Kate Chopin’s The Story of an Hour
The literary value of this story lies in the critiquing of the cultural values at the time. Chopin aims to demonstrate the repression of women during this time through the story of Louise Mallard-the protagonist of the story. Louise hears of her husband’s death and is immediately grieved. However, after much contemplation, she comes to the realization that she is indeed free (Jamil, 215). He new found freedom is however short-lived after she heads downstairs only to see her husband coming back. She immediately collapses and dies. Mallard’s death is concluded as heart disease, and more specifically because of the ecstasy in seeing her husband alive. This diagnosis is given by doctors who were mostly men during this time. It is ironical because Mallard died of the exact opposite reason. It would never occur to the doctors that Mallard would be saddened by her husband’s escape from death. Chopin reveals no animosity that might have caused the protagonist to be overjoyed about her husband’s death, but through this reaction, she reveals the suppression that Mallard had initially experienced. Her newfound confidence and sense of freedom is evidence enough of the oppression women had to face during the antebellum period.
Moreover, the doctors diagnose Mallard of the joy that kills showing that even the society was blind to the repression that women faced. The story of Mallard is the story of Chopin, who lived through broken marriages as a result of her intelligence that wasn’t allowed in this kind of society. She, therefore, calls her audience to come to the understanding of the sufferings of women during this time.
Kate Chopin’s “The Storm”
The value in this short story lies in the cultural knowledge it displays about the 19th-century society, and also the literary devices used in conveying the messages. The story signifies the place of passion and desire in marriages during this time. Through the protagonist, Calixta and her marriage to Bobinot, Chopin reveals that most marriages around this time beheld no love and desire at all. Calixta is sexually unfulfilled in her marriage, precisely why she easily gets tempted into a sexual encounter with Alcee amid the storm (Stein, 52). While it may seem that Chopin is in support of adultery and infidelity when she finishes by stating that everyone was happy with everything that had happened, her main focus is presenting the story to the audience plainly without any bias. It is true that Alcee and Calixta were happy after their passionate encounter, even if this is ethical or not. Moreover, Chopin discusses a topic that was hardly discussed in the 19th century in an outright manner. She calls her audience to ponder about the place of love and desire in marriages, its pros and cons- which is the literal value that the story beholds.
Furthermore, the value of the story lies in the symbolical manner in which the story is conveyed. Chopin draws the name Calixta from the flower calyx which shows her beauty and her piety. Alcee is also symbolical of the storm. Calixta opens up to Alcee and then becomes happier after this, which is exactly how a flower opens up to rain for its growth. It is, therefore, no coincidence that the storm ends immediately Alcee and Calixta encounter ends. The colour white is also symbolical of the Calixta’s innocence. Her skin and bed are portrayed as white. Chopin states that at last Calixta’s body knew its birthright showing that she finally came to the realization of the passion that her body could produce. The bed is also white to depict the place where she expresses herself passionate. The use of symbolism clear mirrors the cultural principles in society.
Kate Chopin’s A Respectable Woman.
He literary value of this story also lies in the reveal of the lack of female sexual freedom during this time. Mrs Baroda for once gets to experience the passion and desire that she has never experienced through her husband’s friend, Gouvernail. At first, she is confused about what these feelings she has are, which makes her treat Gouvernail with displeasure. She even decides to leave the plantation to live with her aunt for some time until Gouvernail left.
In the end, Mrs Baroda tells his husband Gaston that she has overcome everything which implies that she has discovered her individual identity amid her social responsibility to remain a ‘respectable woman’. The value of the story thereby lies in provoking the norms in the society that limited female sexual expression in society. It also seeks to explain female self-discovery amid the rules of the society that confined their abilities and opportunities to discover who were they were, and basically be who whoever they wanted to be.
Kate Chopin’s Ripe Figs
The value of this short story lies in promoting moral values, in this case, patience. Maman-Nainaine informs her goddaughter that she could visit her cousins only after the figs ripen. Her goddaughter, Babette is very impatient. Chopin uses similes to figuratively juxtaposes the two characters- Babette as restless as a hummingbird and Maman-Nainaine as the statute of la Madone. Babette feels that the figs have taken too long to ripen while her godmother feels that they have taken a really short time, which shows the different level of patience among the two. Maman-Nainaine aims to teach her goddaughter the value of patience and that times moves faster than she actually thinks.
