Final answer:
The silk stockings symbolize luxury and personal indulgence for Mrs. Sommers, leading her to temporarily abandon her usual caution for a more lavish lifestyle.
Step-by-step explanation:
The silk stockings represent a sense of luxury and escape for Mrs. Sommers, reflecting her desire for personal indulgence and a reminder of a more carefree, affluent past.
They symbolize a momentary departure from her present life of calculated budgeting and self-denial.
The stockings serve as a catalyst for Mrs. Sommers to embark on an afternoon of unplanned splurging, which ultimately affects her deeply by briefly awakening her dormant desires for a more opulent lifestyle and leading her to momentarily disregard her accustomed prudence in favor of personal pleasure.