A New England Nun

Upon first reading A New England Nun I was struck by Louisa's frail domesticity. Her habits include sewing, gardening, tending to her home, and surrounding herself with pretty things. She is quiet, docile, and passive. After fourteen years of fending for herself, her home, and her dog, she has grown into habits that suit only her. Her independence appears transparent, however, as she is always waiting for Joe Dagget to come home and marry her. His presence in her home only serves to disturb the fragile ecosystem she has built over the time he has been gone and appears as an omen of a future very different than what she's used to. When she hears Joe and Lily talking about their feelings for each other, she finds a way out of her impending marriage. She reclaims her independence and resigns herself to years of spinsterdom. I can't tell whether or not this makes her a totally independent woman though because it seemed more like her making a feminine sacrifice for Joe's sake. This may be my own bias getting in the way though. The fact that she loves all things domestic, pretty, and graceful doesn't necessarily mean that she can't be an independent woman. In fact, if that's what she likes then her reclaiming her life in order to continue living this way signifies her autonomy. The question still remains though whether or not she would have ended her engagement had she not heard Joe and Lily talking.