"The Shroud" and Other Short Stories Lesson Plan

At the beginning of "Widow with Sons", Phulmati is supposed to have a great deal of authority over her household after the death of her husband. What is the nature of this authority, and why does it disappear over the course of the story?

In "Widow with Sons", Phulmati's authority originally stems from her motherhood. As the last remaining parent in her household, and as someone who helped birth and care for her husband's children, she assumes that she should be granted special deference from her children. However, Phulmati misunderstands an important aspect of her situation: with her sons grown-up, married, and legally entitled to the property of their father, this...