Why was Charlotte so interested to learn how to box?

Why do you think Charlotte was so interested in learning to box?

My first thought was that Charlotte was only trying to find something in common with her stiff and boring husband. However, as the story evolved it became clear that boxing allowed her to take out her frustrations with her station in life (that of being the protected, fragile lady). Ultimately it allowed her to win her freedom from her husband and her brother by giving her the strength, physically and emotionally, to stand up to those two bullies.

I think that Charlotte was very independent by nature, but was forced to conform to the restrictions on women at that time in history. Meeting Ruth and learning to box set her free and released her on so many levels, enabling her to grow.

Both Mary's and Patrician gave great answers. This book has so many layers and points of discussion about society of the time, growth of characters, dual meanings of incidents and plot it was a great read. The boxing focus was a great way to illustrate a "way out" of deplorable situations. Loved the use of boxing as an outlet to frustration from Charlotte.

I feel like it gave her the control she desired - control over her own life, control over her body, control over something, anything. She evolved a lot from her time with Charlotte, and I think that's what was she was looking for as well.

I think Charlotte has a lot of pent up anger and found it exciting to see women fight and that it was ok to let out all the anger and frustration by exhibiting violence in the sport of boxing. She wants to perhaps take back her power and feels that it is ok to fight back and not be the punching bag for so much abuse shown to her by her bother, the loss of so many family members to small pox, and in an empty marriage where she has no love towards her husband.

Charlotte's confidence was so undermined, first by her mother and nurse, then by her brother and then her husband that she had treated herself as a punch bag for many years - both mentally and physically (e.g. intentionally causing herself pain by repeatedly picking at the scabs). I think boxing started as a way to vent her anger but her transformation could not have happened just punching a bag - she needed to experience being punched, to feel the pain and be able to do something about it by fighting back. Her training with Ruth didn't just give her the physical skill to fight back, it gave her the mental skill to do so.

I think she was looking for freedom from her husband and society. Her husband was very controlling and not very interested in her. She found the women boxers to be very free. They could do things she had not been allowed to do ; earn their own money, not have to answer to family. It gave her control over her life.

Charlotte had always been under another person's rules & control. I think early on she showed signs of being different, perhaps a rebel but had never had a way to express that. I believe when this opportunity came up, she saw the release boxing would give her. A chance to step outside the norm for her class, an opportunity to realize her strength, both physical & mind set.

I expect some people today go into boxing for some of the same reasons that Ruth and Charlotte did in the book - a way of making a living when it seems other available options have worse consequences, a way of feeling powerful in some area of life, a way of hitting back at life.

I think that Charlotte's interest in boxing had a lot to do with her idea of courage and bravery. When she saw Ruth fighting in the ring, while she was slightly shocked she also greatly admired Ruth for her ability to not only stand up for herself but also to have no fear in front of a crowd of people. Charlotte's scarring caused her to hide herself away from life and because of that she greatly admired Ruth's gumption.

When you think about it, she was actually boxing before really getting to know Ruth. She had been hammering away at a bolster, and it was her torn-up hands that attracted Ruth's attention. So, I think Charlotte was a very frustrated, angry woman who was looking for any type of activity that would provide her with some meaning. Certainly seemed more satisfying than the needlework she was doing!

I think Charlotte lived a life of frustration and anger that society forced her suppress. The boxing was a release. I also feel that she needed to feel empowered and able to stand -up for herself and saw the confidence Ruth possessed and that appealed to her.

Charlotte had been stifled all her life. She had so much inside her just waiting to get out. Boxing was a way for her to let those feelings out and take them out. It was something she needed in order to see herself in a new way. She had been the victim, having to marry a man she despised, being scarred and being treated even by her household staff as though she didn't matter. This was her way of taking over and not being a victim. Boxing gave her the confidence to finally stand up to her husband and brother and take charge. Boxing liberated her.

Charlotte was a follower all her life. When she saw what another women could do, she figured she does not have to live the life she has been living. I think boxing was a way to release the old life and fell the pleasure in what her life can be.

As someone said above she was already psychologically a punching bag, so entering the voting could be seen
As a metaphor for her life.

I agree that Charlotte saw the boxing lessons as a confidence-building exercise and, also, as a way to rebel against her husband and her brother and life, itself. She admired Ruth's self-confidence and it awakened a spirit of adventure as well as giving her a feeling of self-worth. What an interesting way of changing one's life! I wonder if kick-boxing and self-defense courses taken by many women do not achieve much the same purpose.