Initial Personal Reaction:
My initial personal reaction to Colette's, "The Hand" when I began reading was an immediate awe. It made me think of how nice it would be to marry the one you love; to spend almost every waking moment indulged in the presence of the person you call your "other half", "soulmate", "the one who completes you", etc. It also gave me the thought of how the beginning of every new relationship always starts off with puppy love: the adorations, admirations, the willingness to do whatever for the significant other's happiness, etc. But as I continued to read and reread to come to a final focus on many interpretations that came to my mind, it left me with a bummed yet also indifferent feeling about all that she may slowly encounter through her adventure of being a married woman to a man she hardly knew; because as of the moment in the story, it was only the beginning.
Literary Element/Thematic Analysis:
One element in particular, that stood out to me in this story is symbolism. I believe that Colette uses "the hand" and how the realization of "the hand" signifies that, "some things shouldn't be rushed into, instead one should take the time to see the bigger/clearer picture before it is too late to undo." Taken that it had only been a month of knowing each other right before their marriage and of how the hand she had always kissed, she finally saw the ugliness it held. But in the wife's case, because of their marriage that holds them together, there is no turning back for her.
Questions/Comments:
What other interpretations did "the hand" give you?
