Examining the Differences Between the Main Characters in "Louisa" by Mary Wilkins Freeman and "Rima the Bird Girl" by Rona Jaffe

Mary Wilkins Freeman’s "Louisa" and Rona Jaffe’s "Rima the Bird Girl" are two short stories that explore the emotional lives of young women in challenging circumstances. While the stories are quite different in setting and tone, the main characters—Louisa and Rima—offer distinct portrayals of women struggling with their identity, emotions, and relationships with others. This comparison will highlight their character traits, their interactions with the world around them, and the different social contexts in which they exist.

1. The Social and Emotional Context: The Environment Shaping Character

Louisa in Mary Wilkins Freeman’s "Louisa" is a young woman caught between two worlds: the domestic sphere and the wider social expectations of the time. Living in a small rural town in New England, Louisa is an example of a character whose inner life is shaped by social norms and family obligations. Her emotional journey is one of self-sacrifice, driven by a strong sense of duty to her mother and a personal lack of agency in her own life. Freeman's portrayal of Louisa emphasizes the impact of societal expectations and family responsibilities on her personal choices.

In contrast, Rima in Rona Jaffe’s "Rima the Bird Girl" exists in a more urban, contemporary setting, where the constraints of society are less overt but still palpable. Rima’s social world is shaped by her relationship with her father and the pressures of family history. Unlike Louisa, Rima’s challenges are more internally driven, including the struggle to fit in with the world around her while coping with feelings of isolation. Jaffe presents Rima as a more psychologically complex character who is also struggling to define her sense of identity, but her issues are rooted in emotional complexity rather than the societal and familial duties that govern Louisa’s life.

2. Family Influence and Expectations

One of the most striking differences between Louisa and Rima is their relationship with family and how it shapes their personal struggles.

Louisa's family is central to her character development. Her mother’s dependence on her creates a sense of obligation that traps Louisa in her role as caretaker. Freeman’s narrative conveys a growing tension within Louisa as she experiences frustration over her limited opportunities for independence and personal fulfillment. Louisa is constantly torn between a desire to pursue her own happiness and the deep-rooted need to serve her family. She finds herself unable to break free, showing the suffocating influence of family expectations.

On the other hand, Rima's family is depicted as less oppressive but still plays a crucial role in shaping her identity. Her relationship with her father is distant and emotionally unfulfilling. Rima's emotional journey revolves around her need to find connection and understand her place in the world. While she is not directly constrained by the duty to care for family members, her father’s emotional absence and the weight of his legacy leave her feeling alienated and unsure of her identity. Rima’s conflict arises from her inability to establish meaningful relationships—both within her family and outside it.

3. Emotional and Psychological Development

While both Louisa and Rima experience emotional and psychological turmoil, their internal worlds are shaped differently.

Louisa’s emotional development is rooted in self-denial. She is emotionally invested in her mother’s welfare and sacrifices her own desires, showing a tendency toward selflessness and internalized guilt. Her emotional struggles are reflected in her feelings of resentment toward her own unfulfilled life, but she doesn’t fully express this resentment outwardly. Louisa’s evolution as a character is slow and characterized by subdued emotions, a product of her moral values and the constraints of her familial and social obligations. Louisa’s eventual breakdown occurs when the burden of her sacrifices becomes too much for her to bear.

In contrast, Rima's emotional development is marked by psychological complexity and a search for identity. She grapples with feelings of loneliness and emotional emptiness, which stem from the disconnection between herself and others. Rima’s journey is one of self-exploration, as she constantly questions who she is and how she fits into the world. While Louisa’s emotional conflict is a struggle between duty and personal desire, Rima’s conflict is more internal—her battle to reconcile her self-worth with the expectations of her family and society. Rima’s story is more about identity crisis and emotional growth rather than sacrifice and moral duty.

4. Relationships with the Opposite Sex

Another significant difference between Louisa and Rima is their interactions with the opposite sex and how these relationships affect their emotional lives.

Louisa’s relationships with men are mainly passive and defined by external expectations. She has the opportunity to be courted by a local suitor, but she feels that she cannot entertain the possibility of love because of her duty to her mother. Louisa’s relationship with men, or lack thereof, is defined by her sacrifice of personal happiness for the sake of familial responsibility. There is no emotional connection to a man that leads Louisa to act outside the role that is dictated for her by society.

Rima, by contrast, has a more active relationship with men, though it is complicated by her emotional detachment. Rima’s romantic interest becomes a source of introspection and emotional conflict. She desires love and intimacy but is often unsure of how to engage in or understand such relationships, primarily due to the emotional barriers created by her upbringing. The lack of emotional support from her father and her struggle to form intimate connections complicate her ability to form healthy relationships with men. However, unlike Louisa, Rima’s relationship with men is more about exploration and self-discovery.

5. Personal Transformation and Tragic Endings

Both Louisa and Rima experience a form of personal transformation, but the nature of this transformation is different for each character.

In Louisa’s case, her transformation is tragic. She dies due to her unseen emotional torment, and her end is marked by a sense of unfulfilled potential. Louisa’s life never truly escapes the constraints imposed by duty and family, and her death can be seen as a final sacrifice to those demands.

Rima's transformation, on the other hand, leads to a form of self-actualization, though it is emotionally bittersweet. Rima’s self-discovery involves understanding her own need for intimacy and acceptance, and while she does not achieve total fulfillment, she confronts her emotional isolation. Her journey involves growth, even if it doesn’t result in complete emotional resolution.

Conclusion

Louisa and Rima are both complex characters struggling with emotional and familial expectations, but their reactions to these struggles are shaped by their social environments, relationships, and personal growth. Louisa’s character is defined by her sacrifice and moral duty, while Rima’s character grapples with emotional isolation and the search for self-identity. Their paths diverge in terms of how they express their internal conflicts: Louisa is passive and driven by duty, whereas Rima is more introspective, seeking personal growth and connection. In the end, both stories highlight the challenges that women face when trying to navigate the constraints of society, family, and personal desires.