Kate Chopin is a renowned female American author during the late nineteenth century. She started writing stories and novels after the death of her husband and mother for consolation in the state of Louisiana, a place where she gained most of her inspiration (Jones 3). Throughout Chopin’s works, she repeatedly addresses the concerns of females over their social obligation, individual desires for freedom, and unequal relationship within marriages. By utilizing the literary elements of conflict, symbolism and imagery in the stories “The Story of an Hour,’’ “The Storm” and “Desiree’s Baby,” Chopin reveals the mental struggles of three different women who strive to find their identity within their marriages.
In “The Story of an Hour,” Kate Chopin …show more content…
The title “The Storm” symbolizes the sexual encounter of Calixta and Alcee during the storm. Calixta’s encounter with Alcee ignites Calixta’s hidden sexual desire: “When he touched her breasts they gave themselves up in quivering ecstasy, inviting his lips. Her mouth was a fountain of delight. And when he possessed her, they seemed to swoon together at the very borderland of life 's mystery” (83). The existence of Alcee revives Calixta’s sensual and sexual nature and excitement she has never felt in her marriage. This sexual imagery of Calixta and Alcee shows the social constriction of women is expressing their sexual …show more content…
Desiree is found by Madame Valmonde in the shadow of a stone pillar as a baby which symbolizes Desiree’s need for protection. When Armand first sees Desiree, she stands next to the stone pillar, which foreshadows Desiree’s desire for protection in her marriage. When Desiree realizes the baby may not be white, she has a conversation with Alcee: “He coldly but gently loosened her fingers from about his arm and thrust the hand away from him. ‘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" (71). The imagery from the conversation between Desiree and Armand after they realize that the baby is quadroon demonstrates the impacts of the society and dependent of women in a marriage. Due to Desiree’s obscure origin and her quadroon baby, Armand fails to provide Desiree the protection that she needs and the love that she wants which results the destruction of Desiree and her
In “The Story of an Hour,” Kate Chopin …show more content…
The title “The Storm” symbolizes the sexual encounter of Calixta and Alcee during the storm. Calixta’s encounter with Alcee ignites Calixta’s hidden sexual desire: “When he touched her breasts they gave themselves up in quivering ecstasy, inviting his lips. Her mouth was a fountain of delight. And when he possessed her, they seemed to swoon together at the very borderland of life 's mystery” (83). The existence of Alcee revives Calixta’s sensual and sexual nature and excitement she has never felt in her marriage. This sexual imagery of Calixta and Alcee shows the social constriction of women is expressing their sexual …show more content…
Desiree is found by Madame Valmonde in the shadow of a stone pillar as a baby which symbolizes Desiree’s need for protection. When Armand first sees Desiree, she stands next to the stone pillar, which foreshadows Desiree’s desire for protection in her marriage. When Desiree realizes the baby may not be white, she has a conversation with Alcee: “He coldly but gently loosened her fingers from about his arm and thrust the hand away from him. ‘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" (71). The imagery from the conversation between Desiree and Armand after they realize that the baby is quadroon demonstrates the impacts of the society and dependent of women in a marriage. Due to Desiree’s obscure origin and her quadroon baby, Armand fails to provide Desiree the protection that she needs and the love that she wants which results the destruction of Desiree and her