Clarice Lispector, a Ukrainian-born Brazilian novelist and a short-story writer (1920-77), is often overshadowed by other South American literary giants like Jorge Luis Borges and Gabriel GarcÃa Márquez.
Her short stories, however, are remarkably inventive and carry the force of miniature parables or fables.
‘A Chicken’ (‘Uma galinha’) is an excellent example of her allegorical storytelling, running just four pages in the English translation of Lispector’s Complete Stories.
Summary
On a Sunday morning, a chicken chosen for the family's dinner remains alive in the kitchen.
After staying unnoticed since the previous day, the chicken suddenly flies up to the roofs of neighboring houses.
The man of the house, likely the eldest son, chases after the chicken and eventually catches her.
Back in the kitchen, the chicken, in her frantic state, lays an egg.
The daughter of the family urges her mother not to kill the chicken because it laid an egg and "cares about us."
The father and the little girl insist that if the chicken is killed, they will never eat chicken again. The mother reluctantly agrees.
The chicken becomes the "queen of the house," but eventually, the family forgets her, and she is killed and eaten years later.
Analysis
The story begins with the surprising fact that the chicken, referred to as "she," is still alive, emphasizing her as a living being rather than a mere food item.
Lispector's narrative extends beyond the chicken's plight, reflecting broader attitudes towards women.
The chicken endures the family's scrutiny, similar to how women are often judged based on their physical attributes.
During her escape, the chicken is contrasted with a proud and victorious rooster, highlighting the societal conditioning of women to be humble and modest.
The chicken lacks inherent identity, being defined by those who control and own her, much like women in patriarchal societies.
By laying an egg, the chicken proves her worth, paralleling how women's value is often tied to their ability to bear and raise children.
This event is not a feminist victory; the chicken is spared only because she becomes a producer of food, replacing one set of labels with another.
Eventually, the chicken's stay of execution ends when she can no longer lay eggs, symbolizing the temporary nature of a woman's worth in a patriarchal society.
The father, not the mother, joins the little girl in sparing the chicken, underscoring the patriarchal control over female fate.
Major Themes
| Theme |
Details |
| Gender Roles |
The chicken’s treatment reflects societal attitudes towards women, emphasizing judgment based on physical attributes and reproductive abilities. |
| Patriarchy |
The patriarchal figure in the story controls the fate of the female chicken, highlighting the dominance of men in decision-making roles. |
| Identity |
The chicken’s lack of inherent identity parallels how women are often defined by societal expectations and roles imposed on them. |
| Value and Worth |
The chicken’s worth is tied to her ability to produce eggs, mirroring how women's value is often measured by their reproductive functions. |
| Temporary Reprieve |
The chicken’s stay of execution is temporary, symbolizing the fleeting nature of a woman's worth once she can no longer fulfill her societal role. |
