In the short story “At the ’Cadian Ball,” Kate Chopin depicts a seemingly perfect society with guidelines, which are articulated and unspoken, that binds everyone to their place in the hierarchy. Many of these guidelines, are made to prevent any form of free thought. They severely impede women’s lives in particular. Clarisse and Calixta are two women who struggle during this time to find and act on their ideas and thoughts. Through their personalities and their interactions with one another, Kate Chopin depicts the transition from tenuous freedom to conformity in Calixta and Clarisse as the story progresses.
When you are higher up in the social ladder, one would think that it is easier to retain the freedom of unadulterated thoughts and actions; …show more content…
Calixta is a Cajun with mixed Spanish blood who does not have much money behind her name. However, she has a lot of ambition and a strong will to back it up. Like when Fronie and Calixta quarreled in front of the church about a lover, and Fronnie brought up the time when Calixta ran off to Assumption with Alcee during their fight: “Calixta swore roundly in fine ‘Cadian French with true Spanish spirit, and slapped Fronie’s face”(427). She is unrelenting in defending herself. Even if that means that others will she will not be swear if she must will fight for her rights. Not afraid to challenge others when she thinks they are wrong. And not afraid to go after what she wants. Especially when it comes to love. Calixta has a strong desire to climb the social ladder. This is shown when she is at the Cadian ball and flirts with Alcee: “ They were acting like fools. He had attempted to take a little gold ring from her finger; just for the fun of it, for there was nothing he could have done with the ring but replace it again”(431). Alcee plays along with her advances, taking off her ring so that he could put it back on, imitating how you would put on a wedding ring. Alcee both hits on her, but also teases her saying look,“‘There is Bobinot looking for you… You’ll Marry him some day; hein, Calixta?’”(431)Implying that though Calixta may desire to have a relationship, it is not out of love, but from her ambition to excel in life and to move up in the hierarchy. However this sentence from Alcee forces her to acknowledge that though she may have a fling with Alcee, however she can not be with him as a bride; for society would never allow for that. This idea is driven in further, when Alcee immediately leaves her for Clarisse, “without a word, without a glance back” (432). As if the intimate moment a little while before, had not happened. As a direct
When you are higher up in the social ladder, one would think that it is easier to retain the freedom of unadulterated thoughts and actions; …show more content…
Calixta is a Cajun with mixed Spanish blood who does not have much money behind her name. However, she has a lot of ambition and a strong will to back it up. Like when Fronie and Calixta quarreled in front of the church about a lover, and Fronnie brought up the time when Calixta ran off to Assumption with Alcee during their fight: “Calixta swore roundly in fine ‘Cadian French with true Spanish spirit, and slapped Fronie’s face”(427). She is unrelenting in defending herself. Even if that means that others will she will not be swear if she must will fight for her rights. Not afraid to challenge others when she thinks they are wrong. And not afraid to go after what she wants. Especially when it comes to love. Calixta has a strong desire to climb the social ladder. This is shown when she is at the Cadian ball and flirts with Alcee: “ They were acting like fools. He had attempted to take a little gold ring from her finger; just for the fun of it, for there was nothing he could have done with the ring but replace it again”(431). Alcee plays along with her advances, taking off her ring so that he could put it back on, imitating how you would put on a wedding ring. Alcee both hits on her, but also teases her saying look,“‘There is Bobinot looking for you… You’ll Marry him some day; hein, Calixta?’”(431)Implying that though Calixta may desire to have a relationship, it is not out of love, but from her ambition to excel in life and to move up in the hierarchy. However this sentence from Alcee forces her to acknowledge that though she may have a fling with Alcee, however she can not be with him as a bride; for society would never allow for that. This idea is driven in further, when Alcee immediately leaves her for Clarisse, “without a word, without a glance back” (432). As if the intimate moment a little while before, had not happened. As a direct