The quotation above shows that Francesca had ever worked, but she gave up because Richard did not like the idea of her working. As a wife, she would do
what her husband wanted her to do. She just believed that Richard was able to support her and her children, and she did not want to underestimate Richard’s
income, that was why she preferred to gave up from her job.
iii. Francesca as Richard’s Complement
In her marriage, in the matter of sex particularly, Francesca is a wife who is actually unhappy and never gets what she needs from her husband.
Richard was interested in sex only occasionally, every couple of month, but it was over fast, rudimentary and unmoving, and he didn’t seem to care
much about perfume or shaving or any of that. It was easy to get a little sloppy… Waller, p.67.
The passage gives an illustration of how Francesca wants to have a sex activity
which makes her feel comfortable and completely satisfied by her husband courage to please her. For Francesca herself, sex is important because it is
something that brings the relation between her and Richard closer. She thinks that in sex, they can express their love and care toward each other, but unfortunately,
she does not get that sense from Richard.
iv. Francesca’s Subordination
Francesca is a wife who does not want to break her family and able to hide her feeling from her husband in order to avoid a problem in their marriage. She
feels that as a woman, she had no rights, except for any privileges her husband or father gave her. In their marriage, Richard never asks her if she had something in
her mind that she needs to talk to Richard. Then she thinks that she does not have a right to communicate her thought and feeling.
She was more of a business partner to him than anything else. Some of her appreciated that. But rustling yet within her was another person who
wanted to bathe and perfume herself..and be taken, carried away, and peeled back by a force she could sense, but never articulate, even dimly
within her mind Waller, p.67.
That is the part when as a wife, Francesca thinks that she is better not to complain. She learns that a good wife should be silent and not to start the fire in her
marriage. Francesca is a woman who is open-minded to talk about sex and other
issues which exist in a marriage, but it is not the same with Richard. But there was something more going on here. Predictability is one thing,
fear of change is something else. And Richard was afraid of change, any kind of change, in their marriage. Didn’t want to talk about it in general.
Didn’t want to talk about sex in particular. Erotism was, in some way, dangerous business, unseemly to his way of thinking Waller, p.89-90.
Francesca feels that there is something wrong in her marriage, particularly in her
sex-relationship with Richard. It is difficult for her, because in the matter of the way of thinking, Richard is totally different from her. She is open-minded and
able to accept changes in their marriage, while Richard even does not want to talk about it or to accept changes.
Although in the most part of her role as Richard’s wife she is unhappy, but she still has a big care and attention for Richard and also her children.
“Yes, it’s boring in its way. My life, that is. It lacks romance, eroticism, dancing in the kitchen to candlelight, and the wonderful of feel of a man
who knows how to love a woman. Most of all, it lacks you. But there’s damn sense of responsibility I have. To Richard, to the children. Just my
leaving, taking away my physical presence would be hard enough for Richard. That alone might destroy him Waller, p115.
There, Francesca has herself in the position that is unfair. She has a responsibility
that she always keeps in her mind. She respects Richard and honors him although PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
he does not have what the men should have, understanding, love and enough attention toward their wives. Richard even seems does not know what she needs
or what she wants. That is a situation which can be said as imbalanced, which woman had given anything they have, while in the other hand there is no equal
response from man.
b. Francesca as a Mother
In her family, besides she has a role as a wife, Francesca also has a position as a mother. She has two children; Michael and Carolyn, the both of them
live in another town. Her role as a mother is another burden for Francesca. Her two children, Michael and Carolyn are seldom visiting Francesca in Iowa. The
two of them have their own career and business, that is why they cannot meet so often in a year. As a mother, Francesca always tries to understand her children.
The children had called. Neither of them could make it home again this year for her birthday, though it was her sixty-seventh. She understood, as
she always did. Always had. Always would Waller, p. 18.
That part above shows that in an occasion which should be special and most of parents want to pass it with their family or their children, Francesca should pass in
alone. After Richard death, she passes almost all of her time by herself, including celebrating her birthday. It is her sixty-seventh and her children can not
accompany her to celebrate her birthday ‘again’, but Francesca ‘again’ understands their reasons without any complain.
