“Little Mrs. Sommers one day found herself the unexpected possessor of fifteen dollars. It seemed to her a very large amount of money, and the way in which it stuffed and bulged her worn old porte-monnaie gave her a feeling of importance such as she had not enjoyed for years.”

The description of Mrs. Sommers as “little” on face value indicates that she is physically small, or perhaps young. It is also a symbol of how small a priority she is in her own life. Her personal identity is meant to be little, if not nonexistent, as what defines her, legally and socially, is her relationship to other people, namely her husband and children. In addition, she has not experienced a “feeling of importance” for years, highlighting how insignificant she has felt while doing her duty and ignoring her own desire. “Little” may also refer to ideas of femininity in 1897, and this imagery is repeated throughout the story.

“The vision of her little brood looking fresh and dainty and new for once in their lives excited her and made her restless and wakeful with anticipation.”

Mrs. Sommers is motivated by the idea of her children looking all bright and crisp in a way they never have, providing another clue as to the ongoing pressure on Mrs. Sommers to stretch their money as far as she can. She never seems to get a break from worry and fatigue, and even this excitement affects her sleep and makes her tired the next day. It also shows how much she cares for her children, giving an important