The Astronomer's Wife (Kay Boyle)

In today's society, Katherine Ames, the protagonist of Kay Boyle's short story "The Astronomer's Wife," would be called an emotionally abused wife. In the time the story was written, however, she would be seen as just carrying out her role as the passive helpmate wife. Katherine exhibits low self-esteem and appears to perceive man as woman's master, protector and provider. The story's antagonist is Katherine's astronomer husband, a man concerned only with himself and the stars, who displays disdain and scorn for his wife. Upon meeting a different kind of man, the plumber who comes to fix a leak in the Ames' vacation house, Katherine comes to understand that not all men are alike, and that she can liberate herself from the diffident role she has been playing throughout her married life, a role that has made her fearful and unhappy.

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