Francesca gets not enough attention from her two children. Michael lives in Florida and Carolyn in New England. Her life is empty, but she is lucky to have
friends who often come to visit her. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
This morning her friends from Winterset had stopped by with a birthday cake. Francesca made coffee, while the talk ran to grandchildren and the
town, to Thanksgiving and what to get for Christmas for whom. The quiet laughter and the rise and fall of conversation from the living room were
comforting in their familiarity and reminded Francesca of one small reason why she had stayed here after Richard’s death Waller, p. 18.
The quotation above illustrates how Francesca’s children’s attention for her is nothing comparing with her friends’. Francesca, like other parents also has a wish
to celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas and maybe her ‘lonely’ birthday together with her family, her children and her grandchildren. She wish that her living room
is really ‘live’ and full of familiarity like when she is visited by her friends, but her wish is an empty wish since Michael and Carolyn never make it come true.
Francesca is disappointed with Michael and Carolyn’s attitude, but she manages her self not to blame them.
Michael had touted Florida, Carolyn New England. But she had remained in the hills of south Iowa, on the land, keeping her old address for a special
reason, and she was glad had done that Waller, p. 18.
Although Michael and Carolyn have moved from Iowa, Francesca prefers to remain in her family’s old address with the hope that someday, when Carolyn and
Michael have a time to go home again, they still have memories of their old house.
c. Francesca as a Housewife
Her role as a housewife is another oppression for Francesca. Richard, who in the previous offered her kindness and sweet promise of America, now restrict
her steps and space. After getting married with Richard, she spent most of her time at home.
Richard and the children were at Illinois State Fair, exhibiting the prize steer that received more attention than she did, and she had the week to
herself Waller, p.27.
Richard and her children go to Illinois exhibiting the prize steer. It seems that the event is more important for them rather time to spend at home, be with her and
help her doing her ‘duty’. Francesca always tries to be a good housewife, who is always at home,
does domestic duties and takes care every little thing at home when her family leaves.
The shower shut off upstairs just as the phone rang. It was Richard, calling from Illinois. “Everything okay?”
“Yes.” “Carolyne’s steer’ll be judged on Wednesday. Some other things we want
to see next day. Be home Friday, late.” “All right, have a good time and drive carefully.”
“Frannie, you sure you’re okay? Sound a little strange.” “No, I’m fine. Just hot. I’ll better after my bath.” Waller, p.88.
Richard and the children can go home anytime they want. They thing it is enough
just to phone her and they will know that everything is alright in home. They never think about how hard Francesca with all her courage handling everything by
herself to make sure that when they come home again, everything is fine and in its place.
Francesca is a farmer’s wife, so she has to deal with farm life in her everyday. When another woman has a time to dress up their selves, Francesca has
herself tackle her job in the farm. As Francesca stripped the Iowa liquor seal from the top of the brandy
bottle, she looked at her fingernails and wished they were longer and better cared for. Farm life did not permit long fingernails. Until now it hadn’t
matter Waller, p.63. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
Francesca’s life is a hard life. She must be able to take over her husband role as a farmer when he leaves. And there is a contradiction between her wish and the
reality she should face. As a woman, she wants to look pretty and has a time to take care of her self, but as a farmer, she does not have a time to spoil herself.
Even it seems that it is only a little thing, but as a wife she might have a fear that she can not fulfill her husband’s need, that is for her to look pretty and like the
other women who are well-taken care, although she never sure that Richard care much about it.
3. Francesca and Her Opportunity of Career
In patriarchal society, women are being inferior, ruled by men, assumed as second class of society. A woman’s life is under the control of a man. A girl often
requires her father’s opinion or permission for her final decision, even in the most private matters like career or marriage.
In the story, Francesca is told as an educated woman. She is a woman who has an obsession and courage to make it real.
She had been twenty-five when they met-out of the university for three years, teaching at a private school for girls, wondering about her life
Waller, p.19.
In her hometown in Italy, she had her first career, that is as a private school for
girls. Her career as private school girls brings a speculation that she wants to show her personal reason, that she supports the education for girls women.
Francesca’s career is not over yet when Richard takes her to Iowa. She has her degree in comparative literature, and she uses it to apply for a job as a high
school teacher. She has a big attention toward the world of education. She is PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
