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Sandra Masud
September 24, 2001
Amer. Lit. 272
Rozalyn Weedman
The Revolt of “Mother”
By, Mary E. Wilkins Freeman
This story is set in New England, at the turn of the nineteenth century, when women had a much clearer station in life. Adoniram, Sarah, and their two children lived a frugal life on a small farm. The farm has several out buildings so I believe they were not poverty stricken. The underlying theme is Sarah’s inner conflict between accepting her role as a submissive wife, the one that society wants her to be, and knowing how to handle the resentment from years of living as a subordinate to her husband.
The story begins as another cellar is being dug across the field and Sarah doesn’t know what is being built. She repeatedly asks her husband who wants her to mind her own business, to go back to the house and tend to women things. She is dismissed by him and reminded of her station in life. Finally, with much prodding, he tells her about the additional barn. Sarah retreats to the house where her daughter, Nanny who also wants to know about the new cellar. Sammy ignores the whole conversation. When Sarah asks Sammy if he knew anything about the new barn, he doesn’t offer any information eventually he admits that he has known about the plan for a new barn for about three months. Sammy has accepted his role as a man, meaning he feels he doesn’t have to be accountable to his mother about the knowledge of men’s affairs.
After Sammy leaves for school Nanny tells Sarah how disappointed she is because a decent house is needed more than a new barn. Sarah’s response to this is, "You ain’t found out yet we’re women folks Nanny Penn.” Showing a sense of frustration and lack of hope and sarcastically telling Nanny, “How we ought to reckon men-folks in with Providence.” Sarah’s resentment is manifested in cleaning her home compulsively and never complaining. Complaining wasn’t acceptable for women then, even if it meant not telling the truth. Sarah tries to bury her resentment and take care of all of Adoniram’s needs and desires.
The reader learns of a promise broken many years ago, which is the foundation of Sarah’s wounded, but not broken spirit. Adoniram, promised to build her a home within the first year of their marriage. And now, some forty years later, the new barn will stand on the very spot where she dreamed her house would be.
Sarah decides she is going to tell Adoniram exactly what she thinks, telling him to come inside so she can speak to him. He tells her that he is too busy, reminding her of chores he needs to complete. But Sarah insists and Adoniram comes into the house. And again she tries to have conversation with Adoniram about the new barn. He repeatedly tells her, “I ain’t got nothing to say.” Sarah tells him to sit down because she needs to, “Talk real plain,” something she admits she has never done. Adoniram sits and listens as the disappointment of forty years pours from Sarah’s lips and heart. She has lived with far less than their financial means could support and yet her voice, her needs and desires have not been heard. Sarah goes from room to room pointing out everything she hates, from no carpets on the floor and dirty old wallpaper to the unfinished bedrooms their children sleep in that, as she points out, are not as nice as the stalls used for horses. Father, doesn’t interrupt her, he sits through the attack, but his response is, “I ain’t got nothing to say.” Once again, Sarah’s pleas have fallen on deaf ears, which re-fuel her resentment.
Adoniram confides to Sammy one day, “It’s a strange thing how your mother feels about the new barn.” Adoniram isn’t cruel and he does care about Sarah, but I think his heart has hardened from difficult farm life and gender bias in a time when the lines of gender were more clearly marked.
Just about the time the barn is completed and the new cows are to be moved in, Adoniram receives a letter from Sarah’s brother. He has knowledge of a good horse for sale. Adoniram reluctantly leaves town for five days to pick up the horse. Sarah does what is expected of her and prepares food for him to travel and lays out his clothes. As he leaves he hesitates at the door. He looks defiantly apologetic at Sarah and leaves her with instruction regarding the cows and hay. Sarah’s only verbal response, “Well,” displays her submissive compliance. I think Adoniram feels bad about leaving her with the extra job of the cows and hay, but he doesn’t really believe Sarah would be anything less than understanding about the added work or the new barn.
Soon after Adoniram’s departure, Sarah feels a flame in her soul that no one will put out. Deciding it’s a Providence she says loudly to herself, “Unsolicited opportunities are the guideposts of the Lord to the new roads of life.” Sarah has made up her mind, as she has chosen to be a woman of action. Upon hearing her own voice, like someone else convincing her to take the path less traveled, Sarah claims the new bran for her home. She understands when this small opportunity passes; it will never come again.
As Sarah gathers clothing and boxes household items, she gives the children orders about what to do next. The desire of her heart is now a burning conviction. She is compared to a solider with her audacity and bravery as she moves everything to the barn.
The news of her action spread quickly through the town and people thought she was crazy. The minister came for a visit, probably to convince her to move back into the house, Sarah firmly yet politely reassured the minister that her decision was final. Telling him that she had prayed about it and now it was nobody’s business, but hers, Adonirams and the Lords.
When the four new cows arrived, Sarah’s action was sealed. She had three of the cows delivered to the old barn and one to be placed in the house shed, where the old stove stood just days ago!
When Adoniram arrives home he is obviously confused. His family was in the new barn and a cow was in the house. Sarah had fixed dinner, as expected of her. She reassured Adoniram that she wasn’t crazy, and tells him what will need to be done to make the barn accommodating for the family. Then, knowing how far outside the boundary she wandered, she steps back in and tells him to wash for dinner, probably with the same adoration, she had for the last forty years.
The end of the story finds Adoniram sitting outside on a step he intended for the cows to use to enter the barn, weeping with his head in his hands. Sarah touches his head gently, as if to say all will be fine. Poor Adoniram had no idea that Sarah felt strong enough to take a stand.
In conclusion, I think Sarah wanted to be treated with the same respect she gave to her husband. Adoniram, raised to be the decision-maker of the family, never gave a thought to his wife’s need to be an individual. She was his wife, someone to cook, clean, raise a family and take care of a household. I believe Sarah wanted those same things at the time of their marriage. As the years passed and everyone settled into traditional roles, Sarah realized her need to be Adoniram’s partner, not his subordinate.
The time arrived and Sarah recognized her chance to stand up. Adoniram’s shock and disbelief at Sarah’s conviction to stay in the barn is rather humorous. He admitted that he didn’t have a clue and he would make the changes in the barn so it would be to Sarah’s liking.
I think if Adoniram had come home and insisted on moving back into the old house, Sarah would have left with her children, leaving him alone on his own.
Women readers at the turn of the century must have found this story to be shocking and scandalous. All the while wondering if they could ever find the bravery and determination Sarah did. The truth set Sarah free.