Olive Schreiner
Read the text here: https://www.marxists.org/subject/women/authors/schrein/dream/ch02.htm
About: Olive Schreiner
Olive Schreiner, a nineteenth-century South African woman writer, is best known for her novel The Story of an African Farm (1883). The conservative Victorian ideologies required her to publish her works under the pseudonym “Ralph Iron”. Her fictions, long as well as short, are often termed by critics as modern allegories. The short story is included in the volume: The Woman’s Rose: Stories and Allegories(1986).
Themes:
The narrative demonstrates a thematic circularity, with the writer dreaming of springtime as a symbol of the bond between women at the beginning of the story. However, this optimism is overshadowed by disappointment due to the conflict between women. The story ends with the protagonist maintaining her belief that spring will reemerge, even in moments of wavering trust in women. She seeks solace in her aged brown box containing the fragrant rose, redolent of the friendships of the past.
Gender Dynamics: The story depicts how the arrival of one woman shifts the attention and admiration of the men from the original woman to the new arrival, highlighting the fickle nature of their affections. It also subtly showcases the idea of competition and the effects of external perceptions on the relationship between the two women.
Isolation:
The story subtly portrays the isolation experienced by the two female characters in the male-dominated environment. Despite being the center of attention and admiration of the men in their community, both women are ultimately isolated in their own ways. The original woman, once the sole object of the men’s worship, finds herself deserted and overshadowed upon the arrival of the new woman. On the other hand, the new arrival, while initially enjoying the adoration and power that comes with being the center of attention, also experiences a sense of isolation and unease as she realizes the impact of her presence on the original woman. Despite the outward admiration and attention she receives, she is unable to connect with the original woman, and both characters coexist in a state of silent rivalry and unspoken tension, leading to a form of emotional isolation.
Hope and faith: The presence of the rose, carefully preserved in the carved box, serves as a symbol of hope and resilience. The protagonist finds solace and reassurance in the withered rose, and its lingering scent acts as a poignant reminder of hope and the inevitability of spring, representing an enduring faith in women.
Symbols:
Rose: In the story, the rose is a significant symbol that represents beauty, femininity, and resilience. It became a symbol of unexpected kindness and connection between the two rival women. Even though it had withered, the rose’s presence in the narrator’s box symbolizes the enduring power of hope and renewal, even in the face of adversity.
The Box: The old brown carved box, where the narrator stores mementos from her past, serves as a symbol of memory, nostalgia, and the passage of time.
The Setting: The remote rural town in which the story takes place represents physical and social confinement and isolation.
The White Dress: The white dress worn by the other woman at the party symbolizes purity, innocence, and beauty.
Midwinter: a transitional phase and symbolises perseverance in the face of adversity.
“old black scarf across my old black dress”: symbolises the stark contrast between the two women. As oppose to naivety the “old black” of the scarf and the dress suggests experience .
“Then they came in and swept us away…”: Hyperbole
“Women who are different should unite to end the supremacy of men.” This statement calls for women with different characteristics to come together and work towards ending male dominance.
Analysis:
The short story “The Woman’s Rose” defies traditional storytelling elements while also challenging the conventional societal norms of its time. The fact that the protagonist remains unnamed adds a layer of universality to the narrative, allowing readers to relate to the experience without the distraction of specific personal details.
The setting, Matjisfontein, where the author was residing while writing the story as well, adds a personal touch and potentially blurs the lines between the narrator and the actual author. This connection between the author’s environment and the narrative can provide readers with a deeper insight into the emotions and reflections woven into the story.
The autobiographical technique offers a unique perspective, delving into the narrator’s introspective moments as she sifts through the mementos of her past, particularly focusing on the significance of a rose in her life. This rose becomes a symbol of female bonding, challenging the societal expectations of rivalry and competition among women. The rejection of the conventional Victorian courtship plot in favor of sisterly solidarity subverts the traditional narrative structure and emphasizes the importance of supportive relationships among women.
Moreover, the open-ended nature of the conclusion defies the expected closure of traditional storytelling. The mention of spring and the enduring scent of the rose convey a sense of hope and regeneration, aligning with the author’s underlying belief in values such as solidarity and care over capitalist competition. This parallels contemporary feminist theories focused on ethical care, questioning the dichotomy between public and private spheres and advocating for recognizing caring relationships in both domains.
The Literary Companion 