Calixta, the protagonist of Kate Chopin’s short stories entitled At the Cadian Ball and The Storm, is a young woman that lives her life according to what society believes is right. She comes from a lower-class family, but is also described as a beautiful woman and a “Spanish vixen” (216).
Calixta has strong feelings for a “handsome young planter”, but those feelings are overshadowed by a “big, brown, good-natured man” that society believes she should be with because they are in the same class (216). In those times, a man and woman was to wed only someone that are within their own class of wealth. Because she could not marry the man she truly loves, she settles for a lower-class man that has longed for her since the beginning of the story. Her marriage makes her …show more content…
Bobinot is considered to be another member of the lower class and is somewhat of a simpleton, shown by his heavily accented, simplistic speech. In the story, At the Cadian Ball, Bobinot can tell that Calixta acts very standoffish to him and expresses that when Chopin states, “He began to wonder if this meant love” (223). Bobinot even went as far as to ask Calixta for a kiss and she replied, “I don’t want to kiss you” (223). She has given multiple cues about her disinterest in Bobinot, but he continues to pursue her despite the constant rejection she gives him. In a way, Calixta feels as if she is settling for a guy that is considered less than and she is hurting because her heart yearns for another man. Alcee, a “wealthy and fiery young planter” that has Calixta’s heart, also weds a woman in his class and her name is Clarisse. He is considered to be “passionately in love with his kinswoman”, but later in the story that statement seems to contradict itself (S. A. Jones 198). Upon marrying Bobinot, Calixta becomes a typical housewife that cleans, cooks, sews, and takes care of the
Calixta has strong feelings for a “handsome young planter”, but those feelings are overshadowed by a “big, brown, good-natured man” that society believes she should be with because they are in the same class (216). In those times, a man and woman was to wed only someone that are within their own class of wealth. Because she could not marry the man she truly loves, she settles for a lower-class man that has longed for her since the beginning of the story. Her marriage makes her …show more content…
Bobinot is considered to be another member of the lower class and is somewhat of a simpleton, shown by his heavily accented, simplistic speech. In the story, At the Cadian Ball, Bobinot can tell that Calixta acts very standoffish to him and expresses that when Chopin states, “He began to wonder if this meant love” (223). Bobinot even went as far as to ask Calixta for a kiss and she replied, “I don’t want to kiss you” (223). She has given multiple cues about her disinterest in Bobinot, but he continues to pursue her despite the constant rejection she gives him. In a way, Calixta feels as if she is settling for a guy that is considered less than and she is hurting because her heart yearns for another man. Alcee, a “wealthy and fiery young planter” that has Calixta’s heart, also weds a woman in his class and her name is Clarisse. He is considered to be “passionately in love with his kinswoman”, but later in the story that statement seems to contradict itself (S. A. Jones 198). Upon marrying Bobinot, Calixta becomes a typical housewife that cleans, cooks, sews, and takes care of the