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Kate Chopin is an author of American decent whose stories consists mainly of feminist points of view and focuses on women's exploration for self-identity, non-conformist behavior towards gender and society's expectations. Nineteenth century class status for women did not differentiate one from the other, women were not allowed political power and were subservient to men. The author focuses on three main characters in three of stories, Desiree, Louise, and Calixta. Although the three women's experiences were varied, the author portrays them as extremely sensitive and intelligent throughout the three stories: Desiree's Baby, The Story of the Hour and The Storm.
Desiree's Baby takes place during slavery on a plantation in Louisiana, it explores how racism and prejudice affected society as a whole.
Desiree, the main character, was abandoned as a child and adopted by a wealthy white family. She nor her adoptive family had no idea of her true heritage at the time, but raised her with a life of wealth and privilege.
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Desiree eventually met and married Armand Aubigny. Desiree knew Armand was racist and despised everyone who labeled as non-white, but she loved him so much that his character faults were overlooked. It was not until they conceived a baby boy that the possibility of her true heritage as a mixed raced woman comes to light. Although Madame Valmonde notices the child's appearance as that of a mixed race baby, it is not readily apparent to Desiree. It was not until she observed another mixed race child playing with the baby that she realizes the possibility of her own African ancestry and her baby must have inherited those genes.
Desiree discussed her concerns with Armand, whose loving behavior suddenly turn to mistreatment and hate. Desiree pleaded with Armand to tell her why he had changed so drastistically towards her and the baby. "Tell me what it means!" she cried despairingly." It means," he answered lightly, "that the child is not white; it means that you are not white" (Chopin, p. 192). In the pre-emancipation period in which this story is depicted, being of mixed race is intolerable.
Pre-emancipation Louisiana presented a particular problem for Desiree. A color barrier existed that prohibited the integration of the Black and White Race, those instances of mixing races were done only in a secret setting. No respectable white upper-class family would accept a child of mixed races and any family member that crossed the line of this standard would be cast out. Desiree's extreme reaction of comparing her skin tone to that of another is an appropriate response. She was ashamed that she could be considered non-white. However, the letter from Armand's mother stating that Armand himself was of mixed race was a huge twist. Armand protected his secret and forced Desiree to leave his property thinking that she was the reason their baby looked like a mulatto person.
Desiree is the true victim in this particular story. The current social environment made her feel ashamed of her assumed mixed ancestry. After all, an African child begins life as a slave and endures an extremely treacherous life. The same was true of children born to white and black parents. These children were labeled "mulattoes", and contrary to thoughts of lighter skinned blacks being more acceptable to white people, their lives were as treacherous or worse. Desiree's situation was due to racial assumptions and although being mulatto was no fault her own, the suffering and cruelty cast upon this group was unimaginable. Blacks, mulattoes and other non-whites were not considered second class citizens, in fact, they were not citizens at all.
The same cannot be said of Louise and Calixta. It is a fact that white women of the time also endured suffering and oppression, but the circumstances surrounding their situations were profoundly different. For instance, Calixta, a devoted housewife was seemly happily married and had no reason to feel dissatisfied with marriage before the storm. However, while her family was away during a particularly rough storm, she broke her marital vows with a previous love interest. Once the storm has passed and Calixta's family returned, she acted as if nothing had happened between her and Alcee. The author portrays her as reinvigorated by the fling and settling in to a happy marriage. However, no matter the effect Calixta's fling had, adultery is, and will always be immoral. Louise Mallard is a woman trapped in a loveless and unable to break free. She actually wished her husband dead, so that she can be free of his personal oppression. Her motives are quite apparent when she receives word of his death and exclaims, "free, free, free!" (Chopin 262) "She says a prayer that her life might be long to enjoy all the seasons in her life". (Chopin 262). Louise's story ends in tragedy as she dies of a heart attack upon finding out that her husband did not actually die. The author details Lousie's cause of death as a broken heart. Louise could not envision herself returning to a life of oppression ever again.
Finally, nineteenth century women had no occupation that was of any importance other than that of taking care of their husbands and children. As this was socially accepted, women were classified a second class citizens and taught that no matter what they do, it will never be as important as that of men. Although they lived repressed lives as second class citizens, their struggles cannot be compared to that of Desiree. Desiree's circumstances as a possible mixed race person would exact a much different kind of oppression and cruelty than that of white women.
Kate Chopin is an author of American decent whose stories. (2019, Nov 28). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/kate-chopin-is-an-author-of-american-decent-whose-stories-example-essay
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