What's with the Secret Woman?

I particularly enjoyed the story The Secret Woman because of its strong use of imagery and various interpretations. I believe this story discusses the confinements of marriage and the need for partners to be individuals with their own identities and freedoms. Ironically, Irene and maybe the Doctor seemed to enjoy themselves more when they were alone and disguised. The costumes hid their identities and provided freedom from the bondage of tradition and detached them from reality. Essentially, the masks and costumes provided individuals an escape from the responsibilities and roles of daily life. At the end of the story, the speaker stated: “the monstrous pleasure of being alone, free, honest in her crude, native state, of being the unknown woman” (331). Irene felt free being unknown because she felt she could do what she pleased without being criticized by society’s morals. When her husband realized that she was just enjoying herself, he left the Opera because to him she was not his wife but a disguised woman. This was my take on the story, what do you think?

Comments

[Kristopher RT]

Polly, I agree on your take of the story. I think it has much to say about the boundaries set by society and how people are afraid to break them. Except in this case, when given the chance, the main character's wife let's her true self free and enjoys herself because when she returns home, she'll just have to put on the same old face she's been wearing for years. Its kinda sad that people have to hide behind what society declares as normal. People should just be who they are, because we'll all end up happier.

[Sam W.]

I also agree with your take on the story. It certainly is sad that people have to hide it when they escape "normalcy" -- but it is definitely understandable. If people are always "just who they are" 24-7, there would be a net loss in utility. If people didn't conform to norms, and did whatever they felt like, feelings would get hurt often as relationships would fail. This doesn't mean that it's impossible to be yourself, but it may be difficult at times.

[Matt E]

I also agree with your interpretation of the story. I'm still confused about when they met at the party though. Did she recognize him? That small detail doesn't change the meaning acting as an individual. However, it does raise more questions as to why she didn't react if she saw her husband with another woman. Also, she could have had another motive of revenge for the kiss she gave the stranger at the end of the story.
In our society people escape normalcy everyday through the use of television, movies theatres, and other forms of media. It is a natural habit that most people have. Going to the opera to kiss strangers is just another one of these escapes.

[Katie T]

Honestly, I did not see Irene as a malicious character at all. She went to the ball because of her own need to escape the confinements of marriage, not to make her husband jealous. Did she recognize her husband? Maybe, I had never really thought about that. Either way, she was there to enjoy herself, not to punish her husband. I think the point of this story was that, by going to this ball and wearing the mask, Irene was finally able to focus solely on herself, and not need to take into account her husband and his feelings or actions.

[JaimeB]

I agree with what everyone has said so far. It's definately true that people act according to societal standards and that, at times, everyone needs some sort of escape. We need to establish a healthy balance between acting out of obligation and acting out of complete free will. At the same time it is important that we take time for ourselves in a fashion that does not hurt those who we have already made a committment to.

[Lee A]

Society constricts us into certain things we can do and things we should not do. This story is a case of that because in the society we are a part of, a woman who goes around like this is looked down upon and called certain names. The courage to break free from what society deems wrong is true power. Irene is happy at the ball because she is free to be the person she wants to be and since she is disguised there will be no real consequence from society.

[StephL.]

Polly, i think you stated it perfectly. I just finished a paper on disguises in Shakespeare's plays, and I used King Lear throughout. One of the points I made about characters disguising is that A disguise is, in technicality, a form of lie or trickery, but Shakespeare reverses the utility of the disguise for his characters to reveal a truth about the play, that people should be careful not to take things at face value because underneath the mask we can discover truth.--I think that this same theme can be seen in The Secret Woman.