In A Secret Sorrow, both of the main characters are bland and unoriginal. The lead female role, Faye, is overly feminized, while the male, Kai, is too masculine. The story portrays Faye as a woman who is unable to think for herself, fragile, and unnecessarily dependent on Kai. Kai, on the other hand, plays a dominating role in their relationship. In the story it says, “Her legs were shaking so badly, she knew it was only his arms that kept her from falling” (Van der Zee 31). Simple gestures like this show the physical and emotional dependency that Faye has on Kai. Both of these characters follow the traditional romance theme and are used too often. The characters in A Sorrowful Woman display the opposite characteristics. The woman is detached from her husband and internalizes all of her emotions. She had no dependency on him and instead, prefers to be alone. Her husband does not try to convince her to change her mind and makes no attempt to truly help her through the conflict that she is facing. Unlike the others, these characters are more realistic and are refreshingly unexpected. Because they are unique, the story will not blend in with the rest of the generic stories like they do in A Secret Sorrow. While there are not many similarities between the two stories, the symbolism that the children bring forth, play an important role to the development of both of the stories. Although, that seems to be where the similarities end. In A Secret Sorrow, the children represent happiness and a less gloomy future. Faye and Kai’s relationship is almost broken because of the possibility of a future with no children. In the end of the story, after they adopt children, it says, “One day Kai and Faye watched them as they played in the garden, and joy and gratitude overflowed in Faye’s heart” (Van der Zee 37). The children are a powerful source of love and joy. This is strongly contradicted by what the child in A Sorrowful Woman symbolizes. The story implies that the child is to be blamed for all of the grief that the woman feels. In the beginning it says “The sight of them made her so sad and sick she did not want to see them ever again” (Godwin 38). One day, she looks at the child and realizes that the role that she takes on as a wife and a mother, is not what she originally desires. The child is just a reminder that she can not take back the decision that she has made. Once again, when comparing the symbolism in both stories, the characters of A Sorrowful Woman show the distinctiveness that the other story lacks.
Finally, but most importantly, the plotline of each story.
Following the plotline for each of the stories from beginning to end may be the best indicator of which piece truly fits the definition of literature. From the very first word to the last one written, A Secret Sorrow follows the traditional romance plotline. Faye and Kai are in love, but Faye has a secret that she fears may end the relationship. Once she reveals the secret, she flees thinking that Kai has lost his love for her. Kai goes after her and reassures her that their love will never die. In the end, they live happily ever after. In the final sentences, the story says, “Life was good and filled with love” (Van der Zee 37). Almost every other book that is picked up contains the exact same plotline and ending. Since this story is so predictable, it has no chance of retaining its relevance. A Sorrowful Woman begins with an unexpected epigraph that sets it apart from the rest. It says, “Once upon a time there was a wife and a mother one too many times” (Godwin 38). The woman is married with a child and slowly begins to withdraw from them, becoming more secluded. Eventually, she sees what it is like to be single with no children by watching the babysitter. Because of this, she desperately tries to become a person she knows she can never be. It does not end with a happily ever after, but instead with her death. The twists and turns of the plotline leads to a notable story, as opposed to the story created by Van der
Zee. Although it may be difficult to find a clear definition for literature, there is one stipulation that it must have. There is a major significance on whether a story will be able to remain influential over a period of time. A Sorrowful Woman is a true piece of literature because of it’s remarkable and complex characters, symbolism, and plotline. This story will always be remembered because of its ability to stand out in the crowd.