The Young Housewife

The poem depicts an encounter between a young housewife and a man passing by in his car. The speaker describes the young woman’s vulnerable state and observes that she is “a young housewife” (Line 1). The speaker also observes that the time of day is “ten A.M.” (Line 1), which establishes part of the setting. It is light out, and the day is just beginning.

In Line 2, the speaker begins describing the young housewife more fully. They imagine the young housewife moving “about in negligee” (Line 2). This is an intimate thought because a negligee is see-through and consists of a sheer, usually long dressing gown. The line is enjambed with the word “behind” (Line 2) shifting into the next line.

In Line 3, the speaker focuses on the housewife’s existence. They imagine the housewife moving behind “the wooden walls of her husband’s house” (Line 3). The speaker disassociates the housewife with any type of ownership from the house. Instead, the speaker fully associates the ownership of the house with the husband. The house’s “wooden walls” (Line 3) form a type of prison in which the housewife lives. Thus, the housewife is not only a victim of the house but also of her husband, the head of household.