Sorrowful Woman
Barbara S. Alva
Professor Lizzie Louis
English 102
April 3rd, 2015
Looking through “A Sorrowful Woman” and “Secret Sorrow”
1. FIRST RESPONSE. How did you respond to the excerpt from A SECRET SORROW and to “A Sorrowful Woman”? Do you like one more than the other? Is one of the women – Faye or Godwin’s unnamed wife – more likable than the other? Why do you think you respond the way you do to the characters and the stories – is your response intellectual, emotional, a result of authorial intent, a mix of these, or something else entirely?
In my opinion, both writings were quite enjoyable to read and had a great impact on me. In "A Secret Sorrow" Faye deals with a physical problem, the inability to produce children. In "A Sorrowful Woman" on the other hand the unnamed wife deals with a psychological problem, making it more complex and difficult to fix. I enjoyed reading “A Secret Sorrow” more than “The Sorrowful Woman” due to the fact I was able to understand Faye’s feelings about not being able to have a baby. I am neither a mom nor trying to be one, but someday I would love to be one and thinking that I may not be able to be one upsets me a lot. Due to that, I enjoyed reading “A Secret Sorrow” more because I love how unselfish Faye is. I responded to the characters in a very emotional way. They both have very serious issues. Faye in “A Secret Sorrow” wishes she could have children. In “A Sorrowful Woman”, Godwin’s unnamed wife is woman who has already a husband and a son. However, she seems to be fed up by the fact that she has a son and wants to leave that life and be alone. This can, however, be considered as a major difference for the two women, in that one has what the other woman desires.
2. Describe what you found appealing in each story. Can you point to passages in both that strike you as especially well written or interesting? Was there anything in either story that did not appeal to you? Why?
In both stories, what I found appealing was how the man is
Professor Lizzie Louis
English 102
April 3rd, 2015
Looking through “A Sorrowful Woman” and “Secret Sorrow”
1. FIRST RESPONSE. How did you respond to the excerpt from A SECRET SORROW and to “A Sorrowful Woman”? Do you like one more than the other? Is one of the women – Faye or Godwin’s unnamed wife – more likable than the other? Why do you think you respond the way you do to the characters and the stories – is your response intellectual, emotional, a result of authorial intent, a mix of these, or something else entirely?
In my opinion, both writings were quite enjoyable to read and had a great impact on me. In "A Secret Sorrow" Faye deals with a physical problem, the inability to produce children. In "A Sorrowful Woman" on the other hand the unnamed wife deals with a psychological problem, making it more complex and difficult to fix. I enjoyed reading “A Secret Sorrow” more than “The Sorrowful Woman” due to the fact I was able to understand Faye’s feelings about not being able to have a baby. I am neither a mom nor trying to be one, but someday I would love to be one and thinking that I may not be able to be one upsets me a lot. Due to that, I enjoyed reading “A Secret Sorrow” more because I love how unselfish Faye is. I responded to the characters in a very emotional way. They both have very serious issues. Faye in “A Secret Sorrow” wishes she could have children. In “A Sorrowful Woman”, Godwin’s unnamed wife is woman who has already a husband and a son. However, she seems to be fed up by the fact that she has a son and wants to leave that life and be alone. This can, however, be considered as a major difference for the two women, in that one has what the other woman desires.
2. Describe what you found appealing in each story. Can you point to passages in both that strike you as especially well written or interesting? Was there anything in either story that did not appeal to you? Why?
In both stories, what I found appealing was how the man is
Cited: Work Meyer, Michael.The Compact Bedford Introduction to Literature, 10th edition. Boston: Karen S.Henry. 2006.Print.