Mrs.
Baroda cannot discern why she likes Gouvernail, since she does not see all of
the positive traits described by Gaston. He does not seem brilliant, but he
does seem quiet and courteous in response to her eagerness to welcome him and
her husband's hospitality. He makes no particular attempt to impress her
otherwise, and he enjoys sitting on the portico and listening to Gaston
describe sugar planting, although he does not like to fish or hunt.
Although
Gouvernail puzzles Mrs. Baroda, he is lovable and inoffensive. She leaves him
alone with her husband at first but soon begins to accompany him on walks as
she attempts to overcome his reticence. Her husband tells her that he will stay
for another week and asks why she does not wish him to stay. She responds that
she would prefer him to be more demanding, which amuses Gaston.
Gaston
tells Mrs. Baroda that Gouvernail does not expect a commotion over his presence
and that he simply wishes for a break from his busy life, although she declares
that she expected him to be more interesting. Later that night, she sits by
herself on a bench, feeling confused and wanting to leave the plantation for a
while, having told her husband that she might go to the city in the morning and
stay with her aunt. While she sits, Gouvernail sees her and sits next to her,
not knowing her displeasure at his presence.
Gouvernail
hands her a scarf on Gaston's behalf and murmurs about the night, and his
silence disappears as he becomes talkative for the first time. He speaks to her
of the old days and of his desire for a peaceful existence. She does not listen
to his words so much as his voice, and she thinks of drawing him closer,
although she resists because she is "a respectable woman."
Eventually, she leaves, and Gouvernail remains behind, finishing his address to
the night.
Mrs.
Baroda wants to tell Gaston of her strange folly, but she realizes sensibly
that she must handle this feeling by herself. The next morning, she leaves for
the city and does not return until Gouvernail departs. Gaston wants Gouvernail
to return the next summer, but she refuses. She later changes her mind,
delighting her husband, who tells her that Gouvernail did not deserve her
dislike. She kisses her husband and tells him that she has "overcome everything"
and that she will now treat him more nicely.
Analysis
It is a story which
investigates the psychology of Mrs. Baroda. It presents the failure of the
central character her instant wants and struggles to overcome her self-imposed limitation
of her identity as a respectable woman. The development of her character goes
in two different radical paths. She has never faced any true emotional test in
her comfortable life and gaining the strength to triumph over her emotion. She
tells him, "I have overcome everything! You will see. This time I shall be
very nice to him." At first glance, this statement seems to suggest that
Mrs. Baroda has regained control of her emotions. Overcoming
"everything" seems to mean that she has overcome not only her
displeasure about Gouvernail, but also her unrespectable romantic feelings. As she says she will be very nice to
him on his next visit means that she has overcome her doubt and decided to
satisfy her desires of having affair. It depicts she would resist the ethical standards
of her society and discovers more about her needs. It takes the story as advocating
for female independence. It reclaims a stronger individual identity and sense
of self. It can be termed as self-actualization.