In the end, Babette is able to wait for the ripening of the figs. She is able to hold the news about the ripening of the figs for an entire day until the next morning where she also waits for the time her godmother is patiently seated and ready to eat. We do not see her celebrating or jumping about the ripening of the figs. She then gives her a porcelain tray containing the ripened figs. Chopin, therefore, seeks to explain the significance of patience in waiting for what we want, which is the literary value of the story.
Kate Chopin’s Regret
The value of Chopin’s regret lies in the ability to demonstrate the significance of family completeness in society. She also explains how we sometimes fear to take on certain risks in our lives because of fear. Mamzelle Aurlie is an independent woman who feels that she does not need any man nor children to complete her. Moreover, she has a farm of her own, her own farmers who work for her, a dog to keep her company and even a gun to defend herself. She is, therefore, reluctant to agree to Odile’s offer of staying with her four children for two weeks while she took care of her ailing mother. Aurlie struggles at the beginning to accommodate the children because she has no idea whatsoever of how to be tender to the children. She, however, gets to learn them and gets to experience that comes with children. Through them, she gets to experience motherhood, a feeling she has never heard before. Chopin, in this case, shows children and basically, family as the ultimate source of joy.
Moreover, the departure of the children leaves Aurlie lonelier than before, and she gets to see the emptiness that she has been leaving with all along. The story is, therefore, clear any questions on The Story of an Hour about the significance of the family. It shows that for ultimate happiness there must be equal involvement of every unit of the family. Aurlie could not be happy on her own, she needed the family that Odile’s children provided.
Kate Chopin’s A Pair of Silk Stockings
The value in this piece lies also lies in its ability to evoke the repression of women in the antebellum period. Mrs Sommers finds a smack fortune of $15 which she makes a decision to purchase clothes for her children. She, however, becomes overcome by the temptation to spend the money on herself. She sees a pair of silk stockings which she immediately purchases then goes for some boots she feels will go well with the stockings.
The story tells of the sense of freedom that money brings. Mrs Sommers has never experienced freedom in her life, and once she gets a taste of it, she finds it hard to let go. After she borders a vehicle to take her back home she wishes that the cable car would not make any stop but would continue going on and on. Through the story, Chopin gets to inform her of the audience of how freedom was a rare occurrence for women in the antebellum.
Kate Chopin’s The Kiss
The short story’s value lies in communicating the inability of a 19th-century woman to have everything they wanted. Nathalie is a beautiful woman who feels that she can have everything she wants. She wants to maintain her relationship with Harvy and still get married to wealthy Brantain for her financial security. She, however, ends up losing her lover Harvy after he refuses to be one of her pawns. All through Chopin’s stories, we get the revelation that her stories were based on expressing the suppression of women in the antebellum period, even at the expense what we may consider ethically. Moreover, he breaks from the rules of the society to show that times were changing and sticking to the old systems of governance was suppressive and confining.
Kate Chopin’s Desiree’s Baby
Chopin’s Desiree’s Baby finds its literary value in addressing racism and gender equality in the community. Desiree’s baby with Armand is looked down upon because it has some black ancestry. This woman is also chased away by her husband who feels that being of black descent is preposterous. It is therefore clear through her story how the Black Community was looked down upon in the antebellum period. Moreover, Desiree’s identity is wholly dependent on her husband which makes her beg for her stay in his house. This depicts how women lacked identity in themselves and depended on men for their livelihood.
Kate Chopin’s Beyond the Bayou
The short story uses a woman by the name La Folle to express internal conflict between a woman’s conscious and the fear of the unknown. La Folle is trapped in her own mind that she finds it difficult to explore the world’s beyond the bayou. The story is also reflective of the racism present during this time. La Folle is black and her separation from the other world makes us believe that this was due to her race. This, however, not in the same magnitude as Desiree’s Baby. The short story consequently finds its value in communicating the internal struggle that bound women and the Black Community.
Kate Chopin’s The Awakening
This story by Chopin is particular a depiction of the struggle of femininity in the south of America. Through the story of Edna Pontellier, we get to see views on femininity and motherhood in the 19th century. Edna struggles to find her definition through the societal norms and traditions that confined her to taking care of her family. She takes some time to ponder about her priorities and her active role in initiating her own happiness. When she starts being defiant of the roles that the society assigned to her, her husband is worried that his wife could be losing her mind. He even seeks medical attention to ascertain his wife’s condition. It is clear through the story of the oppression that women in the society had to live in that even led to their death like Edna finally committed suicide.