The portrayal of wives in literature has evolved over time. "A Sorrowful Woman" by Gail Godwin and "A Secret Sorrow" by Karen van der Zee both feature wives who are having marital problems. The wife in "A Sorrowful Woman" is overwhelmed by her roles as a wife and mother, whereas Faye in "A Secret Sorrow" struggles with the fact that she cannot bear children. These two novels examine various aspects of marriage and the roles of wives in them. We can better understand the complexities of marriage and the expectations placed on wives in different situations by comparing and contrasting the wives in these novels.
Faye is introduced in "A Secret Sorrow" as a woman suffering from infertility, which prevents her from having children with her husband. Despite her difficulties, Faye remains devoted to her husband, Kai. She tells him, "Kai, I want to be with you. I adore you. That is something I do not want to change " (van der Zee, 1981, p. 36). This quote
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Faye and Kai share a strong emotional bond, and he is sympathetic to her difficulties. When Faye tells Kai about her infertility struggles, he tells her, "I'm here to help you. We'll work together to get through this " (van der Zee, 1981, p. 32). This quote demonstrates Kai's dedication to Faye and their marriage, despite their difficulties. In "A Sorrowful Woman," the husband is depicted as distant and uninvolved in his wife's problems. When she tells him she can't handle being a wife and a mother, he responds, "You're ill...you're not yourself" (Godwin, 1971, p. 2). This passage proves the husband's inability to comprehend and relate to his wife's difficulties. The quotes in these two novels depict the various relationships between husbands and wives. While Faye and Kai share a strong emotional bond, the husband in "A Sorrowful Woman" is portrayed as distant and uninvolved in his wife's