Baroda is confused of why she likes him.
  • Although he doesn't seem intellectual, he acts silently and graciously in response to her joy at having him and her husband's hospitality. 
  • Although he despises fishing and hunting, he makes no attempt to impress her and enjoys sitting on the portico and listening to Gaston explain the sugar plantation.
  • Gouvernail puzzles her, but she finds him endearing and unoffensive. 
  • She initially leaves him and her husband alone, but as she works to calm his anxiety, she starts to walk alongside him. 
  • Her husband asks her why she does not want him to remain another week and says that he will be staying for another week.
  • She tells Gaston that she prefers him to be more demanding, which makes him happy.
  • According to Mrs. Baroda, she anticipated Gouvernail to be more captivating. 
  • She is informed by Gaston that he only needs a break from his hectic schedule and does not anticipate any uproar as a result of his visit. 
  • Later that evening, after having informed her husband that she would see her aunt in the city the next morning, she sits by herself on a bench, perplexed and wanting to leave the plantation.
  • That evening, while she contemplates why he makes her feel so uneasy, she rests on a bench outside. 
  • She is sitting close to Gouvernail when he observes her; he is not aware of her uneasiness at his presence. 
  • She is approached by Gouvernail in the middle of the night, who informs her that her husband gave him a scarf to give to her while she is away.
  • Gaston's silence dissipates as Gouvernail, speaking on behalf of Gaston, hands her a scarf and talks to her about the evening.
  • He talks to her about his upbringing and his desire for tranquility. 
  • The two exchanged a few words and then sat in silence. She is pulled to him physically, so she doesn't listen when he begins to speak. 
  • She finds herself closer to his voice more than his words, and despite her opposition since she is "a respectable woman," she thinks of bringing him closer.
  • She eventually goes, but Gouvernail stays behind to wrap out the evening's conversation.
  • She wants to share this strange folly with Gaston, but she knows she must handle this feeling on her own.
  • This feeling causes her to start pulling away from him. She finally leaves and comes back, contemplating whether or not to tell her husband. She likewise declines and goes to sleep.
  • The following morning, Mrs. Baroda leaves for the city and doesn't come back until Gouvernail has left. 
  • The following summer, Gouvernail is invited back by Gaston, but she declines. 
  • Later, to to her husband's surprise, she changes her mind, and he reassures her that Gouvernail did not merit her criticism. 
  • She gives him a kiss and promises to treat him with greater respect now that she has "overcome everything."



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