The River-Merchant's Wife: A Letter Women and Femininity Quotes

Laughing seems to be the typical response to being bashful, but the wife seems to avoid laughing because it draws unwanted attention to her.

The wife lowers her head and looks at the wall to avoid eye contact. Could this be a sign of deference to her husband? Or is she simply being stubborn and ignoring him?

If she is ignoring her husband, she's either resisting his romantic advances or simply his attempts to get her attention. She's empowered in these moments.